Here’s what we need to make it happen:

o your time to help ensure the kids have fun, with such activities as: stuffing eggs, hiding eggs, corralling kids during the hunt, guiding the Easter Bunny, a social media bump

o 5,000 plastic eggs

o 300 cookies

o 300 small baskets

o individually wrapped Easter candy like, Hershey Kisses, Skittles, and LifeSavers

The Nitty Gritty:

Where: The Tony Aguirre Center, 2050 W. Pennway Terrace Kansas City, MO 64108

When: Saturday March 27, 2:30pm

Contact: Joey Ferreyra, joeyferreyra@gmail

We’ll see you out there but just remember, VolunTeams does not take responsibility for those caught between the kids and that large field of eggs after the official countdown…

The season, though, is at risk of losing its meaning. Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays hijack how meaningful this time is and how relevant it is to just do something nice for someone as opposed to buying things.

Of course you already know this. For you, the season represents an opportunity to do something for someone. It’s an opportunity to give back.

If you haven’t already made plans, consider helping out Volunteams.org Flagship charities, Spay & Neuter Kansas City and the Westside CAN.

At the Westside CAN:

Help out at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Party! Help distribute Toys For Tots. This is a fun event where you get to hand a toy to kids in need. Be a part of their best day of the year!

December 12th – 11am – 3pm. Call Vince at 816-729-5822 for details.

For Spay & Neuter Kansas City:

FRIDAYS-4th, 11th, 18th from 10am-4pm
Need 2 volunteers to help with clinic staffing needs

SATURDAYS-5th, 12th, 19th from 9am-NOON
Need 6 volunteers to help with all clinic staffing needs

PET OUTREACH-SATURDAY December 5th, 1pm-4pm

Christmas Concert to Benefit the Animals
Uptown Theater
December 21st
Need volunteer help to staff SNKC booth

Thanks. Have a memorable holday season.

On behalf of Volunteams, I am happy and proud to announce our new flagship partner, the Westside Community Action Network. The Westside CAN looks out for its community on the Westside by providing a safe, clean, and vibrant neighborhood. A couple of us at Volunteams have been working with the Westside CAN and its director, Lynda Callon for almost three years and our relationship provided the model for Volunteams.org. This is a relationship built on trust, earned by working together to help a community. In the past we have helped with all their events, the Fall Festival, Mayor’s Christmas Tree Party, Easter Egg Hunt and the Back to School Drive. We are thrilled to finally bring them into the fold and call them a Flagship Partner.

Come find out why the Westside IS the best side!

As part of our flagship partnership announcement, we are also asking for professional people of Integrity to volunteer for the Westside CAN, Mayor’s Christmas Tree party:

What: The Mayor’s Christmas Tree Party

Where: The Tony Aguirre Center, 2050 W. Pennway Terrace Kansas City, MO 64108

When: Saturday December 12, 11:00 – 2:30

Why: To provide a safe holiday party, see smiles on happy children and to distribute toys via Toys For Tots.

Please Contact Us to Volunteer!

Scott with Pet Outreach SNKC November 14th

After the completion of the Doggie Foodraiser where we raised over 12,000 pounds when all was said and done, it was time to begin taking this food out to the community where it’s needed.  Animals become part of our family, but when you’re faced with the choice of having to feed yourself, your child or your dog, the choice actually becomes really sad.  Many of these dogs end up in shelters, or worse yet, abandoned and left to fend for themselves.  Many of these animals are not spayed or neutered and end up having litters of other unwanted or uncared for animals.

Pet Outreach November 14th

So distributing this dog food to these families enables owners to keep their pets instead of relinquishing them to the streets or shelters.  This past Saturday November 14th, SNKC assembled a team of volunteers to do Pet Outreach, a program where SNKC heads into the community to find families and animals that need help.

Amazing statistic:  5% of the population, here in Kansas City account for 70% of the problem with regard to unwanted dogs and cats.  SNKC heads directly into these communities to face these problems head on.  Armed with dog toys, dog food, and a mission to end the cycle of unwanted animals, we covered a ten block area.  The best part was that you got to knock on the door of homes and just be an offer of help.  We weren’t “selling” anything or trying to raise money.  It was about giving back to a city that needs our help.

If you’re interested in helping out with the next Volunteams event, please contact us here.

Where: Spay & Neuter Kansas City
1116 E 59th (NE Corner of 59th and Troost)
Kansas City Missouri 64141

What: Pet Outreach – Spay & Neuter Kansas City’s mission is to promote spaying and neutering as a primary means of decreasing pet overpopulation. It is also an expressed goal to promote responsible pet ownership. We meet people in their homes, distribute dog food, dog houses and talk about services provided by SNKC.

So what started out as a small gathering and a labor of love became a campaign to raise 10,000 pounds of dog food.  We exceeded our goal, our dreams, our expectations.

We reached a total of 11,528 pounds of dog food raised in our campaign to help the pet outreach program at Spay & Neuter Kansas City.  The food pantry has never looked so full!  I would like to take some tome to thank some folks, without which, we never would have even come close to reaching our goal.

Reed Porter and Vince Thompson of Social Media Club of Kansas City coined the phrase “Sack for a Sack.”  That effort allowed us to be covered by local news organizations including TV and the Kansas City Star.

Renee Robinson of Nicholson Kovac spearheaded our Public Relations campaign.  She came into a fairly chaotic beginning and provided some much needed organization around the Sack for a Sack event.  Also, Hollie Siegel was a wonderful resource as we began planning the campaign.  She helped us with ideas around our victory celebration.  The Chili Cook-off was her brain-child.  These two people exemplify what it means to be Passionate Professional People of Integrity.

Our wonderful sponsors included the Kansas City Chiefs, McFaddens, Brookside Barkery and Bath, Team Tugs, Pampered Paws, Pete and Mac’s, Lill’s, Lews and of course Brother’s Pets.  I’ve mentioned Brother’s Pets before but there is no better deal in the city for 50 pounds of dog food and they discounted their price even more for this effort. They also allowed their store to be used as a drop-off place for donations and donated 500 pounds of dog food out of their own supply.  They are an institution in this city and their help was invaluable to this campaign.

Because of our great sponsors, the following donors recieved the following prizes:

Reed Porter – Autographed & framed photo of Dwayne Bowe courtesy of the Kansas City Chiefs

Mari Dahm – Gift basket from Brookside Barkery and Bath

Spyder – Gift basket from Pampered Paws

Alicia Alhvers – Gift certificate for a cat condo stay at Pete and Mac’s

Leo Scharfenkamp – Gift certificate to Pete and Mac’s for one day of day care

Bonnie – two 25 dollar gift certificates to Lew’s Grill and Bar

I do want to recognize our two biggest individual donators.  First off, Mari Dahm raised over a thousand pounds of dog food.  She campaigned at grocery stores to raise the dog food and has worked with SNKC for years.  Secondly, we had “Team BSG” which raised 1750 pounds and counting.  This group includes people who met via twitter and enjoy each others company, including playing Battlestar Galactica The Board Game which is about as much fun as one can have when you aren’t out helping others.  This group was organized and spearheaded by Alicia Ahlvers, but includes Michael Burns, Celeste Lindell, Brent Huscher, Hollie Siegel, Tara Litzenberger, Jeff Smith, and Spyder.

Next, I would like to thank my partner in this journey we call “Volunteams,” Linda Shindelar.  She grounded the vision and helped organize the Chili-cook off.  She helped keep focus not just on how many pounds of dog food were raised but how everyone was being helped, from SNKC, to the animals, to those who donated.  Volunteams became a real organization thanks to her leadership and determination.

Lastly, I would like to thank Spay & Neuter Kansas City.  They do real-life miracles every day that the world never hears about.  Their mission is to end euthanization and to keep animals out of shelters.  Providing dog food to families in need is just part of the amazing work they do.  I’m so proud to call them our first flagship partner.

11,528 pounds is a small symbol of what we can accomplish together.  Planning for next year begins today.  We’ve got a lot of work to do.

Did you get by Brother’s Pets near Independence?  They were fabulous partners.  They discounted their dog food a dollar on their 50 pound bags and created the best deal in the city with their offer.  Lane, the owner, created an area where people could buy dog food and keep it there to be donated.  Through their efforts the owners and  customers of Brother’s Pets donated around 700 pounds.  Great job folks! Many thanks!

Hope to see you tomorrow! One day and counting!

Here’s what you can win:

Gift Certificate to Lill’s (My favorite restaurant in town), Happy Hour gifts to McFaddens, Gift Certificate to Brookside Barkery, Signed 8 x 10 photo of Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs, 2 x $25 gift certificates to Lew’s.

All while helping out animals and families in need.  Can’t wait to see you on Saturday!

DJ Kolton will be laying down the fresh beats, and drinks will also be provided.  Fabulous prizes also await those who show up with a vat of chili for others to partake but we’ll also award for Best, Hottest, and Best Veggie.

Prizes donated so far: two 25 dollar gift certificates to Lew’s Pub, A gift certificate to Lills (my new favorite restaurant), Treats from Brookside Barkery, Happy hours from McFaddens and more are trickling in.

Did you hear me Kansas City?!? Show up, help animals and families in need and Win FREE STUFF!!

Is this a great country or what?

Count down: 5 days and counting.

I’ve received lots of questions on how to contribute, so in case it isn’t clear, this is how you can give.

1. Donate directly to SNKC.net.

2. Call Brother’s Pets at 81.358.6005 or go by their store at 4015 Sterling in Independence.  Tell them you wish to donate to the Doggie Foodraiser and they will discount a 50 pound bag to 14.99.

3. Contact us and we’ll make sure it gets to SNKC.

Remember to join us for our Chili cook off celebration on October 10th!