SHAREing is Caring — A peek into SHARE projects this year

Among the multitude of questions on people’s minds during the era of COVID-19 is, “What’s going on with SHARE?” Currently, SMSD is in the “Red Zone” which means service projects are not allowed to occur in-person. 

SHARE is hoping that by October the case count will go down and more in-person volunteer opportunities will be available. But for the time being, chairs are organizing remote and socially distanced ways to help out around the community, with around 100 projects taking place this year. Here’s a look into 9 COVID-friendly projects to try this year:

SafeHome

Junior Maeve McGrath is chairing SafeHome, an organization focused on helping abused women and children by providing a safe place for them. 

SafeHome has two initiatives: The first is the “Be the Love” campaign, which focuses on raising awareness about domestic abuse using the hashtag #bethelovewithsafehome on Instagram stories and other social media outlets. 

The second initiative is the fundraiser, “East Night”, at the Chick-fil-A on State Line. East students will go through the drive-through and if they mention they’re from East a percentage of the proceeds from that order goes to SafeHome. 

Students will get one hour of volunteer hours if they show McGrath they posted for “Be the Love” during the month of October and/or went through the Chick-fil-A drive-through on “East Night” — the date of which is to be determined. 

McGrath decided to work with SafeHome because the shelter is right in the East community. 

“I remember when I was younger volunteering with my mom at another women’s shelter, Hope House, and meeting the nicest women there and having such positive memories,” McGrath said. “Because of this experience, I was eager to organize a SHARE project for SafeHome.” 

Claridge Court

SHARE is also organizing projects for those interested in working with senior citizens in the East community. Annabel Huxtable is chairing for the Claridge Court retirement community alongside Deirdre Poague. 

Normally, the work would include going to Claridge Court and doing activities with the residents, such as playing sit-down volleyball and reading books. Since in-person volunteering is not an option, SHARE chairs are organizing other ways to get involved with the seniors such as providing drives and care packages. 

Veterans Community Project

Junior Christopher Alka is chairing the Veterans Community Project through SHARE. 

The Veterans Community Project is a non-profit foundation that builds small homes for homeless veterans. Alka is passionate about this organization because both of his grandfathers served in the armed forces and he prides himself on helping others who made his life what it is today, according to Alka. 

Volunteers are currently working on ideas on how to get students involved given the current transition to virtual learning, and Alka believes they will either be doing in-person labor — once SMSD is out of the “Red Zone” — a fundraiser to raise money for materials needed for the homes or a donation drive. 

He encourages volunteers to be ready to work with purpose and passion, not just with the goal of extra community hours for graduation. 

“These people fought for us, so put in the work for them,” Alka said. 

OverRun

Senior Shannon Burns is organizing the OverRun 5K alongside her co-chairs Jay Cannova and Megan Stopperan. 

OverRun is a 5k event in which all the money raised goes to funding Ovarian Cancer research. Volunteers normally participate as course monitors, but the event is virtual this year, which means volunteers will hand out packets for the virtual race. 

Burns says that Stopperan initially got her involved because her grandmother had Ovarian Cancer.

“I think it is a super neat organization that does well to raise awareness for this cancer which is why I have continued to be involved,” Burns said. 

Since OverRun is virtual this year, a packet pick-up day is scheduled on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. where volunteers can sign up for a specific time slot to hand out packets to participants.

Operation Breakthrough

Senior Sydney Decker is chairing for Operation Breakthrough with co-chair Annabel Huxtable. 

Operation Breakthrough is a school in Kansas City for low-income children. Parents who can’t afford childcare can bring their kids to Operation Breakthrough, providing free and educational care for kids. 

Decker visited Operation Breakthrough when she was in grade school and found it inspiring. Huxtable has chaired the project before and encouraged her to join.

Once school is in-person, a date and location will be set to put together care packages and food or supply drives. Later in the year volunteers may be able to go to Operation Breakthrough in-person to interact with the kids.

“I’ve met the kids and teachers and they’re all so sweet and it’s so fun to spend time with them, it doesn’t feel like volunteer work,” Decker said. 

Scraps KC

Grace Kloster is chairing Scraps KC with co-chairs Heisler and Jameson Ferren. 

The two main focuses of Scraps KC are environment and homelessness. The organization takes any donations, repurposes them and sells them for reduced prices. It also provides job opportunities for the homeless and hosts a weekly meal. 

Since large school groups are not allowed to attend, Kloster has been going with small groups of friends every week not associated with SHARE and encourages others to do the same. 

In-person opportunities should increase as conditions improve. In the meantime, Scraps KC is offering online opportunities — including making kits filled with items such as nonperishable food, first-aid materials and personal hygiene products, which can be dropped off at Scraps KC and distributed to the homeless.  

Salvation Army Bell Ringing 

Senior Blythe Bolar is chairing the Salvation Army SHARE project alongside co-chair Molly Tucker. 

The Salvation Army Bell Ringing program has been going on for many years. It helps to raise money to support those in need, particularly during the holiday season. 

Bolar and Tucker will contact interested volunteers sometime in October for bell ringing, closer to when the actual volunteering starts.

The bell ringing will take place throughout November and December and when volunteers sign up for shifts, they will select a location and time that works best for them.

For bell ringing in particular, shifts only happen in groups of three, for about an hour each, to better comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

“Whether it’s bell ringing or another project, volunteers can definitely find something that they are passionate about and will be able to commit to volunteering for,” Bolar said. 

Wayside Waifs

Senior Megan Stopperman is chairing for Wayside Waifs with co-chair Shannon Burns. 

Once in-person volunteering is permitted, they will help with chores at the shelter and have the opportunity to play with the animals.  

Stopperman got involved because her friend was last year’s chair, so she and Burns wanted to take it over this year following her graduation. 

Volunteering will take place at Wayside Waifs’ main headquarters past 119th and Grandview once a month.  

Ronald McDonald House 

Lauren Bray, Heath and Samantha Thomas are chairing the Ronald McDonald House. 

They are planning a newborn baby drive, the date of which is to be determined, as the Ronald McDonald House has been struggling to get supplies for newborns lately. 

The RMDH’s mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. 

Right now, because of COVID-19, volunteers can donate, make signs for the drive or promote the organization on their social media pages. 

Blood Drive

Jane Ford is the SHARE chair for the Shawnee Mission East annual Blood Drive. 

SHARE pairs up with the Community Blood Center to run a blood drive every year. Jane’s older sister was the chair for the last two years, and passed the leadership role down to Jane. 

Last year the Blood Drive had a strong turnout, which they hope to repeat this year. 

The drive usually takes place during the spring and the location changes year to year. A date has not been set pending the status of the pandemic.   

Volunteers will be expected to help hand out snacks and water. They can also choose to donate blood if they are able to. 

As of now no SHARE projects will occur in-person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get involved! Make sure to attend the virtual Care Fair for information on all projects occurring this year and sign up for any of interest to you.