Locally
Mission Adelante is an urban ministry in Kansas City, Kansas that serves immigrants and refugees from all places. Founded in 2005, they equip and empower children, youth, and adults in life and faith. On a community scale, they establish collaborative initiatives, like Adelante Thrift, that contribute to the flourishing of their neighborhood. Visit www.missionadelante.org/observe to learn more.
Ways you can serve with us at Mission Adelante:
Adelante Thrift Store—Serve or Donate:
Adelante Thrift uses funds generated from their store to support their programs to serve refugees, immigrants, and kids in Kansas City, KS. Join other Hillcresters to serve at Adelante Thrift on the second Saturday of each month from 10 AM to noon. The store in KCK funds the non-profit Mission Adelante, one of our mission partners. You’ll sort clothes and household items or do some light cleaning as needed. Build relationships while impacting a whole community. Meet us at Adelante Thrift, 3720 State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Email Ashley with questions. Sign up for dates here...
Click here to sign up to serve in the Adelante Thrift Store.
Mission Adelante Refugee Reception & Placement | The Refugee & Placement program offers newly arrived refugees a structured 90-day period of support as they adapt to life in the United States. This program provides essential services such as securing safe and furnished housing, initial financial assistance for basic needs, access to medical care and vaccinations, cultural orientation, assistance with documentation like Social Security numbers, job placement services, enrollment in English language classes, and connections to community resources. The goal of the R&P program is to empower refugees to rebuild their lives, become self-sufficient, and integrate successfully into their new environment, all within a challenging but crucial 90-day window.
Good Neighbor Team:
Hillcrest has partnered with Mission Adelante to form a Good Neighbor team to support new families settling in our communities. There are several ways you can be part of the Good Neighbor team from setting up apartments, helping with transportation or donating items.
Learn about the Hillcrest Good Neighbor Team and the 5 levels of volunteering here.
Freedom Fire Urban Ministries
Serve dinner on Friday nights
Their Friday Night Outreach is designed for grade-schoolers, with a separate meeting for teens at the Ministry House. They have 4 meetings that occur simultaneously in separate community centers around the inner city, with several hundreds of kids in total, and 5-20 volunteers at each location. Each meeting is led by a staff member or two, and each (ideally) has volunteers assigned for that week. Church groups often get involved in these meetings by bringing the meal, doing a skit, giving a testimony, or just playing along with all the kids. This is a great way to be exposed to Freedom Fire and develop relationships with a few kids. Each week they play games, give a short devotional, share a meal and have a raffle.
After School Tutoring
Tutoring is provided on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 pm-6:00 pm. Times are flexible based on the availability of the tutor. Freedom Fire screens and recruits the students from our neighborhood activities. Relationships are important, so tutors meet consistently with the same student each week, building friendship along the way. Training and background checks are required. This is a great way to deeply impact and prepare our students for their future.
Freedom Fire Urban Ministries provides tutoring, reading, mentoring, and Friday night youth outreaches in Kansas City, Missouri. They also have a church that meets on Sunday mornings and primarily serves the homeless population. To volunteer at Freedom Fire, visit http://freedomfire.org/volunteer-opportunities/
Youth
There are five youth outreaches (four meet on Friday night) where volunteers are needed to assist with games, meals, and various activities.
1-on-1 leaders are needed to meet with youth on a weekly basis after school. This could involve tutoring, mentoring, spiritual encouragement, and fun activities.
Homeless
Meals are needed every Sunday at their local church. Over 60% of the congregation are homeless and do not have access to another meal on Sunday. You can also volunteer at Worship Wagon, a mobile church, on Sunday afternoon or Monday night. Learn more at http://worshipwagon.org
Projects
There are numerous opportunities to help by providing some labor either at their ministry center or their camp located about an hour south of Kansas City.