Our philanthropy efforts focus on assisting local organizations through hands-on projects and contributions. Here are our most recent projects.
Contributing Newborn Care Needs
Kansas City Athenaeum members have been knitting and crocheting to fill requested needs at Truman Medical Center. More than 200 infant hats have been donated since January. Members have also knitted and crocheted booties, thumbless mittens, and baby blankets. This ongoing project contributes toward the newborn care needs at the hospital.
Helping the Homeless
Since January our members have sewn 111 KC Community Bags for The Sewing Labs in their partnership with Volunteer KC who printed canvas fabric with emergency resources for homeless individuals. One side of the bag has a Kansas City street map, and the other side lists the locations for assistance resources. Members have also sewn 84 fleece hats and 84 fleece scarves for The Sewing Labs' annual winter project for the homeless. In addition, Kansas City Athenaeum gave monetary donations in January to local organizations aiding the homeless and a monetary donation in February supporting the homeless warming center set up at Bartle Hall.
Protective Face Masks
Kansas City Athenaeum members have devoted hundreds of volunteer hours in their homes in response to COVID-19 protection needs. Since April 2020 these ongoing efforts have produced more than 3,600 face masks which are distributed by The Sewing Labs of Kansas City to day care centers, schools, senior centers, and other places making urgent requests.
Suffragists Coloring Book Sponsor
Kansas City Athenaeum donated $3,300 in January 2020 to enable the Kansas City Public Library to print 5,000 Suffragists Coloring Books in celebration of the 19th Amendment Centennial. The coloring book was given free to children at the library to educate them on the efforts of eight Kansas City women in their pursuit to gain the right to vote. Due to this year's COVID-19 limitations, Girl Scouts were able to use the coloring book as an at-home activity to earn their "Votes for Women" badge.
The coloring book can also be downloaded from the library’s website at https://kchistory.org/coloringkc/19th.