We Vote With Our Dollars
As I recently wrote about on LinkedIn, my dad would always tell me, “It’s easy to say things, Mike, but we vote with our dollars.” We asked our Fervor team members who they’ve been showing support for—by showing up with their pocketbooks. Here’s what they shared:
- Ability KC – “Ability KC is uniquely positioned to provide a continuum of care for all of life’s milestones. No other organization in the region is able to join families for their child’s first steps, the first time receiving driver’s training when they turn 16 or returning to work. Annually, Ability KC joins more than 3,000 individuals with disabilities and their families to support them in reaching their greatest potential.”
- Armed Services Ministry – “Life in and after the Military can be hard, and it’s often difficult to find relevant, Military-specific resources to help during the ups and downs. American Bible Society’s Armed Services Ministry believes that, through the Bible, God saves and transforms lives. Our team of Chaplains and Veterans creates and provides materials to support those that serve in their faith journey–because no one should go it alone.”
- BBBS KC – “Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City works to clear the path to a child’s biggest possible future by matching them with a caring, adult mentor in a one-to-one friendship. ‘Bigs’ help ‘Littles’ ignite, empower and defend their potential by standing with them. Last year, 100% of the Senior Littles graduated high school, 83% reported improved self esteem and 71% reported improved grades since being matched.
- Beyoutify – Every October since 2016, Ashley, owner of a local sugaring hair removal and airbrush tanning salon, donates a portion of her sales to Cancer Action in memory of her mom and in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. This year, amidst the pandemic, Ashley partnered up with Whiskey and Bone to help cover the hit her business took and still be able to provide a sizeable donation. Together they were able to donate a total of $2,067!
- Catholic Charities of New Orleans – “CCANO provides hope, help and loving care for the most vulnerable and needy in the eight civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. We work to be the hands and heart of Jesus Christ for our brothers and sisters in need. Through our ministries, programs and community partnerships, we provide a comprehensive network of social services that connects clients to resources and acts as a springboard to self-sufficiency for those struggling.”
- Children International – An evidence-based nonprofit whose goal is to end poverty one child at a time. One of our contractors helps write their annual program reports, and assures us the data is impressive. They make a huge difference in the lives of children and families living in poverty.
- Conrad’s 816: Conrad’s 816 is a locally-owned restaurant in Liberty. They’ve been around for 10 years. In addition to providing exceptional customer service and delicious food, they are very supportive of our community. They donate to local charities, host Chamber events and a number of other civic group meetings. Shawn and Vince Barber, the owners of Conrad’s, love Liberty and consistently give back, even during this difficult year.
- Disciples Made – “Disciples Made is a movement-generating discipleship pathway that was created inside of a prevailing model church, not against it. We love to serve leaders who have gathered a crowd but are not satisfied with their results in disciple multiplication.”
- Down Syndrome Guild – “The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide support and resources for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the professionals who serve them. DSG seeks to provide the entire community with information and education to broaden awareness and foster positive attitudes regarding people with Down syndrome.”
- Feed Northland Kids – “At Feed Northland Kids, it is our mission to change this story. And so in partnership with Harvesters – The Community Food Network, we work hard to provide these kids with backpacks full of food that keeps them going. It’s food that keeps them growing strong. Our goal is that no child in the Northland goes hungry.”
- Global Orphan Project – Fervor’s alma mater nonprofit and the reason we got started over 11 years ago. A KC-based, worldwide orphan care and prevention ministry, doing some very innovative work. In their own words: “Setting traditional institutional orphan care models aside, we’re connecting a global family united by a shared vision to care for vulnerable children and keep families together. Because we provide localized care based on a community’s unique needs, how we serve looks different depending on where we are serving.”
- GOEX – “GOEX uses a simple tee to connect the customer and the worker. Our customers sustain fair wage jobs that liberate workers from poverty and empower them in their families and communities. At GOEX, we seek to do better in everything we do. A better shirt starts with better pay. We choose to pay our workers in Kansas City and Haiti fair wages. On average, one of our workers earning a fair wage supports six family members.”
- Goodlife – “GoodLife Innovations, Inc. is redefining what’s possible for seniors and people with disabilities. We offer a growing collection of community living service models, support services, and technologies to deliver affordable, high-quality, sustainable private care. Our models of care are established within a well-selected neighborhood, and infuse remote support technologies and professional, next-door caregivers. We believe a life of dignity and independence is possible, no matter the challenge.”
- Harvesters – A regional foodbank serving northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas. Because of the pandemic, 1 in 7 people in the KC area are expected to experience food insecurity this year, and 1 in 5 children under 18!
- Hillcrest Platte County – “Hillcrest Platte County is a Christian organization that offers supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or insecurely housed to achieve sustainable independence. Unlike many organizations whose focus is one-time or emergency care, our primary objective is to move clients from homelessness to self-sufficiency by addressing the total life situation of homeless families we serve.”
- Hope House – “Hope House’s mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence by providing safe refuge and supportive services that educate and empower those impacted by domestic violence. Hope House will advocate social change that protects and engenders a person’s right to live a life free of abuse.”
- Kansas City Public Library: Outside of being able to borrow media they have a lot of really great programs that make a big impact on those who might need a little bit of extra help. When shutdowns happened because of COVID, a lot of people lost access to online resources as the library was their main resource for getting online. Not only did they push to get a system where the public can still safely use computers for free, but they also added hundreds of wifi hotspots to their inventory, allowing patrons to literally “check out the internet”. All in all, they are a great ally to the people in their community!
- The KC Free Eye Clinic – Each year, the KC Free Eye Clinic provides hundreds of patients with free vision exams and access to free/affordable eyecare solutions. The clinic’s patients are all uninsured and also considered low income, and many are from the Northeast KC community, which is also where the clinic is located. The clinic is embarking on a campaign to purchase a mobile unit, which turns their hundreds of patients served to 1,000+ patients served each year.
- Mission Adelante – “We envision a growing multicultural community of disciples making disciples, where immigrants and others are thriving and using our gifts together to transform our neighborhood and the world for the glory of Jesus Christ.”
- MOCSA: “MOCSA’s mission is to improve the lives of those impacted by sexual abuse and assault and to prevent sexual violence in our community.” They are the only organization of its kind serving the greater KC metro.
- Phoenix Family – “Phoenix Family offers programs to more than 5,100 residents living in 34 communities in 13 cities throughout Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Through our HIKE, Families First, and Senior Empowerment programs, we provide an integrated, broad range of services tailored to the individual person. Our programs enable people to stay in their homes and with their families while they make progress towards and attain self-sufficiency. Combined, our activities empower children, families and seniors to access the essential resources they need to improve their lives and break generational poverty.”
- Proof Positioning – “PROOF market analysts in Kansas City helps you take the guesswork out of your organization by providing statistically relevant, mathematically sound emotional data to help you understand the emotions, motivations and preferences of your customers.”
- Resource Health – “We strive to make Resource Health the first choice for those who are at risk for abortion in our service communities. We work to create a culture of life through love, education, advocacy, and discipleship.”
- Seaport Family Dentistry – Seaport Family Dentistry is a team of dentists with service in mind. They have been providing free dental care for the families of Hillcrest Hope for over 20 years. That means each family, each family member receives a check-up, fillings, root canals, and even sometimes a full-set of dentures. They do this with no publicity. Each year they participate in Doctors with a Heart. This program allows anyone in the community to receive a dental check-up, possibly fillings all for the price of a food donation. One of our team members has been a patient there for 6 years and says even as an insured patient, their costs are more reasonable than most dentists.
- Synergy Services – “We take action to create a community free of family violence. Through our trauma-informed programs that address root causes of violence, we’re healing individuals who in turn create strong families and safe communities. Every client is offered the full range of our services, whether they connect with us through one of our emergency shelters, benefit from our comprehensive family therapy department, take part in a support group or work with one of our school-based advocates.”
- UpWords Ministries – “The nonprofit teaching ministry of Max Lucado, is dedicated to helping people take one step closer to Jesus. Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and best-selling author. He serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, and his message is for the hurting, the guilty, the lonely, and the discouraged: God loves you; let him.”
- Untamed Supply – They just opened their new store where they carry other brands that also give back to the community. “We have a duty to honor and preserve our environment. These values are why we source a renewable soy wax, fine fragrance oils, and lead-free cotton wicks. We didn’t just stop at making an eco friendly product but we also donate 3% of our profits to The National Parks.”
- Various artists on Patreon – The pandemic has been especially hard on artists. One of our contractors supports several on Patreon on a monthly basis, including (KC-based) artist John Raux, songwriter William McCarthy, writer and unconscious bias trainer Leesa Renee Hall, and podcasters and community builders The Liturgists.
- Westside Housing – “We are a not-for-profit community development corporation in Kansas City that focuses on building resilient, sustainable communities. With strong partnerships, public and private, and more than 40 years experience, Westside Housing Organization is the go-to affordable housing practitioner in the Kansas City metro area.”
Need more? You can also find our Fervor team members frequenting these favorite local retailers and restaurants:
- Charlie Hustle
- Goat Hill Coffee & Soda
- Jack Stack
- J Quinn Boutique
- Made in KC
- Messenger Coffee
- Mildreds KC
- Mills Record Company
- Monarch Coffee
- Nell Hill’s
- Nickel & Suede
- Pink Dinosaur
- Post Coffee
- Westside Local