Giving Day: One Way DEMDACO Lives Its Mission

Our offices were closed on June 12, 2019 for Giving Day, when 130 DEMDACO colleagues supported community service organizations instead of performing their typical job duties. We learned a lot on Giving Day while working in the community and living out our mission to Lift the Spirit.

After dedicating over a thousand combined hours in one day, we are so inspired by the caring organizations that work tirelessly on issues related to veterans, homelessness, health, and more. Thanks to the following organizations for allowing us to join in their work, and for their ongoing efforts to make the world a better place!

After the Harvest

After the Harvest is a hunger-relief nonprofit organization that works with produce industry partners to provide fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables to feed people in need in Missouri and Kansas. Volunteers glean after the harvest, picking what’s left in farmers’ fields and picking up already harvested leftover produce. DEMDACO colleagues gleaned lettuce and bok choy on Giving Day.

Gleaning bok choy at After the Harvest on Giving Day 2019.

Children’ Mercy Hospital

DEMDACO supports Children’s Mercy Hospital in many different ways throughout the year. On Giving Day, colleagues unpacked and distributed DEMDACO products to fathers in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). As part of this Father’s Day-related activity, we also took photos of dads with their NICU children and presented them with framed copies.

Distributing DEMDACO products at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

City Union Mission

Since 1924, City Union Mission has provided warm beds, nutritious food and a place of safety for thousands of poverty-stricken and homeless men, women, and children. DEMDACO colleagues were fortunate for the opportunity to repair and rejuvenate a playground while also helping out with some landscaping on Giving Day.

Reviving a playground at City Union Mission.

Farmer’s House

The Farmer’s House, Inc., is a community-integrated, hands-on work environment where young adults with disabilities can live, work, play, and grow while learning as much as possible about farming. DEMDACO colleagues helped the Farmer’s House refinish picnic tables and replaced the tin roof on a barn.

HappyBottoms

The HappyBottoms mission is to provide diapers to low income families in Kansas City and raise awareness about diaper need. DEMDACO colleagues helped HappyBottoms sort and fold donated diapers to prepare them for distribution.

Organizing cases of diapers for HappyBottoms.

Heart-to-Heart International

Heart to Heart International strengthens communities through improving health access, providing humanitarian development and administering crisis relief worldwide. They engage volunteers, collaborate with partners and deploy resources to achieve this mission. On Giving Day, DEMDACO colleagues assembled hygiene kits for people in crisis all over the world.

Assembling hygiene kits at Heart-to-Heart International.

Mission Adelante

Mission Adelante, which means Mission “Go Forth” in Spanish, is an Evangelical mission and church founded by Jarrett and Kristen Meek in 2005 to provide outreach to Latino immigrants. Their work in the Kansas City area involves community development work focused on helping refugees. DEMDACO employees spent time at Mission Adelante organizing donations in the organization’s thrift store.

ReStore Habitat for Humanity Resale Stores

Habitat ReStores are independently owned reuse stores operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations that accept donations and sell home improvement items to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Giving Day participants pitched in around one of these stores to help move furniture and organize paint cans.

Moving and organizing furniture at Habitat ReStore.

Veterans Community Project

The Veterans Community Project exists to end veteran homelessness in Kansas City by building a specialized community of tiny-homes and providing onsite services that address the underlying cause of the Veteran’s homelessness. Some of our colleagues spent time there on Giving Day, supporting a number of projects–from helping to build new homes to working in the office and writing supporter thank you notes.

Building small houses at the Veterans Community Project.

Wayside Waifs

DEMDACO employees have a long history of supporting Wayside Waifs, an organization committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. Wayside is the largest pet adoption campus in Kansas City, placing more than 5,400 animals each year. We’ve been fortunate to help out in a number of ways, but our team of colleagues spent their time on Giving Day sorting laundry, towels and blankets; loving on animals; and assembling packs of dog treats.

Folding laundry and feeding pets at Wayside Waifs.