2020 has been a year that required adaptability. Many businesses have stepped up and realized their ability to help others. Part of the 2020 Business Awards presentation was dedicated to featuring those stand out businesses that have been a “hero” to their neighbor. This hero may be a front-line worker or it may be a friend that helped you pay your bills.
HONORING THE HEROES SPONSORED BY ADVENTHEALTH
HERO NOMINATIONS
Volunteers for the Harvesters Mobile Food Distribution
Five times during 2020 Harvesters brings a food truck full of non-perishables and other food to the Shawnee Mission North High School parking lot for distribution to families needing assistance. The need for this service grew during the spring of this year due to the pandemic so Harvesters added a second distribution during the month of May this year. City of Mission Public Works staff set up for the drive the afternoon before and stay to clean up afterwards.
Suzie was told she would need at least 30 volunteers and she knew that would not be a problem because of all the people, who like her, have a generous and giving heart. She has had at least 50 people show up to help at each of the events this year, including over 60 who stayed to help throughout the rainstorm during the August event. Suzie says people have seen or heard about the event and have asked if they can help. Everyone who comes to help truly wants to be there.
Volunteers include:
- Countryside Christian Church members
- Staff of City of Mission Police Department
- Staff of City of Mission Public Works
- Staff of City of Mission Park and Rec
- Sue Walton and friends
- Staff of Shawnee Mission North High School
- Members of the Shawnee Mission North Swim Team
- Staff of Hocker Grove Middle School
- Staff of Shawnee State Farm
- Oak Hills Presbyterian Church members
- Donations from Giving Hope & Help Inc.
And countless other individuals from the city of Mission and surrounding areas. We are grateful to each one of you!
Suzie Gibbs, Lynn Kring and their team of helpers
If you live in Mission, Kansas, there is a particularly good chance you have met or heard the name Suzie Gibbs. To say that she is active in the city is an understatement. She served on the Mission City Council for 24 years over three different times, served as a city clerk, was a business owner and director of the Mission Chamber of Commerce. Through the years she has made many valuable connections, friends and loyal volunteers. If there is a need, folks know to contact Suzie and she will either get it taken care of herself or find someone who can. This included the Annual Family Adoption Program where groceries for Thanksgiving and Holiday dinners are purchased at the Mission HyVee through donations collected from local businesses. Suzie and her team rely on the help from various organizations and social workers; identified families who will receive the groceries as well as wrapped gifts for the holiday. This event takes the help of many volunteers including the members of the Mission Police Department, City of Mission Public Works, and Consolidated Fire District #2. If you would like to help this year, please contact Kathy Lockard (913-722-8206).
Another example of Suzie’s dedication, energy and drive is the new Mission Community Food Pantry that opened its doors October 21st. Suzie, Lynn Kring and their team of helpers have worked with Harvesters and the Trinity Lutheran Church for their support. During Covid, sacks are prefilled with food and handed out instead of people coming into the pantry. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Suzie at 913-671-8564.
A quote from Suzie and a reminder to all of us, “You can do anything if you want to bad enough”. Thank you to Suzie and everyone who pitches in when Suzie calls and enlists their help.
The ongoing programs that directly will help the families needing assistance. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Lynn!
Lynn Kring
Right hand man; confidante; energizing bunny; computer whiz; – and the list goes on and on! All of the above-mentioned events or prior events that have been under my umbrella could not/would not have been so successful if it were not for Lynn Kring! Always available and always ready to help in any way – with a smile on his face! Lynn is in the process of forming a new corporation, “Our Mission Foundation” which will serve as an umbrella organization coordinating the ongoing programs that directly will help the families needing assistance. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Lynn.
Ron Singh, owner of Grand Liquor on Johnson Dr
In May of this year, Ron contacted Suzie Gibbs offering to donate $5000 for families who needed assistance. Ron’s suggestion was to provide 100 families with a $50 HyVee gift certificate to be used during these difficult times. In coordination with Ron, Suzie reached out to local school counselors for assistance in identifying the 100 families, and with the help of the schools distributed the gift certificates. Thank you, Ron, for your generosity!
Generous ladies in Milhaven
A group of ladies in the Milhaven subdivision in Mission decided to conduct a food drive to help struggling families during the height of the pandemic crisis. Together they placed 600 tags on 600 doors in the area asking for donations of canned goods and other non-perishable foods; collecting about 3 tons of food! The canned goods were taken to the city’s Harvesters mobile food distribution at Shawnee Mission North High School. Thank you to the ladies who organized it and the residents for their generous contributions!
Sally & Toppers Pizza
Since day one of Covid, Toppers has been providing free pizza for front line workers, offering affordable specials and delivering to quarantined. She has helped employees cope and recently helped a young man get set up in his first apartment. Even before the Covid started, Toppers had been an amazing example of a community partner and chamber supporter . I can think of no one more deserving than Sally & Chris, owners of Topper’s Pizza.
Jeff Harris – Westwood Council President
Dr. Damon Heybrock – Woodside Village
Ivan Washington – Prairie Village Police Department Captain
Steve Chick – Consolidated Fire District 2 Deputy Chief
Jay Fleer – Mission Police Officer
Toni Lewis – Hyvee HR Manager
Joshua Thompson – Walmart Roeland Park Manager
Mike Kelly – Mayor of Roeland Park
Troy Duvanel – Merriam Police Captain
Johnny Pieters – Merriam Feed
Darren McLaughlin – Merriam Police Chief