City

Donations + fundraising

• University Health, St. Luke’s, and Children’s Mercy are requesting blood donations at the Community Blood Center (4040 Main St.). Set up your appointment at 877-468-6844.
• Can’t give blood? Contribute to a verfied Kansas City Parade Shooting GoFundMe.
• Shop at Roots KC or Design by Bru where 10% of this weekend’s proceeds will go towards Liza Lopez-Galvan‘s family. Similarly, $10 from every Kansas City Fashion Week Ticket sold through Monday, Feb. 19, will go towards affected families.
• Be #KCStrong and donate to the Chiefs’ + United Way of Greater Kansas City’s emergency fund supporting victims and their families, violence prevention and mental health services, and first responders.

Mental health resources

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | 988
• Crisis Text Line | Text “HOME” to 741741
• JoCo Mental Health | 913-268-0156 or text “SHARE” to 741-741
• Beacon Mental Health | 816-468-0400
• CommCare Crisis Line | 888-279-8188
• The Collective KC | Three free counseling sessions are available for affected individuals, call/text 816-200-0223 or email Admin@becollectivekc.com.
• Free Process | A no-cost group therapy session is available through counselor Caleb Adegoke on Friday, Feb. 23 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at MADEMOBB (221 SW Blvd., KCMO).

• Journey to Oz | Friday, Feb. 16-Sunday, May 5 | Times vary | Crown Center, KCMO | Free | Families can follow Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion down the Yellow Brick Road on the film’s 85th anniversary.

• Pancakes and Ponies | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy, 13380 Donahoo Rd., KCK | $8-$12 | Meet the horses, see riders in action, tour the barn, and eat some delicious pancakes at this breakfast bash benefiting Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy.
• Topeka Polar Plunge | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lake Shawnee Swim Beach, 3300 SE Croco Rd., Topeka, KS | $75 donation | Take the ice cold plunge in support of the Special Olympics.
• 32nd Annual KCK Black History & Scholarship Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 17 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Memorial Hall, 600 N. 7th St. Tfwy., KCK | $110 | This celebration will focus on cultural pride as well as the influence + impact of African Americans, with keynote speaker Dr. Natasha Hampton.

• National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine | Sunday, Feb. 18 | 7-9 p.m. | Helzberg Hall, 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO | $12.50-$90 | Experience one of the world’s most distinguished orchestras perform a program comprised of Ukrainian composers and Sibelius’ Third Symphony.

• More equitable housing is taking shape in KCMO’s Northeast neighborhood. The Jerusalem Farm Community Land Trust is renovating vacant homes + lots to sell back to the community as affordable family housing. The next home is set to hit the market in March. (Northeast News)

• Say goodbye to the E. 49th Street slip lane. The permanent closure of this portion between Brookside and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards mark the next big step for streetcar construction. A “streetcar only” lane, from Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard to 51st Street, is set to take its place.

• Bonner Springs is dishing out some great eats during its Restaurant Week 2024. From Sunday, Feb. 18 to Saturday, Feb. 24, you can relish in delicious specials from breakfast to dessert at one of 12 #EatLocal restaurants, bakeries + coffeehouses.

• National Caregivers Day. The holiday honors those who tend to others’ personal care, including physical and emotional needs. Take some time today to thank the caregivers in your life with a little extra kindness.

• Pub-forward bites are front and center on City Barrel’s all-new menu. Try its crispy Thai style shrimp or high society fish & chips with a unique beer pairing + new sides options. Don’t worry though, fan favorites Fancy AF Fries and CB Smash Burger are still made to order.

• The London Bridge is not falling down, but the Buck O’Neil one finally has. Highway 169 traffic was recently switched to its replacement structure after nearly three years of construction. Watch the 68-year-old bridge come tumbling down over the course of three minutes. (Kansas City Star)