Kusmin Family Community Champion

Jackson County Children's Division is seeking assistance in supplying a family with linens and bedding to fit a twin size bed. The child was placed with her older sister who resides in Independence, MO, and is just now settling in and getting her room set up. The child has a bed but is currently sleeping with blankets as a make-shift comforter, and no sheets. The older sister has a set of twins on her own and is now responsible for caring for her younger sister as well and is trying to make sure she has everything she needs. Going forward, the older sister would need help finding extra funds to be able to purchase her younger sister a set of linens and a comforter to go on top of her bed. The child's favorite color is light pink, a "baby pink" to be specific. Children's Division would appreciate any help in supplying the older sister with bedding to make her younger sister's stay more comfortable. Thank you for your time and consideration from Jackson County Children's Division! We genuinely appreciate any help that is offered.

A single mother of 5 child is needing help. She is currently looking for window alarms to prevent her 10 year old son from escaping. She is also needing help with purchasing smoke detectors.

The home is in need of an exterminator to help with the bug issue that is currently in the home.

Did a home visit and child in care is pregnant and is in need of maternity clothes. She is living with her grandmother. The family is in need of 1-2 window AC units, or portable AC units for the home. They also could benefit from food for the home. A list of food pantries has been provided. However, any food donations would gladly be appreciated.

A 17-year-old is enrolled in online school to obtain her GED, she is excelling in her course work; however, due to a recent move, her Wi-Fi access is limited and is affecting her ability to participate. Please consider donating portable Wi-Fi to remove this educational barrier and allow this youth to continue working towards her GED. Amazon link: Go To Link

Children's Division is working with a family that is currently facing a financial hardship and in need of some additional assistance. The family was able to get their child enrolled in daycare, but are needing to pay $70.60 a week. We are looking to assist the family in obtaining care for a month while looking for employment.

I am working with a family that has a complicated dynamic. Grandma has become the primary caretaker for her grandchildren. Their mother has significant mental health struggles that keep her from being able to be employed. Grandma has stepped up and has agreed to care for the children. The children also have behavior concerns that have kept them from being accepted into a childcare facility. This has resulted in Grandma being unable to work regularly and has drastically reduced their income. She has been door-dashing part-time and taking the children with her. In a car that has no air conditioning. Grandma is employed by the school district and will resume working in the fall when school starts and her schedule can align better with the children's schedule. As an agency we are thrilled with the progress that this family has made and the effort that grandma has put in to keep the family together. We would like to preserve this placement, and it would reduce the demands on grandma quite a bit if she could get some help with her utility bills and possibly a working electric dryer. Used is completely fine. The family's dryer has broken, and they have been line drying the clothing, however one of the children has sensory issues and is rebelling against how "crunchy" his clothing is. This is truly a person who would give you the shirt off of her back and has likely overextended herself as a result of this. If you can help with a dryer or with utility assistance, please let us know!

Family of 6 is in need of beds for 2 children. The family recently relocated to St Joseph and had to replace most of their furniture due to a bed bug infestation in the previous home. The family was able to replace a couple beds, but 2 of the children are currently sleeping on used mattresses with no bed frames.

Mom and dad are currently sleeping on couches while they are trying to replace furniture in the home, but their first priority is getting the children a proper place to sleep.

Please help this family rebuild and provide the children comfort to strengthen their well-being. Any help is appreciated!

I currently have a family in our community that is in need of 3 beds and bed frames. This single mother is working so hard to keep her family bond strong. Beds are so important in a kids life because it gives them a place of feeling safe and at home. Many kids go to sleep with out a proper place to sleep which affects there psychical and mental health. With your support of these beds though we can help this family secure beds so that these kids can feel safe and at home. Thanks you as always in advance for always helping my families!!

An unemployed parent is needing $35 to order her birth certificate expeditated so she can cash her check to pay rent. Thank you for your consideration!

We have a mother of two young children who has obtained housing and is in need of a uhaul truck rental to transport furnishings into the new home. Once the apartment is furnished and approved, the children can begin having visits in Mom's home with the aim of transitioning them to living with her full-time. Mom's apartment being equipped and deemed appropriate for the children is a primary barrier to reunification, so assistance in transporting the furniture would help the family overcome a huge hurdle toward reunification!

The mother has been connected with a furniture bank and just needs a rental truck arranged and funded so that she can transport the furniture. Alternatively, if there are community members with their own truck(s) able to transport a number of large furniture items (furnishings for multiple rooms in the home), that could also meet the family's needs.

*Estimated value based on rates for a 20ft uhaul rental.

A mother in our program is requesting a gift card for some school supplies for her two younger daughters. We are able to get some of the school supplies from community resources but would like aid to help the family with whatever they are not able to get from our resources. We are requesting a gift card to either walmart or target to provide the remaining school supplies. If this need is met it will help mom provide school supplies for the girls in time for school, ensuring they have what they need. We are requesting $100 but anything will help. Thank you for considering.

A single mother with diagnosed mental health issues is struggling financially to protect the child as he continues to cause damage to the home. The family is in need of house repairs for broken windows and holes in the walls that the child has caused.