Caring Communities Day shined as beautiful as ever.

And it happened right here, said Cornell Ellis, “in my neighborhood.”

That’s 27th Street and Prospect Avenue, where LINC gathered some two dozen partner agencies and providers Aug. 10 to bring its third annual citywide summer celebration to the heart of the city.

Ellis and his children were some of more than 2,000 attendees who danced, played, laughed and dined on a delightfully mild summer afternoon at the Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center.

“It’s a great opportunity to come out and see everybody,” Ellis said, “and to be able to experience caring, kind and empathetic services.”

“I really appreciate this opportunity for my neighborhood,” he said.

Children and many adults showed off their face paintings and colored sand art and prizes from games like musical chairs. And they sat down in a big community tent to enjoy hot grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and brats.

But just as important to many families were the free school supplies, hygiene kits, food bags, children’s books, health screenings, help with internet and digital access, legal services, gun safety locks, help with rental and utility bill assistance and voter registration.

“Some parents can’t afford school supplies,” said Dana Lee of Kansas City, who came with her three children. “So we’re here to get some school supplies and just let my kids have a good time.”

LINC handed out more than 500 bags of school supplies to parents like Lee. And she appreciated the chance to get her family out with friends and neighbors.

“My kids need to get out to have fun,” she said. “I love it (at Caring Communities Day). There are a lot of activities for the kids.”

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves was one of several city, county and state officials to join the party who spoke to the crowd from the main stage.

“I’m so happy to see everybody out here today,” Graves said. “This is what we need more of in Kansas City — everybody coming together and making sure we are the safest city we can be. There’s always love. There’s always good feelings and good will.”

Many people still remember what this corner of 27th and Prospect used to represent, as a focus point of violence, substance abuse and disillusionment.

Jackson County Executive Frank White — a member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church since 1959 — spoke to the crowd, acknowledging the work of many people, including Morning Star’s Rev. John Modest Miles, that has transformed this corner of the city into a focus of hope and achievement.

“It all starts here,” White said, thanking everyone for what’s been done “for this area over the years . . . that’s making our community greater and better. Thank you for what you do for the kids. Thanks for the great work you do for the community. I’m really looking forward to the future of our community.”

LINC President and CEO Janet Miles-Bartee said she was overjoyed with the experience of the day.

More than 2,000 people from all different directions and parts of the city shared the happy space without any trouble, without any incidents.

“I saw a lot of caring, loving and respectful people, all coming together,” Miles-Bartee said. “I give my appreciation and my heartfelt thanks to all the community, and for all the staff for making this a great day.”

The Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund provided support for the event, joining a broad team of partners to provide the wide array of services at Caring Communities Day.

The team included Frosty Frogs Water Ice, University Health, the Kansas City Police Department and Fire Department, the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, the League of Women Voters, Justice in the Schools, KC Digital Drive, Essential Families, the Black Archives of Mid-America, Giving Hope and Health, Goodwill, Urban TEC, Corvette Connected, Jackson County Family Court, Community Action Agency, Heart to Heart International, BikeWalkKC, UPS, Turn the Page KC, and — a real crowd-pleaser — KC Wolf.

DJ Techni-Cal spun the music, and a team of EZ Pedicabs circulated the neighborhood, helping get visitors to the event and back to their cars.

The many games and raffle provided dazzling prizes including televisions, air fryers, kitchen pots and pans, grills — things families need. And for the kids, prizes like sports equipment, gaming fun, music accessories and more.

Just some of the numbers of gifts and benefits included more than 500 bags of school supplies, over 2,000 meals, more than 100 people getting internet and computer assistance, some 75 children’s books, some 250 bicycle safety accessories, 282 smoke detectors, 87 gun locks, 12 voter registrations and more than 250 prizes.

Jazimne Posey’s son, Eli, came away from the trivia tournament with a new skateboard.

“I’ve got a little trivia guy who enjoyed it,” Posey said, as Eli held up his prize.

Posey said her family has recently moved to Kansas City from Arkansas, and Eli and Naomi will be at Kansas City’s Wheatley Elementary School. Caring Communities Day was a wonderful opportunity to embrace their new home.

“This is fun,” she said. “We like it. The kids have already asked if we can come back.”

And so they can. Caring Communities Day has become an annual celebration, Miles-Bartee said.

“This all part of making stronger families together,” she said. “We’re so grateful for this community and we are looking forward to a great year and being back here next summer.”

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