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YMCA OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

Food Distribution and Hunger Prevention

The Y is working to eliminate hunger in our community through mobile food distribution sites and other food programs throughout the metro. The programs address a growing need for those unsure where their next meal will come from.

The Y Takes on Food Insecurity

mobile food drive volunteer

Mobile Food Pantry

The Y is working to help ensure that our community has access to fresh, nutritious food through Mobile Pantry food distribution programs in partnership with Harvesters. The programs address a growing need for those unsure where their next meal will come from.

 

Participants stay in their vehicles while volunteers load fresh produce, canned goods and a variety of other non-perishable items into their vehicles. All in need are welcome.

 

North Kansas City YMCA - 1999 Iron Street, North Kansas City, MO 64116
First Friday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m.
For more information or to volunteer, call 816.300.0531 or email NKC@KansasCityYMCA.org.

 

Olathe Family YMCA - 21400 W 153rd Street, Olathe, KS 66061
First Wednesday of every month, 2-3:30 p.m. 
For more information or to volunteer, call 913.393.9622 or email Olathe@KansasCityYMCA.org.

 

Kansas City Kansas Community College - 6565 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66112
Fourth Friday of every month, 10 a.m. to noon. For more information or to volunteer, call 913.378.9622 or email Providence@KansasCityYMCA.org. This program is in partnership with Harvesters, Humana, Kansas City Kansas Community College and Providence Medical Center.

 

Cleaver Family YMCA - 7000 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64131
Third Tuesday of every month, 10-11 a.m.
For more information or to volunteer, call 816.285.9622 or email Cleaver@KansasCityYMCA.org

north kansas city food pantry

Marketplace Outreach Pantry in KC

  • North Kansas City YMCA - 1999 Iron Street, North Kansas City, MO 64116
    By appointment, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
    For more information and to set up an appointment, contact the North Kansas City YMCA at 816.300.0531.

    The Marketplace Outreach Pantry at the North Kansas City YMCA offers fresh fruits and vegetables, plus other items that will vary from time to time such as grains, whole wheat pastas, beans, healthy drinks (including almond milk and 100% juices), healthy snacks (such as granola, energy bars and nuts), and healthy condiments (such as olive oil mayonnaise). As part of a new partnership with the Y, volunteers with Easterseals will staff the food pantry.
     

  • Cleaver Family YMCA - 7000 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64131

    Food pantry is available during regular center hours for anyone in need. 


     

andrea toney handing out food

Feeding Hungry Kids

When the school day ends, many youth are at risk of going hungry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Y works to ensure kids in need get access to healthy snacks and food during the school year and throughout the summer.

 

Each year, the Y provides more than 324,000 snacks in before and after school programs and camps. 

 

Studies show that kids who are hungry don’t do as well in school, can’t focus and are more likely to have behavior problems. The meals and snacks meet a critical need by providing nourishment and setting kids up for success. 

north kansas city urban garden

North Kansas City YMCA Urban Farm Planted by Humana

To address food insecurity, the Y has partnered with Humana to open a .25 acre Urban Farm at the North Kansas City YMCA. The Urban Farm will provide fresh produce to the community through 10 raised beds, 20 orchard trees and a tunnel greenhouse.

 

In addition to Humana, the Urban Farm received funding from the American Heart Association and in-kind support from Kansas City Community Gardens, Stuppy Greenhouses, and Fry & Associates, Inc.

 

The Urban Farm made its initial harvest in Fall 2020, harvesting over 150 pounds of healthy, organic produce. Volunteers and associates will begin planting in March for a summer harvest to begin in May. Harvested food will be distributed to those in need in a variety of ways including supplying food to indoor and mobile food pantries at the North Kansas City YMCA, KC Healthy Kids Program, and other distribution points in the community.

 

Future plans include increasing the number of garden beds from 10 to more than 50, planting an orchard for fresh fruit, expanding community education programs, helping other Y centers develop their own Urban Farms, and expanding gardening programs for seniors, youth, and families.

 

For more information on how you can get involved, call 816.300.0531 or email NKC@KansasCityYMCA.org.

Community Gardens

Many Ys offer community gardens, and gardeners share their harvest with members and the community. Contact the locations below for more information.
 

 

Platte County Community Garden

The community garden is made possible thanks to a collaboration among the Y, The National, Platte County Parks and Recreation, The University of Missouri Extension Center and the Master Gardeners. It has 10-by-20-foot plots available to the community to rent.

 

All gardeners commit to donate a portion of their harvest to nearby food pantries, including St. Therese's Pantry in Parkville and Mimi's Pantry in Riverside. Each year, gardeners donate a total of 1,000 to 3,000 pounds of produce to benefit those in need.

 

To keep the garden going strong and provide resources to gardeners, the Master Gardeners cultivate two of the 34 plots as demonstration gardens, one of which is pollinator garden designed to attract pollinating insects and help increase the vegetable yield in the community garden. The Master Gardeners are maintain two apple trees, two peach trees, four blueberry bushes, blackberry bushes and a strawberry bed.

 

For more information, contact Platte County Community Center South at 816.505.2622.

Donate Now

Make a gift to eliminate hunger in our community. Your support of Y food programs will help youth, individuals, families and seniors who don't know where their next meal is coming from.

Donate Now