Season of Giving
This season, we hear more and more stories of children going hungry and families needing help. Even the Salvation Army, a hallmark of Christmas generosity, has reported that its red kettle collections are way down. With so many people in trouble, they have less to give to others, which means that those of us who are blessed with enough must step up in this season dedicated to giving.
Many organizations in our community do step up on a daily basis – always ready to exemplify the Christmas spirit of helping out those less fortunate. Throughout the year, my office hears from people who need help and don't know where to turn. I consider it a privilege to use the resources of my office to locate assistance for residents of Eastern Jackson County.
One of these resources is Hope Network, sponsored by the First Baptist Church in Raytown. Ever ready to help, the people at Hope Network will assist those in our community who need help with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, transportation and emergency assistance.
Another source of assistance is ReDiscover. Its mission is to deliver mental health and substance abuse services to help individuals and families achieve healthier and more productive lives. If you know someone whose holidays are marred with the hopelessness of substance abuse or mental problems, ReDiscover is located in Lee's Summit and Kansas City.
Another helpful resource for those who are hungry and who can't afford to purchase groceries is Harvesters: the Community Food Network. If you or someone you know is having trouble putting food on the table, this website, at Food Resources, offers you the ability to search a specific area – say, five miles from a specific zip code in Lee's Summit – to locate nearby food pantries. If you and your family have enough, please consider donating to a nearby food pantry to help replenish depleted supplies.
(You can click on the highlighted links above to find more information.)
Travel Safe!
Although the current weather forecast is not so good, we can still hope that this Christmas will be free from the ice pellets, snow and cold weather that marked both last week and our 2009 Christmas. Please be reminded that, in case of bad weather, you can always check the Missouri Department of Transportation's Traveler Information Map for current road conditions.
Will Kraus
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