We are passionate about building community and changing lives. We believe that we can make a difference and help transform our community. Serve Days is a local mission service opportunity involving a variety of tasks, from painting, construction, cleaning and even playing with kids at local outreach facilities.

Everyone is invited to participate – no prior experience or expertise required.

Partner Schools and Backpacks for Hunger

Serve at our Partners Schools

Resurrection West partners with Ridgeview and Fairview Elementary Schools in Olathe. There are many ways to serve including offering support to students and families, helping with one-time events, assisting teachers with projects, preparing and/or serving staff appreciation lunches and more. Get started today! Contact rezwestpartnerschools@gmail.com.

Backpacks for Hunger

Elementary aged students who qualify for free/reduced lunch may struggle with having adequate food over the weekend. The Backpacks for Hunger Ministry serves these students by providing a bag of easy-to-fix, kid-friendly food over the weekend. Students receive non-perishable foods like cereal, shelf stable milk, fruit cups, canned pasta and snacks such as popcorn and crackers and cheese.

Your donation of $210 will provide a year’s worth of food to a student. You can contribute any time by check payable to “Church of the Resurrection” and noting “Backpacks for Hunger” ministry in the memo line.

Here are some opportunities to serve: Most Wednesdays at any time – Pick up food from Olathe’s

Payless Grocery Store Most Thursdays at 4 pm – Fill bags with food and tubs with bags Most Fridays mornings – Deliver tubs to Ridgeview Elementary.

You can sign-up once or many times.

Contact rezwestbackpacks@gmail.com to volunteer or for questions.

Join us in the traditional music program at Resurrection Overland Park. We have an adult choir and an adult handbell choir supporting worship at the 11 am worship service.

If you have other musical gifts, please also fill out the sign-up to let me know of your interest.

We are excited to bring CarePortal as a way to serve children and families in our community. Historically, there have been no fast and effective ways for Child Welfare workers to connect with churches to help children and families in need—many are left struggling when the Church could step in to help.

From the CarePortal web site...
CarePortal brings faith and government entities together by using a volunteer network and innovative technology to bring the needs of children and families in crisis to the attention of local churches. Child welfare workers uncover the needs. CarePortal makes local churches aware, giving them a real-time opportunity to respond.

To follow up, ask questions, and get involved with RezDT’s CarePortal effort, join the CarePortal RezDT Facebook group.

Volunteer shifts available almost every day of the week.

Please sign up in advance as we are adhering to social distancing guidelines to help prevent the spread of germs and are limited to fewer than 10 people volunteering at one time. Want to donate food? Drop off donations between 1-3pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Join our remarkable usher team, volunteering with a smile at one of the various worship services. This important ministry involves directing congregants to their seats, passing the notebooks and offering plates during worship. Training is provided and opportunities to serve range from once a month to each Sunday.

Volunteering in KiDSCOR at Resurrection Downtown is FUN! Let us know you're interested in pouring into the hearts and lives of our infants, toddlers, preschool and elementary school-aged kids HERE! Reach out to Sarah.Elliott@cor.org with any questions.

The Hunger Stopper Ministry delivers approximately 70 tons of food each year, through donations from within the church and special food drives held in the community. Donations are delivered monthly to local pantries and urban ministries to help feed those in Kansas City area who are hungry or food insecure.

Monetary Donations

Donations in any amount will be used to purchase needed food in bulk or supplemental funding for our pantries to purchase proteins, produce and other items.

How much should I donate? Here is a general guideline of how far your money can go to feeding an average family of 4 when we purchase in bulk:

• $28 feeds them for a week
• $120 feeds them for a month
• $1,460 feeds them for a year

Donate online here.

Or Donate by Check: Please mark the donation for "Hunger Stoppers" and mail to the church. Mailing address: 13720 Roe Ave. Leawood, KS 66224

Donate Non-Perishables: Please no glass containers or expired products. Desirable donations include:

• Cereal
• Canned meats (chicken, tuna, Vienna sausages)
• Chunky stews/soups
• Peanut butter & Jelly
• Canned/boxed meals/Macaroni & Cheese
• Shelf stable milk products
• Pancake mix (add water only) & Syrup
• Canned fruits and vegetables.

Receive our Newsletter

Stay informed about upcoming events and information by signing up to receive the Hunger Stopper Newsletter. Sign up to receive Hunger Stopper Newsletter today! (Select "Resurrection Leawood" and then scroll down to Leawood Connect and Serve Newsletters and select "Hunger Stopper Food Donations")

Become a Volunteer
We'd love to have you join our team of volunteers to help this ministry happen! Please see our Hunger Volunteer Ministry page for more information.

PANTRIES WE SERVE:

JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI

• Kansas City, MO - A Turning Point, Camino Verdad & Vida, East High School, Grace United Community Ministries, Hope Faith Ministries, Linwood United Church, Phoenix Family Housing, St Louis Catholic Church, and UpLift
• Grandview - New Life in Christ International Ministries, and St James UMC, Renaissance Campus

WYANDOTTE COUNTY, KANSAS

• Kansas City, KS - Avenue of Life, Avenue of Life Youth House, Central UM Church, Cross-Lines Community Outreach, Metropolitan-The HUB, and Our Saviour Lutheran

JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS

• Olathe - New Hope Food Pantry
• Mission - North East Multi-Service Center
• Overland Park - Rez OP, and Santa Fe Waystation
• Spring Hill - Spring Hill Food Pantry
• Stilwell - Stilwell Baptist Caring Ministry

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

Build-a-Box
Help assemble boxes of non-perishable foods for distribution at the Resurrection Mission Center. Product will be laid out as required for social distancing. Volunteers should be prepared to be on their feet, and be able to lift at least 30 lbs. Register now!

• Sunday, February 21 | 1-3 pm
• Sunday, February 28 | 1-3 pm
• Sunday, February 28 | 5-7 pm
• Monday, March 1 | 5-7 pm
• Sunday, March 7 | 1-3 pm
• Sunday, March 21 | 1-3 pm

Outdoor FoodMobile Events
Assist at one of 5 off-site drive-through FoodMobile events. Registration is required. Volunteers should be prepared to be outdoors, on their feet, and be able to lift at least 30 lbs. Sign-up here.

Monday, March 8, 2021
3:00 – 6:00 pm
One Spirit UM Church
7900 Blue Ridge Blvd
Raytown, MO 64138

Tuesday, March 9, 2021
2:00 – 5:00 pm
Quindaro Community Center
2726 Brown Ave
Kansas City, KS 66104

Thursday, March 11, 2021
3:00 – 6:00 pm
East High School
1924 Van Brunt Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64127

Saturday, March 27, 2021
Noon – 3:00 pm
Welborn Elementary
5200 Leavenworth Rd
Kansas City, KS 66104

Tuesday, March 30, 2021
3:00 – 6:00 pm
JA Rogers Elementary
6400 23^rd Street
Kansas City, MO 64129

Our Hunger Stopper team works in many different ways to help put a stop to hunger in Kansas City. Check out these ways you can get involved year-round:

FOOD DRIVES

We hold two large food drives during the year which are a great way for individuals, families and groups to get involved. The need for serving our pantries continues throughout the year.

SORTING TEAM

How You Can Serve: Help sort, check and box donated food items to prepare them to be delivered to local pantries. This is a fun service project for small groups, individuals or families.

• Where: Resurrection Mission Center, 15455 Metcalf Avenue. Click here for driving directions.
• Contact: Brenda Stuteville for questions at brendastuteville@att.net

Requirements: Volunteers must be 10 and older (accompanied by a parent), or 16 and older (unaccompanied).

DELIVER TO FOOD PANTRIES

How You Can Serve: 8-10 volunteers are needed for each delivery shift to help rearrange boxes onto pallets to prepare orders for delivery, load the truck and deliver food to local pantries.

• When: Deliveries take place on the second Monday morning each month.
• Where: Meet at Resurrection Mission Center at 15455 Metcalf Avenue 8am. Click here for driving directions.

Contact: Michelle Van Pelt at michelle.vanpelt@cor.org.

Requirements: Volunteers must sign up in advance, be 16 and older, and able to repeatedly lift heavy boxes (up to 40 lbs).

PANTRIES WE SERVE:

JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI

• Kansas City, MO - A Turning Point, Camino Verdad & Vida, East High School, Grace United Community Ministries, Hope Faith Ministries, Linwood United Church, Phoenix Family Housing, St Louis Catholic Church, and UpLift
• Grandview - New Life in Christ International Ministries, and St James UMC, Renaissance Campus

WYANDOTTE COUNTY, KANSAS

• Kansas City, KS - Avenue of Life, Avenue of Life Youth House, Central UM Church, Cross-Lines Community Outreach, Metropolitan-The HUB, and Our Saviour Lutheran

JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS

• Olathe - New Hope Food Pantry
• Mission - North East Multi-Service Center
• Overland Park - Rez OP, and Santa Fe Waystation
• Spring Hill - Spring Hill Food Pantry
• Stilwell - Stilwell Baptist Caring Ministry

For more information about Hunger Donations please contact Michelle Van Pelt at michelle.vanpelt@cor.org.

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!

• April 26, 2020 - Wheatley Elementary School - 1:00-3:00pm
• May 3, 2020 - Wheatley Elementary School - 1:00-3:00pm

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

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.

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.

A Child's Hope offers volunteers an opportunity to work with children and teens in foster care through a variety of programs that support foster children, foster care parents and adoption.

Over 900 children in Kansas Foster Care are waiting to be adopted and looking for forever homes. You may view their profiles at adoptkskids.org.

• Our mission is to support foster and forever families and share Christ's love with children and teens in foster care.

• With the shortage of foster and adoptive homes in Kansas City and Johnson County, Resurrection families are needed to open their hearts and their homes.

A Child's Hope ministry is not affiliated with any national organization and is solely a ministry of Church of the Resurrection. Please check out the other pages to learn more about the opportunities.

James 1:27  "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans... in their distress..."