Avenue of Life

Who Can Visit?

Avenue of Life serves low-income individuals and families, especially those who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. Their main focus is on families with children enrolled in the Kansas City Kansas, Turner, Piper, and Bonner Springs/Edwardsville school districts. Families are often referred to Avenue of Life through their child's school. Walk-ins in need of food, clothing, or other support are also welcome at the Equipping Center.

Food & Essentials

Avenue of Life provides food through a food pantry as well as hot meals served on-site. Reviewers mention a hot breakfast available at the Equipping Center, and food service in the evening at 5:30 PM on Tuesdays through Fridays. The pantry also distributes food that visitors can pick up. In addition to food, Avenue of Life gives out clothing and accepts donations of blankets, furniture (except beds), small appliances, and household decor items to help families furnish apartments.

How to Pick Up

Visitors can come to the Equipping Center at 500 N 7th Street Trfy, Kansas City, KS 66101 to access food, meals, and clothing. Hot meals are served in the evening starting at 5:30 PM on Tuesdays through Fridays. A hot breakfast is also available on-site. Reviewers note that clothing is given out at the Equipping Center as well.

Additional Support

Avenue of Life offers a wide range of services to help families become stable and self-sufficient. These include:

• Housing help: Navigators work one-on-one with families to find safe and stable housing. Avenue of Life can assist with first month's rent and security deposits.
• Employment support: Help finding jobs and accessing better-paying work opportunities.
• Free tax preparation: A team of volunteers prepares free tax returns for low- to moderate-income individuals on Wednesdays and Fridays during tax season. Call United Way for an appointment.
• Computer access: Computers are available for visitors to use at the Equipping Center.
• Classes and life skills: Various classes are offered, including financial help for utilities and life skills training.
• Church services: Church services are held on-site.
• Impact Wednesdays: Multiple support services are brought together in one place on Wednesdays so families can access housing, employment, income support, childcare, education, healthcare, legal help, and mental health resources all in one visit.
• Referrals: Avenue of Life partners with over 90 organizations to connect families to community resources. They can also refer families to other agencies like Happy Bottoms (diapers) and Mission Adelante.

Ways to Give

Avenue of Life welcomes donations in several ways:

• Online donations: Donate at avenueoflife.org/donate. All donations are eligible for tax deductions in the U.S.
• Check: Make checks payable to "Avenue of Life" and mail to PO Box 34495, Kansas City, MO 64116. Include your name and email address if you would like your tax receipt by email.
• In-kind donations: Avenue of Life accepts clothing, blankets, furniture (except beds), small appliances, and household decor to help furnish apartments for families they serve. Learn more about what is needed at avenueoflife.org/in-kind-donations.
• Stock donations: Avenue of Life has partnered with National Christian Foundation to accept donations of stocks and mutual funds.

You can also reach them by phone at 816-787-6101 for questions about donations.

How to Join the Team?

Avenue of Life has many ways to volunteer at the Equipping Center. Current volunteer opportunities include:

• Wednesday Impact KCK Dinner Event: Help serve dinner to families during the weekly Impact Wednesday event.
• Saturday Impact KCK Breakfast Event: Volunteer at the Saturday morning breakfast.
• Weekday Volunteer Opportunities: Help with various tasks during the week.
• Impact Wednesday: Support families accessing services at the weekly event.
• Childcare Team: Provide childcare during events and appointments.
• Teach a Class: Share your skills by teaching a class to community members.

To learn more or ask questions about volunteering, fill out the contact form at avenueoflife.org/volunteer and the team will get back to you. You can also call 816-787-6101.