Clothes Closet News – Socks! New socks for both men and women and packaged toothbrushes and full size toothpaste. As always, we welcome NEW underwear, blankets (inexpensive ones may be purchased at Big Lots, Family Dollar and Dollar General), warm p.j.’s, robes, men’s work socks and anklets for women. No summer clothes at this time.

Revisiting Joplin - Heading back to Joplin, let’s do some work!
If you are interested in a weekend trip to Joplin, March 16-18, please contact Paula before January 31. Limited spots are available. Deposit Due: $50/person which includes housing, food, and work assignments. Total cost not yet determined.

February Deacon Barrels
The Children’s Place helps traumatized children experience healing and gain new hope for the future. Their current needs are: winter coats - sizes 6M to children’s size 8, unisex sweatpants: sizes 2T, 3T, 4T, children’s size 5-7, food items: soup (chicken noodle, beef stew, beef noodle), canned green beans, peas, corn, tuna, jeans: 2T, 3T, 4T and children’s sizes 5-7, tops: 2T, 3T, 4T and children’s sizes 5-7.

 Volunteer opportunity and a chance to make a difference in a child’s life – Grace United Ministries at 801 Benton Blvd., KCMO, needs volunteer, one-on-one tutors for their after-school tutoring program. The need is critical this year because these children attend public schools where state-funded tutoring programs have been reduced or eliminated. Grace currently has 67 students in the program, ranging from K to 8th grade. The greatest need is on Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m, but other days can be considered. If you are interested or know someone who might be, please contact Ann Woolley at 816-509-4783 or awoolley@kc.rr.com, or see Ann, or John Hart on Sunday.

Feeding the Hungry at Cross-Lines
*Eight times in 2011 a group of volunteers from Second Presbyterian serve lunch at the Cross-Lines Argentine Food Kitchen. Members of the Cross-Lines Task Force - Cindy Bowman, Lydia Jeter, Chris McDonald - take turns planning and organizing the lunch, and other volunteers from Second greet the clients and help prepare and serve the food. The location of the kitchen is easy to find and the atmosphere is clean and pleasant. Those who are served are all ages and races. Between 150-300 people are served each day. These lunches nourish many hungry people who so appreciate a hot meal.
*Second Mondays in Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct, and Nov.

Food Pantry Donations  - Many in our city are without food and a hot meal. The Central Presbyterian Food Pantry is grateful for your donations in the past and wants you to know that your contributions to their shelves have made an impact on those whom they serve. They are in constant need ot canned goods and non-perishables, so they encourage you to continue to leave items in the coat closet behind the stairs on the first floor next to the other donation containers. 

An Hour, A Week or A Day - You Are Needed!
Kansas City Presbyterian Manor is in need of volunteers of all sizes, sorts and shapes. If you have an hour a week or a whole day once a month (or anywhere in between) please call Suzi Lockett, Volunteer Coordinator, 913-334-3666. We have all sorts of opportunities available from passing mail to leading the bingo games. We also need folks who would like to read to our residents or just spend time with them. Suzi has more suggestions if you are interested in learning more about KCPM.

Can You Spare Ride
The Shepherd Center coordinates over 70 trips a month for our elderly neighbors to go to doctor appointments, the grocery store, pharmacy, beauty shop, etc. and is in desperate need of volunteers to provide transportation. Anyone who can spare a ride once or twice a month to a very appreciative senior, please call the Shepherd Center, 816-444-1121.

Habitat for Humanity Family Partner
The Kansas City Habitat for Humanity is looking for individuals who are willing to provide friendship and encouragement to a new Habitat family during their first year of homeownership. If interested, please contact: Bridget Gooden, Volunteer Coordinator, at 816-924-1096.

Soup & Bread Ministry
Our soup and bread ministry is in need of more home-made soup and bread. This soup and bread is collected and kept frozen, then delivered when needs arise within our church family, such as returning home from the hospital, a baby's birth and many other circumstances. If you are willing to donate soup/bread for this important ministry, please bring it to the church in non-returnable containers, and we will distribute as needed.

ReStart: Ongoing Needs
ReStart is in constant need of working televisions, video players, and silverware. If you are interested in donating items, please call (816) 472-5664. 

Volunteers are needed at Central Presbyterian Food Pantry and Clothes Closet on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings from 8:30-11:00 a.m. You pick the date(s) that work for YOU. No experience required. Please contact Julie Smith at Central Presbyterian, 816-931-2515, for more information.