Caring Communities Day June 10 to deliver food, family resources, music, dancing, games and prizes
The food tent, shown here from Caring Communities Day 2022, will be back with free hot-grilled burgers and hot dogs.
And it’s all for free.
The food. The treats. The games. The music. The raffle prizes. All the information booths.
LINC’s Caring Communities Day returns June 10 with a joy that reminds us what a world of good neighbors means to children and families, said LINC Executive Vice President Janet Miles-Bartee.
It’s a day to recapture the comfort kids knew when they could play with friends on their block and thrive in the safety of caring adults in businesses and homes.
“They can feel the resources available to them,” she said, “and know the village is still here.”
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center at 27th and Prospect, neighbors from throughout the KC area will gather with all the free amenities to celebrate the many ways we enjoy and help each other.
Now in its second year, “everyone knows what the hype is all about,” said LINC’s event planner Drake Bushnell.
“There’s no catch, no trick,” he said. “It’s just a fun time for everyone.”
In addition to all the hamburgers, hot dogs and prizes, there will be community services and providers on hand to connect people to helpful information and money-saving programs.
Hy-Vee is running the food grill. GreedyMan’s Juices and Ice Cream Co. is bringing an ice cream truck.
A big stage will feature music, dancing and fitness with a live deejay, with prizes being raffled throughout the day. NickiFit will be there with music, Fitness 4 Ever and the Creative Carnival’s balloon artists.
Games and toys will be in abundance ranging for toddlers up to teenagers, including free take-home children’s books.
Prizes will be raffled two at a time every 30 minutes offering choices of stand mixers, air fryers, indoor grills, Shark vacuums, Instant Dutch ovens and Chiefs tailgating sets.
Partners under the table tents offering services will include the Full Employment Council, University Health, Swope Health, Justice in the Schools legal aid, free gun locks from Grandparents for Gun Safety, voter registration with the League of Women Voters, internet subscription and digital inclusion services with KC Digital Drive, Medicaid sign ups, help with rent and utility bills, weatherization aids from Community Action Agency.
The Kansas City Zoo has a table. And KC Community Gardens. The Kansas City Fire Department and Police Departments as well.
Scenes from last year’s Caring Communities Day, above and below, provide snapshots of the fun that’s coming June 10.
Expect lots of ice cream. Snow cones. Football toss games, pop-a-shot basketball, putt-putt golf . . . with a lot of familiar faces all around.
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Looking back at 2022:
See the video, photo gallery and story
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Caring Communities Day has an easy, old-timey feel, said LINC Caring Communities Coordinator Danisha Fultz.
“When I was a kid you could go to carnivals and see friends and neighbors,” she said. “This is a time where families can come out and just be a family. The stresses of the world just escape you as you laugh with your neighbors and kids can be kids.”
The whole LINC team will be out there in their blue shirts, leading games and services.
“There’s a lot of trust in the blue shirts,” Bushnell said. “There’s community trust with LINC. You can go to the pop-a-shot with your kid and see your LINC site coordinator. It’s really cool to see (your LINC teacher) outside of school. Kids are excited to see us. We learn together and now we’re here this summer at this fun event.”
Most of all, Caring Communities Day is about letting everyone relax and find a break from their everyday stress.
“During the summer you’re always looking for things to do with your kids, and it always costs,” Bushnell said. “Mini-golf, the movies, Worlds of Fun. You can spend hundreds of dollars.
“But here (at Caring Communities Day) you can feed your kids, play games, get some good resources, all for free.”
