Protests have erupted across the United States this past weekend after the death of George Floyd. People from Seattle to New York have gathered to stand against police brutality – Kansas City, Topeka, and Lawrence included.

If you are wanting to support the protestors and the fight against police brutality, you can help by donating to or getting involved with the groups below:

George Floyd Memorial Fund– “This fund is established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist our family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George.  A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund.”

 Minnesota Freedom Fund–  “The Minnesota Freedom Fund pays criminal bail and immigration bond for those who cannot afford to as we seek to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing.”

Black Lives Matter-“Join the Movement to fight for Freedom, Liberation and Justice by signing up for updates, supporting our work, checking out our resources, following us on social media, or wearing our dope, official gear.”

Kansas City Community Bail Fund– “Our mission is to give those who cannot afford bail a fighting chance at getting a positive outcome in their case rather than be persuaded to plead out through the use of a revolving fund.”

National Police Accountability Project– Brought to you by the National Lawyers Guild, NPAP “is a non-profit dedicated to ending law enforcement abuse through legal action and educational programming.”

Campaign Zero– “The comprehensive platform of research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America.”

Here are two petitions to be aware of as well:

• Civil rights group Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice. Find it here.
• The “Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org already has 11.5 million supporters. That sends a big message. Find it here.

Today is Giving Tuesday!

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world through acts of giving. In light of COVID-19, our communities are in need of generosity and unity now more than ever.

Below are some organizations in Kansas City we encourage you to check out and consider supporting!

Guadalupe Centers

Help raise funds to support COVID-19 efforts, including housing and utility assistance, food pantry, meal deliveries for seniors, and virtual learning support for the charter school student body for Latino families in our community.

Donate here!

Cultivate KC

Help families who are struggling to secure food during COVID-19, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, by donating to Cultivate KC. This organization provides local produce grown with care to food pantries in order to help nurture our community.

Donate here!

Shepherd’s Center of KC Central

Support seniors in the community. Shepherd’s Center addresses emotional and physical needs, such as loneliness and hunger, and helps care for one of the most vulnerable populations during COVID-19

Donate here.

Community LINC

Help families experiencing homelessness in our community re-house, stabilize, and become empowered. Community LINC seeks to end homelessness and support families in need, especially those severely impacted by COVID-19

Donate here.

Your kindness and generosity will help countless individuals and families struggling in our community! We are stronger together. Please consider giving today!

Calling all JCCC students and employees! Check out the JCCC Kindness Challenge below! If you are not formally connected with JCCC, I hope you’ll still be inspired by this challenge and maybe start one of your own.

JCCC Kindness Challenge

The staff, faculty, and students of JCCC have already done amazing things to give back to their communities during this crisis. Kindness is so important to keeping our community strong during this time of need. Let’s keep it up!

Honors and Community-Based Learning has teamed up with the JCCC Kindness Club to propose a challenge. How many acts of kindness can JCCC do by the end of the (current) Kansas City stay-at-home order – May 15^th? Let’s reach 100 acts!

Below is a list of ideas. We hope many of these acts are already integrated in your routine; if not, here is an incentive to spread kindness in your community in small ways. If you do any act of kindness from the list or beyond, send me an email (tkaraim@jccc.edu)! I will keep track of all of our good deeds and reveal the final tally after the deadline! Feel free to send me pictures as well or post on Social Media (#JCCCKidnessChallenge). Follow Community-Based Learning for updates on the challenge on Instagram – @jccc_cbl.

Please only do the tasks that are safe, healthy, and feasible for YOU.

Ideas:

• Send a letter to someone in need
• Safehome – Notes of encouragement for clients and direct service staff at Safehome can help spread some love! Letters can be mailed to Safehome, PO Box 4563, Overland Park, KS 66204-0563.
• Santa Marta – Become a pen pal to a senior citizen. Reach out to Rachel Schuckman for more information: rschuckman@santamartaretirement.com
• Make masks to give to friends, neighbors, or local hospitals
  • Click here for instructions on how to make your own mask
• Send food to medical, emergency, or any essential workers
• Call your grandparents!
• Give blood
  • Two agencies to give blood at in Kansas City are the Red Cross or Community Blood Centers
• Donate to local organizations
  • Here’s a great list of organizations making a difference in KC right now
• Volunteer at a food pantry
  • Harvesters is a great place to start. Here’s a link to their list of food pantries.
• Volunteer remotely
  • Subscribe to this blog and keep checking back for new ideas!
• Leave notes or treats for delivery drivers
• Write encouraging messages with sidewalk chalk
• Advocate for an agency on social media
• Support local businesses by buying gift cards
• Buy groceries for a family in need 
• Leave a nice tip at a local restaurant 
• Send/leave a kind note to a neighbor 
• Go for a walk and pick up trash along the way 
• Create an appreciation post for someone

Let Tara Karaim know if you have questions at tkaraim@jccc.edu. Let’s do this!

Many of the churches in Kansas City have hosted food drives over the past few weeks since the shelter in place order was issued. Over that time, the need at local pantries has grown exponentially.

On Saturday, May 2nd from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM, metro-area churches will collaborate for a major food and resource drive benefiting food pantries who are experiencing unprecedented demand due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This metro-wide resource drive will benefit these local Community Partners: · Avenue of Life, Kansas City, KS · Mission Southside, Olathe, KS · Shawnee Community Services, Shawnee, KS · Freedom Fire, Kansas City, MO · Calvary Community Network, Kansas City, MO · Feed Northland Kids, Liberty, MO · Raytown United Food Ministry, Raytown, MO

Drop off your items at any of the following locations closest to you (there is no need to package items, simply take them directly from store to site if you want).

DROP OFF Locations:

• Kansas City, MO · Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Road
• Liberty, MO · Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 N. State Route 291
• Raytown, MO · Connection Point Church, 10500 East 350 Hwy
• Kansas City, KS · Westside Family Church, 3001 N. 115th Street
• Lenexa, KS · Foundry Church, 8835 Lackman Road · Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia Drive
• Olathe, KS · Journey Bible Church 13700 W. 151st Street · Christ Community Church, 21835 College Blvd · Olathe Christian Church, 1115 South Ridgeview Road
• Overland Park, KS · Life.Church, 9800 West 135th Street · OP Church of Christ, 13400 West 119th Street
• Shawnee, KS · Community Life Church, 6424 Vista Drive

ITEMS LIST:

FOOD STAPLES

· Bread
· Tortillas
· Instant Oatmeal
· Peanut Butter & Jelly
· Ramen Noodles
· Rice
· Pasta & Sauce
· Macaroni & Cheese
· Vegetable Cooking Oil
· Sugar Cane/Brown Sugar
· Dried Beans
· Applesauce
· Granola Bars
· Bags of Chips
· Potatoes, Onions
· Fruit (Apples & Oranges are best)
· Canned Goods
· Beans (Black/Refried)
· Chile Sauces
· Stew/Soup
· Meat (Tuna, Chicken, etc.)
· Vegetables

LAUNDRY SUPPLIES

CLEANING SUPPLIES

PAPER PRODUCTS

· Toilet Paper
· Paper Towels
· Diapers/Pull-ups
· Wipes

PERSONAL HYGIENE

· Feminine Hygiene Items
· Toothbrush
· Toothpaste
· Shampoo
· Conditioner
· Lotion
· Deodorant
· Hand Soap / Bar Soap
· Hand Sanitizer

For more info, visit this webpage. As always, stay healthy and safe!