Skip to main content

Thank the Volunteers in Your Life During National Volunteer Week

YMCA of Greater Kansas City
April 20, 2017
Lets Move Outside Volunteers

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City is encouraging community members to use National Volunteer Week (April 23-29, 2017) as a way to take a moment and thank the volunteers in their lives. 

“Without volunteers, the Y wouldn’t be the same; they’re the heart and soul of our organization and without their hard work, dedication and selflessness we couldn’t do the work we do every day to help kids, families and communities thrive,” said David Byrd, President and CEO at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. “By bringing people together from all walks of life around a shared purpose to do good, the Y is creating a stronger, more cohesive community.”

As one of the leading nonprofits and volunteer organizations in the country, nearly 600,000 people volunteer at the Y each year and here in Kansas City more than 4,000 volunteers give back through activities such as mentoring teens, coaching youth sports, serving on our boards and spearheading fundraising drives. These opportunities also help volunteers enhance their personal well-being and develop meaningful relationships – all while making an impact in communities they care about. 

Here in Kansas City, Y volunteers helped to advance so many of our programs. One brand new program is at our Providence YMCA in Kansas City, KS, called Kid’s Café. 

It is a partnership with Harvesters that allows us to serve healthy, wholesome snacks to kids up to age. Volunteers set up, track and serve snacks to children in our Y on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Without our volunteers, over 50-100 kids would not get food that could possibly be the only food they get until school the next day. 

Our volunteers are a vital part of this program as they are with so many of our Y programs and services! There are also many more opportunities for others to help make a difference. 

National Volunteer Week is a great time to get involved and give back. Here are 5 ways individuals can take an active role at the Y and in their community: 

1. Youth Volunteer Corps: The Youth Volunteer Corps of Greater Kansas City, hosted by the Y, is part of a national nonprofit network that offers youth between the ages of 11-18 the opportunity to improve their community through volunteering.  

Saturday, April 22, 9:30 a.m.-Noon: Youth Volunteer Corp Sponsored by the YMCA is inviting youth ages 11-18 to go to FRIENDSHIP INN and assist with miscellaneous tasks such as planting flowers and painting the back porch! 

Sign up here to help: http://www.yvckc.org/may-20th---friendship-inn.html

2. Challenger Buddies: Volunteer Buddies help athletes with special needs experience the joy of being part of a team in YMCA Challenger sports such as baseball. Not only do Buddies offer physical assistance as needed, they also offer encouragement and friendship.

The week of April 23-29 Challenger is hosting its final week for soccer athletes age 4 to 30+ with special needs.  To help athletes, we use volunteer buddies who support the players as they participate. 

Here are the locations for volunteer opportunities: Mondays-Lee's Summit, Tuesdays-North Kansas City, Wednesdays-Overland Park, Thursdays-Excelsior Springs.

Contact RaeganSchurr@KansasCityYMCA.org to volunteer.  

3. Let’s Move Outside: Each month Let's Move Outside partners with organizations to get our community outdoors playing, working, serving and learning! 

On April 22 we are partnering with the WHOLE PERSON to do planting independence. This program provides assistance with general yard clean up to consumers who receive services from the Whole Person.  

Sign up here to help: http://thewholeperson.org/get-involved/volunteer/planting-independence.html

4. Togetherhood: Togetherhood is the Y’s signature program for Social Responsibility. This program invites Y members to lead and participate in service projects that benefit the community where they live! 

On April 29 9 a.m.- The Blue Springs Togetherhood team is doing an Extreme Yard Makeover for the Bridge Home for Children in Kansas City, MO. The Bridge Home is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth, particularly teen moms and their infants and girls 8-18, who are victims of abuse or neglect. This project is dedicated to rejuvenating the yard space for the Bridge Home residence. 

Sign up here to help: https://kansascityymca.volunteermatters.org/volunteer/sign-up/3267

5. Internal Volunteer Opportunities: The YMCA has ongoing internal volunteer opportunities to advance our cause through membership and programs. Some of those opportunities include:

  • Sports Coaches
  • Tutors
  • Kid’s Night Out Volunteers
  • Active Older Adult Field Trip volunteers 
  • Opportunities are always updated on a regular basis!

Check out our project catalog here: https://kansascityymca.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, contact Courtney Nigro at CourtneyNigro@KansasCityYMCA.org