How are you spreading cheer this holiday season? The end of the year is a time when people come together to celebrate relationships, traditions and the spirit of giving – and not only with loved ones. Every December, members of the Blue KC family celebrate this special time by participating in various volunteer opportunities, from sponsoring a child for a Christmas gift to serving meals at the local food pantry. Learn about these wonderful volunteers and their favorite traditions for giving back.
Monica
Monica Green, a Business Analyst, enjoys giving her time to the City Union Mission’s Mission Christmas. Through this initiative, Monica is paired with a low-income or homeless family, nursing home resident, a child at the Vanderberg Youth Center or a Jackson County Jail inmate to make their holiday a little brighter. She works with the individuals to help them shop for gifts to give to their families, handles all of the wrapping and then, on Christmas Eve, acting as one of “Santa’s helpers,” she assists in delivering the presents to the families. Monica also participates in Wreaths Across America, helping to lay wreaths at our veterans’ gravesites at Ft. Leavenworth Cemetery.
Brenda
Health Information Management Coordinator Brenda Hanes also works part-time in the evenings at HyVee as a customer service representative. Each year, the company hosts a Salvation Army bell ringer day for their employees, allowing everyone to help give back by raising money to support basic needs, housing, youth services, rehabilitation, counseling and spiritual care for people in the community – a special tradition that Brenda says she feels honored to be a part of.
Kara
Kara Lineweber, Community Relations Manager, enjoys sharing her volunteer traditions with her family. One of her favorite annual acts of service is coming together to serve a meal at the local food pantry. Kara also enjoys choosing a name off of one of the many local Christmas trees to gift a child a special present, helping to bring happiness to their holiday.
Blue KC also gave back as a whole to the community this holiday season. Earlier this year, employees voted to select Rose Brooks Center as the charity of choice for the 2019 Blue KC Holiday Giving Campaign. Employees collected coats, pajamas, socks and underwear, bedding, gifts and more for women and children escaping domestic violence in the Kansas City community.
In addition to our Holiday Giving Campaign, we also work year-round to increase access to nutritious food through our Well Stocked signature program. This initiative is focused on bringing local partners together to increase awareness of hunger issues facing underserved areas in Kansas City. Learn more about educational opportunities and ways to get directly involved with local organizations who help feed our community.
Whether your tradition is old or new, big or small, every community-focused volunteer effort helps to reminds us what the season is all about. Learn more about how you can get involved in the Kansas City community this December and in the year ahead.