By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

November 29, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Five years ago, #GivingTuesday was launched as a global day of charity powered in large part through social media.

Thanks to the power of the internet, the new tradition – held annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving – caught on like wildfire. Today, organizations from throughout the world are seeking charitable donations. That doesn’t mean, however, that local organizations don’t still need support too.

The Northeast News reached out to several local organizations today to find out what they’ve planned for #GivingTuesday:

– The Mattie Rhodes Center (148 Topping) is conducting a campaign called ‘Give Toys for Giving Tuesday.’ The idea is to collect 400 toys for 400 kids in the community, and distribute them during the center’s annual holiday breakfast, which will be held on Saturday, December 10, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The holiday breakfast is open to anybody in the community, though the Mattie Rhodes Center asks those who wish to participate to register in advance.

“The only thing that they would need is to pick up a ticket for the event,” said Mattie Rhodes Marketing and Events Coordinator Angela Brunner. “They are free, and they’re available at the Northeast location.”

Brunner added that the non-profit came up with the idea to collect toys after finding that contributors would prefer to give something other than a cash donation.

“We have found that people really love to give something tangible,” said Brunner. “Every kid loves a new toy, and that is something that’s a quick $10 donation that makes a huge difference in somebody’s life. We thought this would be a fun campaign.”

Those who wish to donate can do so at the Mattie Rhodes Center web site.

– Local faith-based organization Jerusalem Farm is also participating in #GivingTuesday today. The service organization aims to give back to the community through service retreat experiences, sustainable living, and home repair projects. To that end, Jerusalem Farm is hoping to gather donations today to help them construct a new community house in the Northeast, near the intersection of Garfield and Missouri.

“As we’re growing, we have more people who want to work with us and more people who want to live with us,” said Joseph Wun with Jerusalem Farm. “Our most pressing need is space.”

The organization has already raised more than half of the funds needed for the project, which is currently budgeted at $400,000. Wun added that Jerusalem hopes to break ground on the community house as soon as possible.

“We would like to be breaking ground by the beginning of the year, if not sooner,” said Wun. “We’ve raised over $200,000 so far, and we’re working with organizations that are interested in supporting us.”

The easiest way to donate towards the construction of Jerusalem Farm’s planned community house is to go to jerusalemfarm.org and click the ‘Expanding Our Common Home’ tab. Donations are also being collected through https://www.wonderwe.com/farm.

– Sheffield Place, a treatment and transitional living center designed specifically for homeless mothers, is asking supporters to consider making a donation on behalf of someone they love on #GivingTuesday.

“We’re asking folks to consider either making a gift in honor of someone, or if they simply want to make a gift, that’s fine too,” said David Hanzlick, Sheffield Place Director of Programs and Development. “It’s to support the agency programming, which is everything geared towards helping homeless mothers and children heal from trauma and become self-sufficient.”

To donate to Sheffield Place today, visit sheffieldplace.org and click the ‘Donate Now’ tab. Donations can also be mailed to 6604 E. 12th St., Kansas City, MO, 64126.

– The Kansas City Museum is another institution that’s asking the community to get into the spirit of #GivingTuesday; the museum is collecting donations towards its upcoming historic restoration and renovation.

The Making a Museum KC campaign aims to raise awareness, funding, and community support for the renovation, which is expected to begin its first stage in 2017. To donate or to learn more about the Making a Museum KC campaign, follow the link.

– If you find yourself unable to make a donation today, but would still like to help a local organization over the coming weeks, Della Lamb Community Services could be a fit. The non-profit organization will be accepting donations towards its 42nd annual Operation Santa Claus event until Wednesday, December 14.

In addition to financial contributions, the organization is seeking new toys, new clothing, Christmas groceries, gift wrap and much more. To donate to Della Lamb ahead of Operation Santa Claus, visit dellalamb.org or call the organization directly at (816) 842-8040.