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- 21 - accessHealthNews.net November 2023 Volume 10 | Issue No. 78 Kansas City's vibrant communities show their resilience through the many ways they care for each other. Stephanie Boydston, the executive director of Serve the World KC, a local community nonprofit in South Kansas City, joined Grace for an interview about how Serve the World is working for its neighborhood. Q: What is Serve the World? A: Serve the World is a nonprofit organization. We're 501(c) (3) in South Kansas City. We started as a community effort to help our South Kansas City community, particularly the Center school district, by offering pantries and mentors to the kids in the Center school district. We have two events, fireworks and Halloween Evangel. In 2018, we were approached by some community members, Center School District, and Colonial Presbyterian Church. They said there was an opportunity to help further and deeper into the Center school district and asked if we would like to be the backbone organization for the students. So we started Impact Center Schools in 2019 with six families and we are helping the McKinney-Vento population which is for the homeless students in the Center school district, providing them long-term case management with wraparound services. Q: Are these year-round services? A: We do year-round services, even when the school district is closed. We are still providing some assistance throughout the summer. It's not as extensive as it is during the school year because we work very closely with social workers at the schools and the counselors who have school hours, so we try to work with the ones there for that brief period. Once they're gone, we try to do as much as we can ourselves. Q: What are all the different programs that Serve the World offers? A: We partner with Nourish KC, who provides fresh produce to us. We partner with harvesters and get Hiland milk from them and other dairy products. Of course, you get the basic dry goods you usually would get anyway, but we get more variety because our families need that. It is a drive- through pantry, so that they will put stuff in your trunk. You have to be at least 18, and they will give a box to every 18-year-old or above in the car. There are no limitations on how often you can come. You can go once a week; you can't come through twice that day but can attend the following Wednesday. We don't have income restrictions because COVID showed us that anyone can endure a tough time. We just want to help the community in the best way we can. Our Fireworks at Evangel in June was an impressive fireworks display. We had about 5,000 individuals there. We had concessions; there were three-on-three basketball, a video game truck, bouncy houses, and some had water because it was hot. October will be Halloween at Evangel, so if you know any kids, have them come out with their parents, grandparents, auntie, whoever—October 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be pony rides and a petting zoo. You could get some hot chocolate! I can't guarantee the weather, but I assure you there will be a lot of candy, and it's a safe environment for the kids. READ MORE "We do year-round services, even when the school district is closed. We are still providing some assistance throughout the summer. "

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