By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
November 30, 2011

More than 500 Kansas City families received Thanksgiving meals thanks to Higher M-Pact and Creative Planning wealth management firm.

Both Higher M-Pact and Creative Planning volunteers packaged the meals Nov. 22 and delivered them the same day as part of Higher M-Pact’s 5th Annual Day of Thanks.

“Several years ago we had a donor that wanted to have their kids celebrate Thanksgiving by being a blessing to other people, so it has developed into a larger scale,” Higher M-Pact Director of Administration Renee Flowers said.

It began with a few gift certificates for lower income families to buy groceries and evolved to where the operation is today.

“Realizing the economic times we’re in, it’s just a blessing to have that many served and not have them worry about extra income to spend on groceries,” Flowers said.

For Higher M-Pact, this is only one of several ways it gives back to the community.

Flowers’ husband, Tyrone J. Flowers, founded the organization as a way to transform the lives of high risk urban youth and impact urban communities. Once a high risk youth himself, Flowers wanted to help youth overcome obstacles and provide programs and opportunities he never had.

Higher M-Pact includes three tiers: a leadership program that provides “intense mentoring” to youth; Bridging the Gap, which provides motivation to those working with inner city youth; and Project Restore and Hope, which provides programs like boy scouts and girl scouts, monthly birthday parties and field trips.

During the Annual Day of Thanks approximately 15 youth helped deliver meals and organize pick-ups.

One youth came back to the delivery van with a big smile after delivering a meal and said it made her feel good to give back.

“Each year the kids in our leadership program see how blessed they are,” Flowers said. “Although they’re going through tough circumstances, they realize even with that, they are significantly blessed because there are people who are even going through worse circumstances or situations than they are.

“It really means a lot to the families that there are people in the community that do care and want to help. This shows people are reaching out and people are taking care of their neighbors in a sense.”