The start of a new school year is exciting and a little scary but while many students look forward to bringing a backpack full of new crayons and fresh pads of paper, for those whose families are struggling with financial insecurity this often isn't possible. Help students have all the supplies they need to start the year well and alleviate the need for teachers to reach into their own pockets to buy lacking supplies by taking part in this year's Partner School Support Drive.

Bags with lists of school supplies will be available at Resurrection locations before and after services, or you can order from our Amazon wishlist.

Requested Items:

• Crayola crayons (24 ct.)
• #2 pencils
• Pencil box or pouch
• Crayola colored pencils (12 or 24 ct.)
• Crayola broad line washable markers (Classic Colors)
• Dry erase markers
• Spiral notebooks, single subject, wide-ruled, solid color covers
• Composition notebooks, wide-ruled
• Glue sticks
• Scissors
• Disinfectant wipes
• Ziploc bags, any size
• Hand sanitizer
• Highlighters
• Large boxes of tissues
• Inexpensive earbuds or headphones
• 2-pocket folders
• Large pink erasers
• Post-it notes
• New backpacks

Want to donate funds towards the purchase of uniform pieces and other needed school items?

You can donate to the Partner School Support Drive online.

Some typical expenditures include:

• $10 provides funding for a polo-style uniform shirt
• $25 provides funding for earbuds for an entire classroom
• $40 provides funding for basic school supplies for a student
• $100 provides funding for school supplies and uniform pants and shirt for a student

Now more than ever families who are struggling can use a little extra help to meet their children's needs.

Even though children from most of our ongoing school partners are not meeting in person, we are working with their schools and the district to deliver the Backpacks for Hunger bags filled with non-perishable food for the weekend.

Join a small group of people on Wednesday afternoons at the Leawood campus for a 90-minute shift and help organize the food and participate in the filling of over 1,000 bags of food that will be delivered to seven schools across the city.

Safety precautions are in place, including reducing the number of volunteers serving at one time, raising the age requirement for participation, requiring face masks and asking screening questions.

If you are able to be on your feet and active for 90 minutes please join us. Those taking part in set up should be able to lift 10-15 lbs. Learn more and register here.

Other ways to serve:

• Backpack Angel: Resurrection’s Backpacks for Hunger Ministry helps alleviate this issue by providing nutritious, child-friendly food to over 1,500 students a week. Students who participate in the program receive a bag with items such as cereal, a box of shelf stable milk, cup of fruit, can of soup and other non-perishable food that is easily prepared. You can provide food for a student for a year for $225, or $18.75/month. Give online and become a Backpack Angel.

• Deliver Backpacks: Fridays 8am -12pm to Elementary Schools. Requires heavy lifting and possibly driving the church's box truck. Contact Bruce Gaddis at deliveryteam@cor.org

• Pick-up Empty Tubs: Tuesdays 7am -1pm from Elementary Schools. Requires moderate lifting and possibly driving the church's box truck. Contact Bruce Gaddis at deliveryteam@cor.org
  

• Do a Peanut Butter Drive: Peanut butter is a great source of non-perishable protein that can be used for quick meals, so families receive a small jar of peanut butter every month in addition to the usual food. Collect donations of non-glass, 14-16 oz containers of peanut butter. Please do not provide larger jars as these make the bags too heavy for some of the smaller kids and our delivery team. This is a great way to support this ministry and help struggling families at times when kids don’t have access to school meals. Contact Roberta Lyle for more information - roberta.lyle@cor.org.

• Pray for the Children: Each week as they receive the supplemental weekend food.

All activities take place at Resurrection Leawood Campus, Building A, Lower Level Mission Space.

Cultural Competency Training

Cultural Competency training is required before serving in on-going Kansas City Mission programs in order to provide a safe environment for all those we serve. Empowering and educational, this training will provide each participant with a heightened awareness about our neighbors and cross-cultural interactions. Those who need this training may be interested in serving on the bookmobile, at the food pantry, as a tutor, or in a classroom at one of our partner schools. Additionally, individuals who are interested in serving with our partner organizations should plan to take this training.

Upcoming Training Dates (Registration is required)

All classes will take place over Zoom from 9 am - 11 am.
Seating is limited and classes not meeting a minimum size may be rescheduled. Please be sure to carefully select an appropriate date.

Click on the date below to register for the training:

• August 21, 2021(Saturday)
• September 22, 2021 (Wednesday)
• October 16, 2021(Saturday)
• November 3, 2021 (Wednesday)

Safe Gatherings certification is also required for those working in the schools or entering people's homes for furnishings pickups. If you are not already Safe Gatherings certified (certification lasts four years) you can begin that process by filling out a volunteer application here.

Church of the Resurrection believes strongly in the power of education. Nelson Mandela stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The best tool to defeat future poverty is to equip the next generation to learn and lead. This is why we at Resurrection believe in supporting children & schools here in Kansas City and around the world.

Our Global Partner Schools

• Juan Wesley School - Ciudad Espana, Honduras
• Ditshego Preschool & Open School - Centurion, South Africa
• Malawi Methodist Preschools - Malawi

Change the trajectory of a child’s life by supporting them at one of our global partner schools - Learn more about global partner school sponsorship opportunities.

COVID-19 Update: We are currently reviewing our processes to be sure everyone is as safe as possible. Volunteers should be prepared to take precautions and answer a short questionnaire to help with this process.

Join the team of drivers and volunteers that keep the bookmobile rolling and help kids select books to keep and enjoy.

Drivers typically serve for 4-5 hours during regular business hours and occasionally some evenings and weekends. Serve as often or as little as your schedule allows. Must be 21 years of age with good driving record. Please contact Linda Warne to learn more about driving our bookmobile.

Bookmobile volunteers help students in need select a "just right" book they can keep and add to their home libraries. Contact Ann Carter to learn how you can serve with the Resurrection Bookmobile.

To get involved, please plan to attend an upcoming Cultural Competency Training and complete the Safe Gatherings application process. Both trainings are available online. Bookmobile volunteers must be 16 or older. More information & upcoming dates are available on our Partner Schools Cultural Competency Training page.

Using Psalm 4:8 as the guiding mission, the Beds Program provides new beds to children who don’t have beds of their own in Kansas City urban and suburban communities. Our purpose is to recognize and address the physical need for sleep, thus providing a sense of comfort, rest and peace. Through this coordinated demonstration of God’s love and provision, we will bring smiles and comfort to children and families. Our focus is to serve the children referred by Resurrection's partner school districts and specific mission partners.

Upcoming Serving Opportunities:

Beds Pick-up Parties:

Volunteers are needed to load/unload mattresses, greet participants and assist them in picking up linens and pajamas. This is a great serving opportunity for the whole family-appropriate for children 7 and older when accompanied by an adult. Please note this event takes place outside-dress accordingly!

• Beds Party at Wheatley Elementary 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 25

• Beds Party at Big Brothers Big Sisters at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 2

Contact bedsforeverybody@gmail.com with questions.

Other Serve Opportunities:

Host a Linen Drive

Host a linen drive in your school, workplace, or neighborhood! New twin linens will be provided to school aged children who receive beds through the Program. If you need more information on the Program for your drive, please contact bedsforeverybody@gmail.com.

Slat Support Construction

Have access to free or inexpensive lumber? We are always looking for lumber to build our slat support structure. This structure is used in place of a box spring.

Sponsor a Bed

Don’t let a Kansas City child sleep on the floor tonight. Consider sponsoring a bed!

• $95 for a new twin bed (mattress, mattress pad, slat support and metal frame)
• $40 for a new set of linens
• $135 for a twin bed and all the linens!

Contact bedsforeverybody@gmail.com with questions.

Please visit the Beds Ministry Donations page for more information about how to support this ministry with donations.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. -Psalm 4:8

Bless the Teacher is a ministry where volunteers write a monthly note of encouragement to a staff member at one of our Partner Schools. If you enjoy writing brief notes of support that will brighten and bless someone's day, this ministry is perfect for you! The commitment is monthly, September - May.

Please contact with questions or to volunteer, Roni Ahlenius, trahlenius@gmail.com or Linda Briscoe, lbriscoe3@gmail.com.

Do you enjoy practicing radical hospitality?  

A new ministry is forming which will develop hospitality opportunities to show appreciation and bless the staff of our partner schools.  The Partner School Hospitality team will meet a few times each semester to determine and organize the hospitality opportunities.

To learn more or to serve, please contact Sharon Forbach, 1supershopper1024@gmail.com or Linda Briscoe, lbriscoe3@gmail.com.

Grace United Community Ministries operates to better the community one person at a time in a holistic approach through basic needs, supportive needs and spiritual needs.

Grace currently offers an after school tutoring program for children Kindergarten through 8th grade.

When: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 3:50-5:45 pm.

Where: Grace United Ministries, 811 Benton Blvd, Kansas City, MO.

Approximately 80-90 students attend four days a week, Monday through Thursday from 3:50 to 5:45 pm.  The program follows the KCMO school calendar.  All students are tested to determine their reading grade level and math proficiency.  A retired district reading specialist coordinates the curriculum and after more than ten years of operating, the program has achieved success in helping these children reach grade level proficiencies.  Adults work one on one with students in a structured environment and normally tutor three students each session.

Passions and skills that are especially helpful for serving in this role are children, education, literacy, care & support, mentoring, underprivileged, justice and mentoring.

If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Linda Anderson at randerson507@gmail.com or (816) 352-3741.

Tutor with children grades K-6 at one of Resurrection's partner school locations helping students improve their reading and math skills.

Serve Opportunities

Tutor or Reading Buddy: Assist students with reading skills, letter recognition and/or letter sounds. Requires weekly commitment.

Classroom Assistant: Assist teachers in classrooms and work with individuals or small groups of children; help the teacher with other needed tasks. Requires weekly commitment.

Lunch Buddies: Be a mentor and build self confidence with children. Enjoy lunch with a student each week while reading, visiting, or working on flashcards.

Ages: Volunteers must be 18 years and older.

Training Requirements: In order to provide a safe environment for all children, background checks and specialized training will be required prior to serving as a tutor. Please go to the Partner Schools Cultural Competency Training page for training dates and to register. Safe Gatherings certification is also required for those working in the schools. If you are not already Safe Gatherings certified (certification lasts four years) you will receive tips to help you quickly complete the required online training when you attend Urban Volunteer training.

Additionally, if you will be volunteering in one of the Kansas City Missouri schools (Troost, JA Rogers, Wheatley, Wendell Phillips or East High School) you must complete this KCMO Volunteer Application.

If you are volunteering in one of the KCK schools ( Welborn or Quindaro) please complete this KCK Volunteer Application.