'Double Up Food Bucks' helps families get more with SNAP EBT cards

Grocery stores and farmers markets throughout the Kansas City area are providing many families the opportunity to get twice the amount of fruits and vegetables for every dollar they spend.

Back-to-school highlights LINC's many services for families, neighborhoods

It was back-to-school week for the LINC Caring Communities sites, highlighting once more the wide array of services standing ready in LINC’s work of making stronger families together.

A great day in the neighborhood

Caring Communities shined as beautiful as ever. More than 2,000 people joined a community celebration at the third annual citywide fair at 27th and Prospect. It was a beautiful day of “caring, loving and respectful people, all coming together.” See the stories and reactions to the day that tell why we are filled with such joy and gratitude.

Here we come! Caring Communities Day Aug. 10 to unite city in pride, joy

LINC’s Caring Communities Day — Version 3.0 — just gets bigger and better. All the free food, entertainment, music, dancing, games, prizes and family resources return Saturday, Aug. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center on the corner of 27th Street and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. See why it's a big party with a big mission.

Catch the beat: LINC's Summer of 2024

Check out some of the sights — and sounds — of LINC’s Summer 2024. The rapping with Healthy Hip Hop, honing basketball skills at NBA star Christian Braun’s Champ Camp, water play at Phillips Elementary and drumming with the Urban Bucket Brigade Bootcamp were some of the highlights of an adventurous season of recreation, adventure and learning.

Summer EBT card food program for children returning in 2024 and beyond

The summer EBT food program for qualifying families with children is returning for Missourians in 2024, and will be a permanent program going forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today. The benefit will provide an extra $120 per child over three summer months.

'Think of the memories we'll make': Fort Family celebrates new field house

The last time Fort Osage opened a new gymnasium, David Shrout was a scrappy junior on the Indians basketball team, handling the basketball. 56 years later, Shrout was the school board member handling the oversized scissors, surrounded by the “Fort Family,” as the community celebrated the opening of its new Field House Jan. 2.

A look back: Images from a wonderful, challenging year

From celebrating the Chiefs, to singing of Black History, meeting local farmers, putting on another Caring Communities Day, planting gardens, partnering in classrooms and joining in holiday festivities and much more — it’s been a fabulous year. Here’s our annual look back.

LINC, LFPA local farm initiative, going big on protein

LINC’s eight-month old local food distribution program got a lot weightier for the holidays. The Local Food Purchase Assistance program added 540 hams and 25 turkeys to the 1,500 boxes of produce that went out to area families.

Why we play chess: LINC tournament players show out big in NKC

LINC Chess’ first tournament of the 2023-2024 season drew 142 students from throughout the area, representing 43 different schools. Here are some of the sights and sounds from the tournament held Dec. 9 at North Kansas City High School.

'A mighty day': LINC Caring Communities go back to school

From North Kansas City to Grandview, from Kansas City’s West Side to Buckner, Mo., LINC’s Caring Communities school programs pounced on the new school year. See the sights and sounds. We’ve got video.

Garden therapy: LINC learns community gardening for the health of children, families

At the moment, the freshly churned garden bed was surrounded by adults — LINC Caring Communities coordinators and their staff — kneading the soil with seeds and seedlings. But it was easy to imagine where this hot August training day at Kansas City Community Gardens was leading: Kids. Lots of them.

Spreading the word: How students can get 2 years of college free

The Missouri A+ Scholarship program gives students the ability to earn two years of college free, but too many families don't know about it and are missing out on the opportunity. We’ve created a website to answer your questions.

Farm fresh: How free produce from Missouri growers is getting to KC area families

“It helps my kids eat healthy. It helps the moms who struggle throughout the summer to feed their kids when they’re not in school.” See how the Missouri Department of Social Services, LINC and local farmers are bringing home the harvest of a new federal program.

Tax-free weekend for back-to-school purchases coming Aug. 4-6

There will be no sales tax at all from 12:01 a.m. Friday Aug. 4 until midnight Sunday Aug. 6 on any sales of the exempt items like school supplies, backpacks, calculators and jeans.

Interactive map helps locate free breakfast and lunch summer programs for children

Free meals are waiting for children in the long summer weeks ahead, and an online interactive map can help families find where they are.

What a day! Triumphant Caring Communities Day shines with joy and love

“This is Kansas City. Everybody coming together.” Caring Communities Day can be measured by many large numbers, starting with a crowd that exceeded two thousand people. But take a look at the stories and images of the day and see how Caring Communities measure optimism, pride and power.

Joy of art: LINC, KCYA team up to help kids find their voice

Summertime and all its wide-open joy brings opportunities for something different, something more. LINC’s partnership with Kansas City Young Audiences — a staple of LINC’s after-school programming during the fall and spring — can really stretch during June and July. See how LINC students can attend a camp for free.

Check out all the prizes waiting for you at Caring Communities Day 2023

We are seriously loaded with prizes that we’re giving away at Caring Communities Day this Saturday, June 10. Take a look at the video. Check out our photo gallery. We’ve got big raffle give-away prizes like grills, air fryers and Chiefs tailgating gear. And we’ve got hundreds of game prizes for all ages.

Caring Communities Day June 10 to deliver food, family resources, music, dancing, games and prizes

And it’s all for free: The food. The treats. The games. The music. The raffle prizes. All the information booths. Caring Communities Day returns with a joy that reminds us what a world of good neighbors means to children and families. Join us. Here’s what you need to know.