2020 A Year in Review
COVID-19 Relief
2020 brought many challenges for the agencies we collaborate with and the families we work so hard to help. Families that were already facing financial challenges were further burdened with job loss and increased childcare needs due to the cancellation of in-person school. The Love Fund stepped up to meet the needs of 230 children who were directly impacted by COVID-19. We provided basic hygiene products, including laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash and more! We provided educational materials for children who were suddenly home full time and did not have access to school supplies in their homes . In one case a mother told the case manager that all she had at home were “two broken crayons.” The Love Fund supplied approximately 60 preschool children with paper, stickers, coloring books, crayons, watercolor paints, puzzles and playdough that they would not have had access to otherwise. These items helped to keep their brains growing and bodies safe when circumstances beyond their control put them at a disadvantage.
Feeding the community
In response to the increased demand from our partners and clients, we expanded our mission to include food and established a temporary new program “Love Fund Feeds.” Through partnerships with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Jackson County, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, and Loffredo Fresh Foods, the Love Fund distributed 2,200 boxes filled with fresh produce and dairy essentials and 1,600 hot meals. Many of the families that came through the Love Fund Feeds line told our staff that this was the first time they had ever experienced food insecurity. When one case manager delivered hot meals to a family, she reported that a teenage boy immediately sat down on the stoop and devoured the meal without even taking it inside!
Emergency Assistance
Continuing to honor the mission the Love Fund was founded on, our core efforts focused on fulfilling the unmet needs of Kansas City children. Through our Emergent Assistance program 128 children were approved a new twin bed; 42 infants received baby items including strollers, car seats, and health products; 32 children had their unique medical need met; and nearly 200 children received vouchers for new clothing. Thanks to your support we were able to provide priceless gifts: mobility and safety for special needs children, a good night’s sleep in a new bed, and confidence in wearing new clothing. The Emergent Assistance program is a resource for families who had lost everything in a fire or simply did not have the extra income to meet the constant clothing needs of growing children. In one instance, the children were being bullied because their shoes and clothing were visibly too small and in disrepair.
School Supply Initiative
Getting a student back to school ready is a challenge for nearly every family, but it’s even more difficult for many Love Fund families. Facing poverty or the overwhelming expenses of caring for special needs children, school supplies often fall toward the bottom of necessity spending. Last year more families than ever before were forced to choose between necessary expenses and sending their child back to school with the required supplies. In 2020 the Love Fund for children partnered with the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation, FOX4, Charlie Hustle, and Patrick Mahomes to send thousands of kids to school prepped and ready. In addition to traditional supplies, this year students were required to have facemasks to attend school safely. Together with our partners we were able to expand the School Supply initiative to serve students in both the KCK and KCMO school districts. Thanks to YOU our supporters, we distributed 40,000 reusable face masks, 80,000 disposable masks, 2,202 elementary school kits, 2,334 high school kits, 1,425 art kits, and 600 pre-school student kits for a total of 6,561 supply kits.
Sack it for Santa
The teen years are difficult at best, and to be forgotten during the “Santa” season is hard. These young people are facing many challenges in their lives and often wonder if anyone cares. The gifts provided during the Sack it for Santa season will assure them they are valued members of our community. Each red sack provides a wool hat and pair of gloves, 2 pairs of bombas socks, a hygiene kit, sweet treat and a holiday gift. 2020 presented a new challenge as the traditional model of collecting donated gifts at over 100 locations city wide was impossible. Volunteers typically spend three days working closely together in order to pack each of these sacks and this was also off limits this year. With a little creativity and a lot of community generosity not only was a solution found but the Sack it for Santa program served more teens than ever before. 1,529 teens were provided a red sack from a theme of their choosing including; arts & crafts, games, spa and sports.
“2020 was a year no one will ever forget, but the Love Fund team met the year’s challenges with creativity and innovation! Our volunteers and staff went above and beyond to make a difference.”