Kansas City Heroes is a quickly growing grass-roots network of local heroes inspiring others to pay it forward with small acts of kindness. It is our fundamental belief that by recognizing the power within each of us to do good and create opportunities for others to give and inspire, we can make our community a better place.
Kansas City is full of heroes. Each of us has their own story, and sharing this inspiration, connecting with others, and finding small ways to do good makes an impact in a unique way to improve the lives of those in need in our community. We are all neighbors. Some of us help seniors, while others may help the houseless, families and other “neighbors” in need. We want to know how we can help you pay it forward. Won’t you join us?
Be Blessed By Blessing Others
We consider this our personal, pay it forward motto. The mission at Kansas City Heroes is simple: to cultivate a growing community of heroes who pay it forward to those in need of a hero.Jennifer McCartney, Founder of Kansas City Heroes, was raised by a single mother of three. Her memories of her hardworking mother and the ongoing struggle her family experienced taught her to better appreciate the difference an act of kindness could make in her life and the life of her family. Her resulting independence, fighting spirit, and the achievement of her goal to be a professional boxer led the way to the determination she put to good use in forming Kansas City Heroes. “Being blessed by blessing others” came straight from experiences with individuals in her life who recognized a need and stepped up to make a difference.
Paying it forward takes many forms and we engage others who partner with us in paying it forward to a neighbor in need. Some volunteers make or do things for others. Other volunteers donate funds or in-kind support to a neighbor in need. Whether it is serving on site, at your home, or supporting somewhere in between, our hope is to connect you with an opportunity to pay it forward that fits what you can do. Some of the many ways you can volunteer include: attend an event, mow a lawn, give a ride, cook for our houseless friends, help to pick up and deliver donations, join our phone tree to perform well checks on seniors, send a get well card, and much more.
Our team not only seeks to match volunteers with opportunities but to also share their story as a way to inspire other local heroes. Kansas City Heroes is currently active in many areas, including:
Support for the houseless
We currently support coordination and service efforts for a regular picnic for the houseless in Kansas City. This involved food preparation and distribution, coordination of delivery and set up for the picnic, and receipt of donations towards this ongoing event.
Support for those in housing transition
We receive donated items and respond to requests for specific items acts of assistance to help individuals and families in transition to a new home setting. This could involve items to start a new household, moving items from a temporary housing situation to a more permanent one, and even transportation to an appointment to sign their lease.
Support for animal rescue and service
We receive occasional requests for support for rescued or companion pets who need immediate health or safety attention and supplies. We work with other volunteer groups and agencies to connect heroes who are able to pay it forward with assistance in these situations.
Support for those who need a random act of kindness
We connect volunteers with opportunities to pay it forward to a variety of recipients with challenges – including seniors, single parents, individuals with disabilities, and families. These neighbors often need of a range of services, including lawn mowing, simple household repair, or other requests for assistance.
