Outreach Articles

Kindness Connection - Peru

What began two and a half years ago as a 9-month excursion to volunteer in Peru, has altered the course of a young Johnson County woman’s life. Emily Broxterman went down to Peru to volunteer through the YMCA, and ended up working in the little town of Horacio Zeballos Gamez, a poor community located in the outskirts of Arequipa (the second largest city in Peru). The area has a dry, arid desert-like climate, no running water or electricity, and most members of the sector Emily works in are brick makers with very little formal education.

“We were the first volunteers to ever work in the town, so the doors were wide open for us to try something new within the community,” Emily said.

Touching Tiny Lives Foundation

There are countless opportunities to impact social concerns right here in Kansas City, but the global community often finds many of our brothers and sisters in need of basic nutrition, medicines, and shelter. Touching Tiny Lives Foundation (TTLF) is an example of Nativity parishioners reaching out to embrace a wider global calling – addressing the daunting challenge of countless children orphaned or impacted by the AIDS virus. While new pediatric HIV infections in America have all but ceased, over 600,000 children die world wide every year from AIDS. Over 15 million children are orphaned by a disease running rampant in neglected corners of our world.

Advice & Pregnancy Centers, Inc.

23. 6. 5. 111. 100-150. 577. 3,800.

On their own the numbers don’t carry much weight. But when you consider Advice and Aid Pregnancy Centers, Inc., a privately-funded 501 (c) 3 organization, has operated for the last 23 years with only six paid employees and 100-150 volunteers annually, they provided more than 3,800 services to clients, administered 577 pregnancy tests, celebrated 111 births and five adoptions in 2006 alone. Those numbers become stories that are “making abortion unthinkable… one life at a time.”

Uplift

During the season of Lent, we are all called to step back and evaluate where we are in our relationship with God, with our family, with our community, with our Church and within our world. This year, we will be highlighting some of the many outreach organizations that Nativity parishioners are involved with and support. The first organization is Uplift, a private, non-profit organization created to serve the homeless in Kansas City. They receive no government funding, existing solely on donation of goods and services. Three trucks run on three routes serving hot meals and providing necessities, as available.

Hillcrest Ministries

Just under a month ago, one apartment tenant, Fred, moved out and Laura moved in. This was no ordinary exchange. Fred had just graduated from Hillcrest Ministries, with a stable, fulltime job, and now has full custody of his son; he is on his well way to self-sufficiency. Laura is determined to use the next 60 days to make her transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency as well using all of the resources provided by Hillcrest. She works two jobs in the healthcare field at nursing homes, working a total of 60-80 hours per week (not including overtime).

Retirement and Assisted Living Facilities

One of the unique aspects of Nativity parish is the growing aging population. Within Nativity boundaries are nine retirement/assisted living facilities. Mass is celebrated monthly at six of the facilities, monthly communion services are held at Lamar Court, and Eucharistic Ministry and the rosary are offered at the other two facilities. Clarebridge is partnered with the school’s fourth graders, and Eucharistic Ministers visit those in Menorah and Mid-America Rehab hospitals.