The holiday season is a time for giving, and at REACH, it is also a cherished tradition to support organizations that make an immeasurable impact on our communities. Since 2012, the foundation has awarded a total of $239,200 in holiday grants to 71 nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing services in areas such as emergency services, food insecurity, clothing distribution, and utility assistance.
This year, REACH awarded six holiday gifts totaling $36,000 to the following organizations:
• Central Avenue Center of Hope – Wyandotte County, Kansas
• David’s Cupboard – Cass County, Missouri
• House of Hope – Lafayette County, Missouri
• Humbold Ministerial Alliance – Allen County, Kansas
• Pete’s Garden – Jackson County, Missouri
• Starfish Project – Johnson County, Kansas
These holiday gifts play a crucial role during a season that can be incredibly challenging for individuals and families in need. From ensuring access to nutritious meals to providing warm clothing and a safe place to sleep, our nonprofit partners deliver vital services that foster hope and stability for so many.
One such recipient is Pete’s Garden. This year, Pete’s Garden celebrated the fifth anniversary of its food recovery program, successfully recovering over 300,000 pounds of surplus prepared food from local restaurants, caterers, and food service operations. With the assistance of volunteers, the organization repackaged the food to provide free meals to families participating in local Head Start and after-school programs.
“When parents or caregivers pick up their children, they can take home a ready-to-heat family dinner. Over 700 families each week take home a dinner from Pete’s Garden – wholesome items like chicken pot pie, pasta with meatballs, and beef mac & cheese,” said Tamara Weber, Founder and Executive Director of Pete’s Garden.
Donations and gifts, like the foundation’s holiday contribution enable Pete’s Garden to sustain its support for the community and enhance its operations to broaden its impact. This year’s holiday gift will help fund a VISTA member through the AmeriCorps national service program.
“VISTAs are hired for one-year assignments with nonprofits to work on capacity-building projects. Our VISTA will be helping us develop communication and fundraising tools to ensure Pete’s Garden can grow and thrive for many years to come,” said Weber.
Typically, the holidays are a time of joy, togetherness, and abundance; they can also highlight the hardships families face struggling to meet their basic needs. The organizations receiving REACH holiday gifts work tirelessly to address these critical challenges, offering compassionate support to help individuals and families in need.
