This year, Jewish Women Together (JWT) has provided assistance to nearly 6,000 people across the Kansas City area, supporting families, children and young adults through a variety of community programs.
“These are difficult times,” said Amanda Palan, fundraising chair for JWT. “Government funding has been cut, prices are up, and families are struggling to stay afloat. JWT works to help schools and organizations fill those needs and empower the recipients.”
One example is Suitcase to Start, a program that helps young adults aging out of foster care with household essentials.
Palan shared the story of a young woman named Kim who was preparing to move into her first apartment after aging out of the foster care system. She had no dishes, sheets or cleaning supplies. When the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program contacted the chair of Suitcase to Start, volunteers assembled a suitcase filled with the essentials Kim would need to begin setting up her home.
“Kim’s years in the system had taught her that people generally don’t care about foster kids,” Palan said. “So, when she received the suitcase full of everything she needed to start a home, she broke down in tears. She was shocked that a group of people she never met would care so much.”
JWT partners with more than 30 schools in the Kansas City area, providing items such as clothing and menstrual products. The organization also works with local agencies to provide layettes for newborns, school supplies and clothing for children, and household essentials for young adults aging out of foster care.
Earlier this year, the organization formerly known as the National Council of Jewish Women Kansas City Section became an independent local nonprofit, changing its name to Jewish Women Together.
“Our name may have changed, but the spirit, values and commitment that have defined us for more than 130 years remain strong,” said JWT President Carla Oppenheimer. “We are women coming together to put Jewish values into action, strengthen our community, learn from one another, build friendships and create meaningful change.”
JWT’s annual Light Up a Life campaign is now underway, raising funds for the organization’s year-round programs. Donations can be mailed to JWT at 5311 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS 66208, or made online at kansascity.section.ncjw.org.
Contributions to the campaign support multiple programs including:
- Back to School Store: Provides elementary school children with backpacks, school supplies and clothing. Volunteers help stock and operate the store throughout the year.
- Baskets 4 Babies: Provides layette items to mothers at Operation Breakthrough and area shelters.
- Birthday Bags: Provides children in low-income schools with gift bags containing an age-appropriate book, small toy, toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Mother’s Day Jewelry Project: Allows low-income elementary school students to select a Mother’s Day gift for a special person in their lives.
- Period Project: Provides menstrual products to middle and high school students throughout the community.
- Scholarships: Provides new and continuing scholarships to area high school and college students.
- Stacey’s Closet: Provides essential clothing to elementary school children throughout the year. The program, named in memory of JWT member Stacey Bell, grew out of the Back to School Store.
- Suitcase to Start: Helps young adults aging out of foster care establish their first homes with new linens, pots and pans, dishes and cleaning supplies.
