05.09.2024

Today’s Forecast

73º | 5% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 6:10 a.m. | Sunset 8:19 p.m.

🤝 The metro is here to help

Volunteer for Project Homeless Connect’s annual service event

A volunteer in a blue shirt speaks with a man wearing a bandana and a backpack. Everyone in the photo is masked.

PHCKC operates through partnerships between volunteers + service organizations. | Photo via PHCKC

One of the most frequent questions we get in our inbox? Places to volunteer.

For our service-minded readers, Project Homeless Connect KC (PHCKC) is just around the corner, and it’s one of the best annual opportunities to help KC’s unhoused population. Here’s how you can help on Tuesday, May 21 at the Gregg/Klice Community Center.

About PHCKC

A 2020 count by the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness reported that over 1,700 Kansas Citians experience homelessness nightly — a number that’s only increased since then, according to PHCKC co-founder Emma Brook.

To help improve access to support services across the metro, reStart Inc. and PHCKC partnered to host a free, one-day event to coordinate the efforts of support agencies + individual volunteers. As of 2024, they’ve kept it going for the past 10 years.

Guests will have access to medical, vision, and dental care, employment + housing assistance, ID procurement, and nutrition services. How does it all come together? This is where you come in.

A photographer snaps a picture of a seated person before a white backdrop. Others wait in line or talk at other stations. — Photographers provide guests with headshots for their resumes. | Photo via PHCKC

Volunteer

PHCKC is 100% volunteer planned, led + executed. Some specialized roles require certain experience — for example, health care workers can sign up to help take vitals — but most volunteers will be provided with all the training they need prior to their shift.

For our people people: PHCKC has the highest need for “navigators.” Volunteer navigators will be paired one-to-one with guests to discuss their needs + direct them to the correct services. Browse open positions and register.

Provide a service

Are you a service provider able to provide day-of health screenings, legal assistance, resume workshops, pet resources, photography, or anything else that may help KC’s unhoused community? Check out PHCKC’s service needs to see how you can be of use.

There’s always work to be done — check out our running list of volunteer opportunities across the metro for more ways to give back.

Events

Thursday, May 9

Mini Master Model Builder Competition | Thursday, May 9-Sunday, May 19 | 12 a.m.-11:59 p.m. | Virtual + In-person | LEGOLAND Discovery Center, 2475 Grand Blvd., KCMO | $0-15+ | Take your kiddos aged 5-12 to create their most creative mode of “Thrilling Transportation” for a chance at the title and two annual passes.
The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie | Thursday, May 9 | 7:30 p.m. | T-Mobile Center, KCMO | $35-$350 | This co-headline tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of indie cult classic albums “Give Up” + “Transatlanticism.”

Friday, May 10

Paint and Puff — Paint your Pet | Friday, May 10 | 7-9 p.m. | Happy Trees Painting, 1219 Union Ave., KCMO | $55 | Puff, puff, paint is the name of the game at this 420-friendly art class in inspired by your favorite furry friend.

Saturday, May 11

Show-Me State Rodeo | Saturday, May 11-Sunday, May 12 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Hale Arena, 1701 American Royal Ct., KCMO | $15-$25 | All are welcome at this LGBTQ+ rodeo featuring familiar favorites and “camp” events, like goat dressing and steer deco.
Movie Night on The Lawn | Saturday, May 11-Saturday, Oct. 26 | 7-9 p.m. | Legends Outlets, 1865 Village West Pkwy., KCK | Free | Pack some blankets, order carryout from nearby eateries, and layout on the lawn to watch timeless classics and Hollywood blockbusters under the stars.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Wyandotte County residents voted down a $420 million bond proposal geared towards KCK schools. The special election ballot measure would have funded the rebuilding of existing KCKPS buildings and a new state-of-the-art public library, among other renovations. (FOX4)

Open

Have you heard? Shawnee Music Co. is open and offering one-on-one lessons at 5900 Nieman Rd. The brainchild of UMKC Conservatory grad Ryan Wurtz, the space welcomes musicians of all skill levels + will offer small group classes for young kids through Stepping Stones KC. (Johnson County Post)

Development

A mixed-use development in Olathe got the go-ahead, despite neighbors’ concerns over congestion. The project will bring 300 apartment units, 10 townhomes + 28,500 sqft of commercial space to its plot off Kansas Highway 10. (Johnson County Post)

Read

Looking to shop small when you pick up your next road trip read? Head to Monstera’s Books to snag a free 2024 Midwest Indie Bookstore Map — that way, wherever you travel this summer, you’ll be as on top of local bookstores as you would be in the good old Heartland.

Trending

The Chiefs have picked their winning team... and this time we’re talking cheer. The internet couldn’t get enough of Chiefs cheerleader tryouts as the team rounded out this year’s final auditions over the weekend. Take a peek at the final roster. (Kansas City Star)

Closed

Strip’s Chicken shuttered its Waldo location after concerns over theft. You can still find the local fast-food chain at its Olathe + Merriam locations. (Kansas City Star)

Number

$4,000. That’s how much we’re looking to raise to support our staff and mission here at KCtoday — and our fundraising ends tomorrow. If you love the free community resource you’re reading right now (we sure do), support us today with a one-time donation. See how close we are to our goal.

Watch

🎥 From floodlights to spotlights

Travis Kelce cast in Ryan Murphy’s new horror drama series

Football player by day, SNL host by night. | Photo by Steve Sanders via Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce has proven that he isn’t camera shy — but instead of NFL floodlights, he’ll be in the spotlight on the upcoming FX horror series “Grotesquerie.”

Not much is known about the new show by Ryan Murphy, creator of “Glee,” “American Horror Story,” and more recent streaming hits like “Dahmer” — except that it’s expected to release in the fall, according to an Instagram announcement.

Kelce’s role also isn’t clear — although if you’ve been paying attention, he’s no stranger to Hollywood. Since “Catching Kelce,” he’s appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” as a cameo in “Moonbase 8,” and will host “Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?”

He also has a few production credits under his belt: the world famous wide receiver was an executive producer on “My Dead Friend Zoe,” which debuted at SXSW earlier this year, and will help produce an upcoming documentary on artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The Buy

LED signs. Are you looking for a fun way to brighten up your home? Category6 LED has iconic neon signs scaled down to a size perfect for your at-home bar or game room.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Dayten

From the editor

Shoutout to reader Donna C., who pointed out that this is also Nurses Week. We all have a lot of thank you cards to send out.

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