Habitat for Humanity: House of Abraham

Established in 2003 by the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities of the greater Kansas City community, Habitat KC's House of Abraham is an interfaith partnership opportunity for people of different faith traditions to come together to build a home - and to build new relationships with other communities of faith.

Habitat for Humanity has established a very informed COVID-19 safety policy for all volunteers which includes limiting the number of volunteers at the worksite to seven. To see the entire safety policy click HERE.

Click HERE to pick a date to participate in the construction of a new home at 3062 N 31st in KCK - just blocks from Quindaro Elementary, one of our partner schools. Anyone 16 and older can participate.

Small Groups-If you and your small group would like to serve together on a day of your choosing, including a Saturday or Sunday, contact Jude Huntz, Outreach Manager, at jhuntz@habitatkc.org

Many families in our community are facing unemployment and economic challenges this year due to COVID-19. We can share the love of Jesus in a tangible way by feeding our neighbors in need.

For our 30th Anniversary, Resurrection is challenging everyone who is able to donate either 30 lbs of food or $30 to purchase food that will be distributed through our partner food banks.

Food drop offs will be held at all Resurrection locations October 10 and 17, from 9-11am.

30 lbs of food:

Volunteer shifts available Monday - Thursday.

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.

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.

As the only agency in Kansas City that provides private apartments and supportive services to mothers in recovery and their children, Amethyst Place empowers families by helping them build healthy relationships, secure permanent housing, improve their educational outcomes, and gain economic stability.

Amethyst Place is in need of spaghetti sauce, snacks and activities for kids, and basic cleaning items. Donate items from their Amazon wishlist.

Avenue of Life's mission is to mobilize our community to equip and empower low-income individuals and families to be self-sustained and independent.

Avenue of Life will be distributing essentials kits to families. Donations are needed of non-perishable pantry staples, items for sack lunches, toiletries and cleaning supplies for homes, masks, gloves and disinfecting wipes.

An anonymous donor has stepped up with a COVID-19 Match Challenge, pledging to match all donations up to $50,000. Please consider doubling the impact of your generosity by partnering with Avenue of Life in reaching homeless families, children, and youth in the urban core of Kansas City.

Cross-Lines was established in 1963 as “a place of hope” for those struggling with the hardships of poverty. They provide direct assistance to at-risk families, the elderly, and single individuals struggling to make ends meet.

Cross-Lines has temporarily stopped serving hot meals cafeteria style, and has started distributing sack meals for breakfasts and lunches. Funding is needed to purchase items for distribution. Donate to Cross-Lines.

Safety-net programs such as SNAP (food stamps) and WIC (women infants children) do not cover diapers. This is a huge expense for low-income families costing an estimated $80-100 per month. 1 in 3 American families struggle to provide enough diapers to keep their babies happy, healthy and dry.

Happy Bottoms has put a hold on accepting diaper donations from the public, but can turn your donations into diapers for families in need.

Donate to Happy Bottoms

Harvesters Community Food Network remains committed to working with their network of more than 760 agencies to provide food to those in need.

Harvesters is encouraging the community to help by donating money. For every dollar donated you help them ensure they have the food and resources on hand to meet any additional demand. It also helps Harvesters provide means to get the food out more effectively and efficiently.

Volunteers are also needed to process and sort donations. You must be 18+ and in good health.

Heart to Heart International strengthens communities through improving health access, providing humanitarian development and administering crisis relief worldwide.

Across the U.S., Heart to Heart International is distributing hygiene kits for those in quarantine or unable to leave their homes. Good hygiene is critical in this time of the COVID-19 global pandemic, especially in vulnerable communities.

They have already distributed thousands of kits to local shelters, healthcare facilities, school districts, faith-based programs, food pantries, public safety organizations, and more. But, more kits are needed.

You can sponsor one kit for $10 and it will provide hygiene supplies (including soap, toothpaste, shampoo, handwashing guidelines, and more) that will be delivered to a person in need.

Hope Faith is asking for assistance in sourcing bulk meal supplies to be given out in paper sack care packages.

If you are able to do so safely, please bring the following to Hope Faith or VCP to provide for Kansas City’s homeless population. You can also make a monetary donation online.

Hope Faith: 705 Virginia Ave, Kansas City, MO 64106
VCP: 8900 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64131

Food Items
Fruit cups, pudding, flour tortillas, sliced bread, biscuits, deli meat, sliced cheeses, buns, applesauce, fruit snacks, granola bars, breakfast bars, honey buns, wrapped muffins, smoothies, yogurt, english muffins, individually packaged cereals, peanut butter, jelly, individually packaged chips, cheese sticks, bottled water, juice boxes, and individual milk cartons.

Sanitation & General Items
Spoons/sporks, Nitrile gloves (especially L-XL), disposable gloves, N95 disposable face, masks, disinfectant spray, commercial building/kitchen disinfectant, hand sanitizer (all sizes), sanitizing wipes, bleach, paper towels, trash bags, disposable rags, tissue paper, facial tissue, vitamins, vitamin C, sandwich bags, disposable plates, disposable cups, disposable napkins, brown paper sacks, and plastic sacks.

KVC Health Systems is a national leader in behavioral healthcare, child welfare, and community health and wellness.

KVC clinical teams and essential frontline staff are working around the clock to care for the safety and mental health of our clients in their homes, in foster homes, and inside their children’s hospitals and residential treatment centers. Your donation helps fund their COVID-19 response.

Metro Lutheran Ministry connects those in need in the Kansas City area with food, housing, health care, education, employment services and other resources.

If you want to stay in but still want to help you could make sack lunches or breakfasts and MLM will pick them up! For more information, please contact Rebecka at rebeckanoel@mlmkc.org.

If you want to donate the food needed for sack breakfasts, order from their Amazon wishlist.

reStart provides housing and supportive services to help homeless men, women, youth and families move toward independence and self-sufficiency with the goal of ending homelessness in our community.

At this time, they are in need of sack lunches to distribute their clients. A few ideas for what to include: peanut butter sandwiches; protein options like tuna or chicken salad kits, vienna sausages or beef jerky; individually packaged chips, fruit cups, granola bars and other snacks.

Once your bags are complete, please coordinate with Ann Klockau(aklockau@restartinc.org) to arrange a time to deliver them to reStart.

Shelter KC is in desperate need of hygiene items (soap, body wash, shampoo, toothpaste) and surgical masks to protect employees and guests. Store-bought masks are preferable, but they will take homemade too. Contact Shelter KC to arrange a time to drop off donations: 816-421-7643

Donating funds online will go to work immediately to care for homeless men and women in Kansas City. Donate now.

Synergy Services, Inc. began in 1970 as Synergy House, the only shelter for runaway and homeless youth in western Missouri. Through the years the organization’s reach to include young children and women victimized by abuse.

The Domestic Violence Center, Children's Center and Synergy House remain open and staff continues to provide 24 hour care and housing to children and teens in our community through this crisis.

Donate to their COVID-19 Resource Fund or check out their list of in-kind needs here (you can order through Amazon or Walmart).

Proceeds the Adelante Thrift Store support the operations of Mission Adelante, a multicultural ministry community with Bhutanese refugees and Latino immigrants emphasizing individual transformation and community development.

Volunteers are needed to work behind the scenes, assisting with sorting donations, hanging clothing, and cleaning/pricing items. All volunteers will be required to wear face masks the entire time they are in the store and keep a 6' distance from fellow volunteers, staff and customers.

Learn more or sign up to volunteer here.

Questions? Please contact Adelante Thrift's volunteer coordinator, Jessica at jessicab@adelantethrift.com.

After the Harvest's staff and volunteers are essential service providers during this crisis, rescuing fruits and vegetables and delivering to those in need.

Produce rescue drivers needed! From now to November, volunteer to pick up leftover produce at farmers markets (Parkville, Brookside, City Market, Overland Park, Lenexa, Unity Village) and other locations and deliver to agencies feeding hungry people.

• Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Sign up for virtual produce rescue driver training. Space is limited.
• Saturday, May 16, 1-2:30 p.m.: Sign up for this training which may be on-site at the City Market or virtual. We'll keep you posted.

Gleaners. From May through November, you can sign up to be part of our gleaning program. Volunteers travel in their own vehicles to harvest excess fruits and vegetables in orchards and fields located within 30 to 45 minutes of Greater Kansas City. Help deliver to food pantries, kitchens and other agencies if you can.

Donors. Give to assure that we can continue providing healthy, immunity-building fresh produce via our gleaning and truckload programs. Harvesters--The Community Food Network is our primary truckload distribution partner, delivering thousands of pounds of After the Harvest produce, that might otherwise be destined for landfills, to agencies feeding those in need.

Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) works with children who have been placed in foster care due to parental abuse or neglect. Each child or sibling group is matched with a CASA volunteer who will help them navigate their time in foster care. Our CASA Volunteers visits the child or children monthly and advocate for their educational, medical, and therapeutic needs. CASA staff and Volunteers work together to ensure that each child served will have a safe and permanent home.

Each month, 30 to 40 children who have experienced abuse and neglect are referred to CASA. That is why we offer CASA Volunteer training every month, now via Zoom. In a series of 5 classes, you will learn how you can best advocate for a child who is in the Family Court system due to abuse and neglect. Contact Lisa Martin, LMartin@jacksoncountycasa-mo.org to schedule an information session to see if you are ready to become a CASA Volunteer.

Catholic Charities continues to provide hope and hospitality in a time of uncertainty. They are seeking ongoing volunteers to support their Family Support Centers, TurnStyles Thrift stores and food distribution programs in their 21 county, NE Kansas area.

Volunteers are needed Monday-Friday typically serving a 3-4 hour shift, with some weekend opportunities available as well. All current volunteer opportunities are posted in greater detail on their website.

For anyone seeking additional information, please contact Cari in the Volunteer Department at 913.433.2104 or colberding@catholiccharitiesks.org.

Harvesters Mobile Food Pantry is holding distribution events at the Don Bosco Center (580 Campbell) in downtown KC, from 1-4pm on 2nd Fridays.

This is a walk through Mobile Food Distribution. Volunteers will be needed to help distribute and organize the food on the pallets, sign people in, and clean up at the end.

It will be outside, so please dress for the weather with close-toed shoes and bring a mask. Lifting may be required for certain volunteer positions.

Sign up to help unload, sort, and hand out food while people drive through for the distribution.

Flourish Furnishings collects, prepares and distributes donated furnishings and home essentials to offer a “hand up” by meeting the household furnishings needs in Kansas City’s urban and suburban communities.

As they prepare to re-open their warehouse, volunteers are needed to load/unload trucks, sort through donated goods, restock shelves for client shopping and working with clients.

Click here to learn more.

The Global FC Education Program serves English language learners from all over the world, most of whom arrived in Kansas City on refugee status.

The Global FC team is continuing to foster academic growth and community, fighting the isolation and boredom students are facing right now. The connection and support provided through online engagement is vital during this time where everything is new.

Check out what online engagement looks like for Global FC and email Celeste at celeste@branch-global.com to become a tutor!

Proceeds from Hillcrest Thrift Stores support the operations of the Hillcrest Transitional Housing program, offering homeless families, singles and youth housing and a disciplined educational program within a caring, supportive environment.

As the thrift stores in Lenexa and Lee's Summit reopen, volunteers are needed in the following areas -

• Volunteer Cashier
• Volunteer Donation Attendant
• Volunteer Clothing Processor

Learn more about how to volunteer.

Lead to Read KC Reading Mentors read with and mentor students one-to-one each week for 30 minutes. The whole-class reading sessions take place during the school day in elementary classrooms in high-need elementary schools. During COVID-19 restrictions, reading sessions will take place virtually. Volunteers will need a computer with audio/visual capabilities and Internet access. Most volunteers donate one lunch hour a week during the school year.

Lead to Read KC’s mission is to support the social, emotional, and reading skills that are foundational for student success by mobilizing community volunteers to read with students in elementary schools. Apply today!

Metro Lutheran Ministry connects those in need in the Kansas City area with food, housing, health care, education, employment services and other resources.

Metro Lutheran is looking for 3-5 volunteers from 8:15am-11:30am on Tuesday-Friday. Volunteers will be pre-packing food boxes for the next day (no direct contact with clients).

They also need 3-5 volunteers from 1:00pm - 3:00pm on Fridays to help package sack breakfasts.

Please contact Rebecka at rebeckanoel@mlmkc.org for more information or to volunteer.

Volunteer shifts available Monday - Thursday.

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.

United Way of Greater Kansas City works to provide the farthest-reaching network of support for those in need in our community. UWGKC has identified volunteer opportunities all throughout the metro area, that will help those who are impacted by this public health crisis. This list will be continuously updated, so check back.