Warming Up Kansas City This Saturday

Oct 31, 2019 | by Doug Donahoo

Kansas City awoke to a coating of white snow on lawns, trees, and rooftops across the metro area. Drivers hit the road early for their commute, desperate to avoid icy trouble during the morning drive. Breath fogged from the lips of those waiting for the bus and streetcar.

And, if that’s only October 31^st, who knows what the rest of the winter holds for the city.

To help out children and adults in need of sturdy winter coat, The Salvation Army is teaming with MAAC, The Kansas City Star, and KCTV5 to collect new and gently used coats, blankets, hats, and scarfs on the annual Project Warmth Day, November 2^nd.

Trucks will collect donations at eight different locations around Kansas City from 10 AM to 3 PM, primarily at the busiest shopping centers and malls, and at the Kansas City Star building downtown and the KCTV5 studios in Fairway.

At three o’clock, all the trucks will head for a warehouse, where the donated items will be sorted by a team of Salvation Army volunteers. The coats will be separated by gender and size, and bagged up, ready for distribution to other agencies to get them to children and adults in time for winter.

“A coat can make a huge difference for a child waiting at the bus stop in the morning,” Major David Harvey, divisional commander, said. “To be able to arrive at school warm means they can be more successful during the day.”

If you want to help your neighbors make it through winter with a winter jacket, you can drop off a donation at any of the following locations on Saturday, November 2^nd from 10 AM to 3 PM:

Bayberry Crossing (559 SE Melody Ln, Lee’s Summit, Mo., northeast corner of parking lot)

Independence Center (2035 Independence Center, Independence, Mo., north side of lot across from Macy's)

Oak Barry Center (600 NE Barry Rd, Kansas City, Mo., south end of lot next to Barry Rd)

Oak Park Mall (11159 W 95th St, Overland Park, Kan., small lot next to Quivira)

Town Center Plaza (5000 W 119th St, Leawood, Kan., next to Pottery Barn)

Ward Parkway Shopping Center (8600 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, Mo., west side of parking lot next to State Line Rd.)

Crossroads/KC Star (1601 McGee, Kansas City, Mo.)

KCTV5 (4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Fairway, Kan.)