Center of Grace

This week the Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund handed out more than $160,000 in grants to local charities! This money will ensure more kids have food to eat, clothes that fit, and a warm bed to sleep in tonight. Thanks to City of Olathe for their support of the Fund and for allowing me to work with these incredible people! From our board volunteers to our charity partners, these are truly some of the most amazing people I know.

A huge thank you to the Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund for their generous support of the children in our community! Thanks to this grant, we were able to provide 1,180 children with new shoes, socks, and underwear last year—ensuring they had the essentials to learn, play, and grow with confidence. We are so grateful for this continued partnership and cannot wait to see the impact we make together this year!

Big things happen when communities invest in each other! We are so grateful to the Human Service Fund for their support of our ELL preschool. Because of this funding, children of our adult ESL students have access to a free preschool. Teaching the kiddos English and preparing them for kindergarten while also supporting the parents and opening doors for the whole family. Hear more from our Executive Director, Sylvia Romero, about how this support is making a difference!

Celebrating Yennayer at Center of Grace! This past weekend, we were honored to host the Berber Algerian community for their celebration of Yennayer, the Berber New Year. The event was a vibrant display of tradition and culture, including: - Traditional food (Couscous and more) - Music and dance - Beautiful traditional dress - Cultural traditions such as the henna ceremony Approximately 275 members of the Algerian community came together at the Center to mark this special occasion. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of community and culture in bringing people together. Happy Yennayer to all who celebrate!

We want to extend our gratitude to the Advocacy and Awareness Group of Johnson County and Johnson County Community College for dedicating honoring of Martin Luther King Jr. through a day of service. Your work in assembling winter weather kits for people experiencing homelessness is a true reflection of Dr. King’s legacy of service, compassion, and uplifting others. These kits, donated to Center of Grace and the Starfish Project, will bring much-needed warmth and comfort to so many during these cold months. Thank you for putting your commitment to justice and kindness into action. It’s through efforts like yours that we can continue building a stronger and more caring community together.

A big thank-you to Garmin and their amazing team of volunteers for spending a day of service with us in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Your hard work packaging hygiene kits and sorting clothing for our clothing closet will have a real impact on the lives of those in our community. We’re so grateful for your dedication to giving back and for helping carry on Dr. King’s legacy of service and compassion. It’s through partnerships like this that we continue to build a stronger, more supportive community. Thank you for being part of it!

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Center of Grace will be closed on Monday, January 20th. Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” This question lies at the heart of our mission—to serve and support our entire community, embracing everyone with the same dignity, compassion, and care. As we take this day to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, we encourage you to join us in continuing his work of building a more just, inclusive, and united world. ?? We’ll reopen on Tuesday, January 21st, ready to serve and uplift our community together! #MLKDay #CommunityForAll #ServeWithLove

??? Important Announcement: Closed Due to Blizzard ??? For the safety of our staff, volunteers, and clients, we will be closed on Monday, January 6th due to the severe winter weather. Your safety is our top priority, and we encourage everyone to stay warm and avoid unnecessary travel during the blizzard. Thank you for your understanding. Stay safe, and we’ll keep you updated on any changes! ??

To allow our staff time to be with their families for the holidays, we will be closed December 24 & 25 and January 1. We look forward to see you in the new year, have a fantastic end of 2024!