Project Change

People

Benefiting: Homeless Coalition Services

We had planned a few different ideas for the people challenge. Many of them good (you’ll see in the upcoming months) but for some reason none of them were working out. Time was running out, and we were beginning to wonder whether we would be able to complete this month’s challenge. We knew we only had two hours over our lunch breaks to be able to do something special for other people. So we planned to pack sack lunches and take them to various people in need around the city. Because it was rainy and wet we kind of had to do some hunting for people but it was all worth it in the end. We were able to make 8 lunches and hand them out to the homeless under bridges around downtown KC and the Plaza. It was gratifying to see how grateful they were to have a full meal on a cold and rainy day. We didn’t anticipate the rain, and really wished we had some ponchos to hand out with the lunches!

Places

Benefiting: Project Change

We choose to focus our "places" project change event to be close to home. As a matter of fact, in the same neighborhood. We recently moved into a duplex in a neighborhood mixed with homeowners and rental properties. Within the first few months, it became clear that the neighborhood had very little sense of community. Since they didn't seem to be acquainted and we didn't know any one either, we thought our recent move could be a good excuse to have a meet and greet. Our intentions were to know at least the names and faces of the people living around us. We also hoped to portray an open door policy so that the neighbors around us would know that we are willing to lend a hand when needed.

We made fliers inviting the residents on our street to a front yard barbecue. Then went door to door handing out the fliers and introducing ourselves for the first time. By the day of the barbecue, it seemed there was already a heightened chemistry that was only build upon at the potluck. We had a turnout of 45 people throughout the five hours. The majority of the people had never met any of their neighbors. The longest residents had lived in the cul-de-sac for seven years and were meeting their neighbors for the first time that day. We were one of three families that had move in with in the last two months. We finally got to meet the man we share our duplex with and his son. Families brought their kids and the kids began playing together and didn't want to leave. Everyone brought a dish to contribute and we all learned so much. One family that didn't stay because English is not their first language, several families didn't eat the hotdogs because they are Jewish and another family announced they bought a house and were moving. Although the majority of the evening was spent in conversation, getting to know the neighbors around us, we also took down contact information in case we wanted to organize future events such as a spring clean or neighborhood watch. We talked about what suspicious activity might look like and what to do in the event of an emergency. It was so cool to see relationships forming from just this one first encounter. We are excited to see what is in store for the future.

Things for all

Benefiting: Project Change

For "Things", we wanted to continue our focus on the little things we can do in our own lives to help those around us. They may not be big, but they can be powerful.

The kids in our neighborhood do what kids their age should...playing 4-square, basketball and tossing the football around the culd-a-sac. However, there are often times not enough balls to go around as we have a large group of neighborhood kids who play together. Their play equipment is severely lacking, as you can see in the pictures. Often times, arguments or fights break out amongst the younger children over who gets to play next and whose turn it is in the 4-square line. We decided to try and help this situation by supplying the kids with more equipment. We bought a brand new 4-square ball, a youth sized football, and an outdoor basketball (to use on the one goal that isn't broken!). With the new confidence of new equipment, and knowing they don't have to fight over the one ball they have, the kids will be able to focus on having fun, instead of worrying about who's turn it is. The competition will be on the court or playing field, and not on the sidelines waiting to get to play. We are even hoping to set up a 4-square tournament with all the kids in an attempt to teach them more about fair play and taking turns.

With this little project we hope to do more as the summer progresses. We are going to try and fix the broken basketball goal and put on a concrete base so they can set up a full court to play on. With their help, we can make this little culd-a-sac the best one around and keep them playing with each other, instead of against each other.

Change comes from the inside out

Benefiting: Homeless Services Coalition

We agreed that we both needed to assess and challenge any preexisting assumptions we have about the homeless. To do this reflected upon what we believed we knew about the average homeless person. Then we research our answer in books and on the internet. What we found out was that what we were assuming wasn’t bad...IT WAS JUST INCORRECT. In our enlightenment, we brainstormed good ways to share what we had learned with other people. One way was to create an online journal or blog. In the blog we post good websites, articles, and summaries of our experiences. We made a flyer and held a clothing drive in our neighborhood. Our neighbors graciously gave over 30 bags of clothing. We communicated with several shelters to find out what they needed most. Then we sorted through the donated items giving shelters only what they would use. One of the shelters, Mother's Refuge's system encourages responsibility in the teen and gives them play money that they can use to buy donated items. We were able to add our clothes to the closets they select from. With the information we learned about the local shelters we made a pocket map. The map was designed to be about the size of a post card and combine information such as what services are available at each location and the times that correlate with those services. The Homeless Services Coalition is planning to put the map to good use. 

Ivanhoe Community Gardens

Benefiting: Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council

In preparation for feed the hungry, we started reading about what types of foods low income families have access to and what foods are harder to afford. What we found was that families have a harder time affording and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables. For one, it is more expensive to buy a pound of produce than it is to buy a pound of mac and cheese at the grocery store. Also, if families are unfamiliar with ways to prepare the produce it might be less appealing than the mac and cheese. Last, if food preparation takes longer parents and kids are more likely to settle for a faster meal. So we decided that if we could find a way to give families free access to fruit and vegetables through the construction of a community garden, planted and kept by the kids of Ivanhoe Community Center, then we cut out the upfront cost for the vegetables. We also thought that getting the kids involved in the excitement of tending for the garden would give them a sense of ownership for the end results. Hopefully, making the kids more interested in foods that were prepared with their garden's produce. Then with help of the Ivanhoe Community Center we are running classes every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 that plan to teach the kids the importance of organic gardening and healthy lifestyles. The overarching concept is to equip the kids with information needed to think critically about their food choices. At some point during the program we plan to show them fast and tasty recipes that they can make with the produce they grew. This is our way of teaching families how to cook and garden...as apposed to just giving them fruits and veggies.

Save the Planet

Benefiting: Kansas City Department of Parks & Recreation & Grunhouse

For our Save the Planet Project we are teaming with the Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation and Grunhouse. The plan is to aid in making the fountain of Kansas City more sustainable. This past year the fountains were in danger of ceasing to turn on due to lack of monetary funds. Energy and water costs add up to keep the hundreds of fountains in Kansas City running. In effort to avoid repetitive energy costs and consuming excessive amounts nonrenewable natural resources we are discussing using solar panels to generate energy from the sun to power the fountains. Here are a few of the fountains that are in contending for receiving the solar panel systems. To do this we plan to have a Project "Change" drive. The change drive will take place at and around the fountains that have been selected for enhancement. The event will encourage people to make a wish for the planet as they throw change into collection containers. The change that is collected will go toward alleviating the costs of the solar panel and water saving systems. The exact date for the Project "Change" Drive event is still up for discussion. 

Basketball Experience!

Benefiting: Salvation Army Children's Shelter

When we dropped off a patch of donated clothes to the Salvation Army Children's Shelter we knew we wanted to do more for the kids at this shelter. We thought that we could nurture them for effectivel if we took them to a place where they could try something new and exciting. A place that would allow them to get away and enjoy themselves. We had some connections at the college basketball experience and they were willing to support our efforts. They provided us with 10 free passes for the kids. One shelter worker and six kids from the shelter met us at the College Basketball Experience. The kids where shy at first but it didn't take longfor them to start asking questions, smiling and laughing. One little boy even said it was the coolest.

All-in-all it was a good day with lots of good jobs, high fives and a few shot pointers.