JOHNSON COUNTY — With the holiday gifting season officially underway, Giving Tuesday provides a chance to press pause on shopping and offer some help to local nonprofit organizations.
UCM Alumni Foundation
The UCM Alumni Foundation is raising funds for the Central Annual Fund, which supports the greatest needs and opportunities for UCM students, faculty, and programs. Gifts of $50 or more are eligible to receive a limited edition UCM stocking cap. Several generous alumni have stepped up to provide over $32,500 in matching gifts, and an anonymous donor will contribute an additional $10,000 when the foundation reaches 300 donors.
Donors can make their gifts online at ucmgives.org or by calling 660-543-8000.
Refuge on Ming
According to clients who use Refuge on Ming and those who are unhoused in the community, the greatest need is for socks and underwear. Refuge on Ming could also use more winterwear. Food donations are also needed.
Refuge on Ming is also looking for “relation donations,” meaning someone in the community who owns property or has odd jobs they need to be completed. Executive Director Jacquie West said they have clientele available for volunteering or working to help support the community.
For more information, contact jazcar33@gmail.com or 660-624-1062.
Johnson County Board of Services Foundation
Since 2011, the Johnson County Board of Services Foundation has filled in the financial gaps for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The JCBS Foundation has provided funding for sensory items and educational items, therapies, community activities, health and wellness needs, assistive technology, and more. Donations can help the foundation continue its mission to SPARK: Supporting People with developmental disabilities through Advocacy, Resources, and Kindness.
Checks or cash can be made payable to the JCBS Foundation and mailed to 200 N. Devasher, Warrensburg, MO 64093.
For more information, visit jcmbs.com/foundation or call 660-240-3343.
Johnson County Fuller Center for Housing
The local Fuller Center for Housing primarily serves Johnson County, focusing on serving low-income families needing affordable housing and critical repairs.
From now until the end of 2023, the Fuller Center is dedicated to helping at least six families through its Greater Blessings Project. If someone needs home repair costing less than $5,000, the Fuller Center wants to help.
To make this happen, the Fuller Center needs help from the people of Johnson County: project leaders and organizers, people capable of fixing and repairing, and financial contributions.
For more information, contact 660-429-2763 or fullercenterjocomo@fullercenter.org.
Warrensburg Schools Foundation
The Warrensburg Schools Foundation will be collecting warm, adult-size hats, gloves, socks, coats, underwear, and local gift cards (grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants) for students at the Reese Education Center.
The Reese Education Center focuses on students who need extra support to reach their goals. Students work toward their goals to graduate and learn to give back to the community by volunteering for local organizations and participating in local elementary classroom events. Many of the students struggle to meet basic personal needs and donations would support them as they strive to improve their lives.
Items may be dropped off at Central Office, 201 S. Holden St. in Warrensburg. Monetary donations may be made at warrensburgfoundation.org/givenow; choose Reese Education Center under "Choose Activity." For more information, contact Foundation Executive Director Judy Long at 660-747-7823.
Cancer Perks
Cancer Perks helps provide simple, practical needs to people with cancer at Bothwell Regional Health Center, Fitzgibbon Hospital and Western Missouri Medical Center. Help includes gas mileage reimbursements for people traveling for radiation treatments, resources for people who need to get their lawns mowed, small bills paid or meals provided, and care packages for people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
Cancer Perks is hosting its annual Virtual Angel Tree on Facebook as part of its 12 Needs of Christmas campaign. Cancer Perks founder Whitney Cromley said the organization is “in desperate need of everything that goes in the perks bags.” Visit facebook.com/CancerPerks to learn more.
The nonprofit also provides Christmas dinners to all patients receiving chemo on Christmas Eve at all three cancer centers, and donations are needed.
Child Safe of Central Missouri
Executive Director Mari Asbury said the Child Safe staff decided to go a different route this year for Giving Tuesday since it is one week after its annual Dessert Auction. Every hour on the hour, Child Safe will be recognizing a hero on its Facebook page. As an organization, the staff has decided to do some random acts of kindness in the community that day.
Asbury said Child Safe can always use donations of new blankets, gas cards, and food cards for the families they serve.
For more information, visit www.childsafehouse.org or contact 660-829-3434 or info@childsafehouse.org.
The Food Center
The Food Center is a 501(c)3 providing supplemental food for over 550 households in Johnson County. This holiday season, the Food Center faces a 43% shortage from its local Food Bank, Harvesters. Donations will help the nonprofit provide food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
For more information, visit foodcenterjoco.com. Financial donations can be mailed to The Food Center at P.O. Box 872, Warrensburg, MO 64093.
WILS
In honor of WILS’ 25th anniversary, the organization is asking for $25 donations to help build more ramps.
Many people in WILS’ six-county service area often find themselves trapped in a home that has become inaccessible as their mobility needs change. The average ADA ramp construction costs $1,851 and takes over 10 man hours to build. Donations will allow more people to access their yards and community safely.
Since 1997, WILS has served people with disabilities in Benton, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis and Saline counties. WILS offers resources and programs to empower people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independence at home and in the community.
To donate, visit http://bit.ly/3GTe0rh or http://bit.ly/3OJdQVq.
Recovery Lighthouse
Recovery Lighthouse helps individuals and families find and sustain recovery from substance use disorders by providing quality services in a safe and supportive environment, collaborating with community partners, and engaging in advocacy.
All donations will help provide clients with necessities to help them get back on their feet. Items needed include gloves, hats, backpacks, socks, towels, hygiene products, blankets, pillows, coats, phone cards, gas cards/vouchers, bikes, nonperishable food items, Sedalia bus passes, and tents.
For more information, contact the Warrensburg office at 660-429-2222 or the Sedalia office at 660-827-4357.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Johnson County organization is always looking for donations to support its local programs.
One opportunity is through becoming a Matchmaker, a monthly donor whose ongoing donations of $20 or more help BBBS create life-changing friendships by "matching" children (Littles) and mentors (Bigs).
For more information, visit bbbsjoco.org or call 660-429-1991.
ECHO
ECHO's (Early Childhood Hunger Operation) purpose is to provide bags of food for preschool children in the community who have been identified as at risk of food insecurity. For many of these children, ECHO’s bags are the only food they consume while away from school on the weekend. ECHO is serving 120 children every week in Johnson County, distributing 400-500 pounds of food every week.
ECHO relies on donations and fundraising efforts to make those food bags possible. To make a tax-deductible donation to ECHO, visit www.echo4kids.com and click on the "donate now" tab.
Donations can also be sent to ECHO - Early Childhood Hunger Operation, PO Box 1082, Warrensburg, MO 64093.
Warrensburg Main Street
Warrensburg Main Street is a 501(c)3 nonprofit in the heart of Downtown Warrensburg that relies on donations from the community, businesses and individuals.
This holiday season, it is looking for investors who are willing to give a little or a lot to help keep the organization going. Money raised from investors ensures Main Street can host free community events and keep downtown looking updated.
Main Street is also looking for donations to go toward updating Christmas decor. The garlands have been updated, but money is needed to line the buildings with holiday lights.
Donations can be given at warrensburgmainstreet.org/donate or checks can be mailed to 125c N. Holden St., Warrensburg, MO 64093.
Main Street also has a new monthly giving program as part of its investment campaign. For more information, visit contact 660-429-3988 or info@warrensburgmainstreet.org.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has started its holiday bell ringing campaign, and more volunteers are needed to help collect donations at area red kettle locations. To register, visit registertoring.org and enter your zip code.
The thrift store in downtown Warrensburg is in need of donations, specifically winter items such as gloves, hats, scarves and blankets. This year, the store has been giving out clothing vouchers to those in need of items like winter clothing, blankets, pillows and outerwear, which means those items are flying off the shelves even faster than usual. Anything that isn’t given away is sold and the proceeds benefit Salvation Army social services.
WMMC Foundation
In the upcoming new year, the Western Missouri Medical Center Foundation has set its goals higher than ever to continue better serving patients as the needs and technology grow.
WMMC treats over 250,000 patients annually, which includes 21,000 patients in the Emergency Department alone. The WMMC Foundation promotes community awareness and a philanthropic culture to support the WMMC mission to work as one to serve the community with excellence and compassion.
Donations can be made by visiting WMMC.com/Foundation, mailing a donation to the WMMC Foundation c/o Jennie Snapp, 403 Burkarth Road, Warrensburg, or donating on Venmo @WMMCFoundation.
For more information, visit WMMC.com/Foundation/GivingTuesday.
Johnson County Cancer Foundation
The Johnson County Cancer Foundation is always open to accepting donations and all proceeds stay in Johnson County to help residents experiencing hardships associated with cancer. To date, JCCF has provided over $900,000 in financial support to Johnson County residents.
Donations can be sent via PayPal to jocomocancer@gmail.com, Venmo to @JCCF2006, or mailed to PO Box 169, Warrensburg, MO 64093.
