Honors Student Experience

Johnson County’s Human Services department manages programs and activities that support the independence, dignity and self-sufficiency of Johnson County residents. These services and opportunities primarily target older adults, people with disabilities, low-income families, and other residents who require assistance.

Their biggest needs are:

– Meals on Wheels volunteers (must be 18+)
Provide a hot noon-day meal during your lunch hour. Volunteers deliver meals Monday – Friday from 10:45 am – 12 Noon. There are 53 volunteer routes daily. You can deliver as a team or an individual. Children are welcome to accompany parents or grandparents. Recruiting both regular (weekly/monthly) and substitute (as-needed) drivers. Volunteers deliver from one of eight centers: Blue Valley, De Soto, Gardner, Lenexa, Merriam, Olathe, Overland Park, & Spring Hill.

– Catch-a-Ride volunteers (must be 25+)
Provide rides to seniors, those with a physical disability, or anyone in a life transition who do not drive and public transportation is difficult or impossible to use. Rides are provided to essential appointments in Johnson County such as medical, grocery store, or food pantries. Volunteers choose their schedules and geographical distance, they are willing to drive. Mileage reimbursement is available. Catch-a-Ride operates Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.

– Food Pantry – Host a Food Drive (all ages)

For more information on these opportunities, check out their website. If you’re interested, you can contact Brandy Hodge.

Happy Volunteering!

Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts a “point-in-time” count survey of the homeless population in the Kansas City Area. In 2017, there were 1,671 homeless individuals and 1,248 homeless households. Homelessness is a nationwide problem that many organizations work together to combat. Phoenix Family is a great example of one of those organizations in Kansas City.

Phoenix Family provides an integrated, broad range of services tailored to the individual person. Their programs enable people to stay in their homes and with their families while they make progress towards and attain self-sufficiency. Combined, their activities empower children, families, and seniors to access the essential resources they need to improve their lives and break generational poverty.

They are always looking for volunteers! They especially need help with their HIKE Reading Program, where volunteers spend one our a week teaching elementary aged youth to read.  Volunteers work one-one-one with the same child each week, so that they can build relationships with them as well. Their Reading Specialists prepare all of the lessons and materials, so volunteers can spend the hour focused on the youth.  During the school year, one-hour volunteer shifts are available beginning at 4:30 and 5:30 pm.  Over the summer, lunchtime shifts are added to the schedule as well.

If you are interested or have any questions, contact April DeNatale via email or phone at 816-529-3217.

Happy Volunteering!

Going away to summer camp may seem out of reach for children on dialysis or who have had a kidney transplant. Not at Camp ChiMer! Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, with the medical support of Children’s Mercy, host Camp ChiMer – summer camp specifically geared for children ages nine to 18 who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis or who have had a renal transplant. The camp is held on the scenic grounds of Three Trails, a 40-acre privately owned facility east of Kansas City, Mo. Children participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities while being carefully monitored daily by health care professionals. There, kids with special kidney conditions can experience camp just like everybody else.

You can volunteer to be a counselor! Counselors support the daily operations and activities of Camp ChiMer Program, helping to ensure and facilitate the smooth and caring delivery of RMHC-KC services to campers. Counselors are the primary caregivers for each camper. The Counselor is responsible for planning, teaching, coordinating, and carrying out activities and guiding campers in their personal growth and daily living skills.  Counselors must be 19 years old and are expected to be present the ENTIRE week. There is no cost to you to volunteer. Meals will be provided for you. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from Camp.

Counselors need to attend an orientation on July 27 at 2 p.m. To apply to be a Camp Counselor, please contact Ariel Penner ASAP. If you are interested in volunteering for Camp, please complete our general volunteer application here. For questions & to submit your application please email volunteering@rmhckc.org

Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together.

They are hosting a 5K on August 25th to raise funds to help more children in Kansas City! You can support their cause by participating in the run or, of course, by volunteering! Check out their website for more details on the race, and contact Jenny Horsley (913-588-2793) to find out more about volunteering.

Happy Monday!

Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center, located in Olathe, Kansas with easy access to Overland Park, Lenexa, Gardner and Shawnee,  provides residents with all-embracing senior living assistance, including long term support, short term rehabilitation, and skilled dementia care.

They are always looking for volunteers for a variety of roles. One that recently came across my desk is for the position of Flower Attendant. They could use someone to water their flowers to keep their campus beautiful and fragrant everyday! What a great way to help out an amazing organization and spend some time outdoors. Check out the link for more information and click here for all of their volunteer postings.

Happy Volunteering!