Philanthropy Archive
Scraps KC Service Project
Kansas City Athenaeum members and guests volunteered in June 2023 sorting donated items at Scraps KC. This nonprofit organization collects used and excess materials to repurpose as resources for teachers, artists, churches and youth groups. Their mission includes providing the homeless with necessities, especially during the cold winter months. In addition, the Scraps KC store offers a huge selection of unused and repurposed items for purchase by the general public. Since its launch in 2016, Scraps KC has diverted more than 300 tons of materials from the landfill.
Volunteering at Harvesters
Kansas City Athenaeum members volunteered at Harvesters twice in 2023. In February members assembled mesh bags that are used to bundle produce for distribution to food pantries. In October members boxed food items to be sent to food distribution agencies in northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri. Harvesters provides food to more than 760 nonprofit agencies with a mission to feed hungry people today and work to end hunger tomorrow.
Supporting Our Veterans
Kansas City Athenaeum donated $10,000 in January 2022 to the Veterans Community Project. This donation continued our participation in Team 49 for a second year of sponsoring one of the 49 tiny homes in the VCP village in Kansas City. The Veterans Community Project offers veterans a safe haven to transition toward financial stability, independence, and permanent housing.
Donation to MOCSA
In October 2021, Kansas City Athenaeum donated $10,000 to the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Our donation supports their services addressing the needs of victims and their program educating the community to prevent violence.
Veterans Community Project
Kansas City Athenaeum was recognized in September 2021 at an induction ceremony for those supporting the Veterans Community Project with $10,000 donations. Our brick at the VCP Village in Kansas City is among others joining the Team 49 effort to support the services provided in the 49 tiny homes built to help veterans. We appreciate receiving the following acknowledgment: "Thank you so much for being a part of Team 49. You are a blessing to every Veteran living in a tiny home. Without your support we could not offer Veterans the critical services needed to help them transition into permanent housing. On behalf of our entire KC staff at VCP, we thank you!"
Changing Lives Beyond Words
Kansas City Athenaeum presented a $10,000 check to Literacy KC in August 2021. The donation helped expand their program with the purchase of 15 new laptops, including software, for their students' use. This helped with virtual learning, GED classes and workplace credentialing.
A Welcoming Community
Kansas City Athenaeum presented a $6,000 donation to Jewish Vocational Service in August 2021 to support their program helping refugees and immigrants settling in our area. The organization aims to engage and encourage people to achieve social, cultural and economic integration in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
Protective Face Masks
Kansas City Athenaeum members devoted thousands of volunteer hours in their homes in response to COVID-19 protection needs. With fabric provided by The Sewing Labs, our members produced more than 4,000 face masks in 2020 and 2021. These were distributed to day care centers, schools, senior centers, and other places making urgent requests.
Donation to The Sewing Labs
Kansas City Athenaeum donated $10,000 to The Sewing Labs in January 2021. The organization conducts sewing classes to train women for higher paying jobs as seamstresses for the garment and mattress industries. The Sewing Labs also coordinates community service needs. The donation helped expand the organization's social media communications, improve coordination with local organizations, and revamp its website.
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.
The coloring book can also be downloaded from the library’s website at https://kchistory.org/coloringkc/19th.