Current Community Needs

The J is excited to be hosting the Maccabi Games in Kansas City in August of 2026. This special opportunity will bring 1,000 teen athletes to our community - they will compete on our fields, stay in our homes, and explore all that KC has to offer. The teens will be joined by coaches, parents, and our community of volunteers and hosts.
- $500: Provides first aid kits and materials at one of the sporting venues.
- $1,000: Sponsors a component of JCC Cares: the social action project that all Maccabi athletes participate in as part of their experience.
- $5,000: Sponsors an element of the Evening Event for Maccabi athletes: this is their opportunity to relax, have fun, and make meaningful relationships with their peers.

HaOgen is a volunteer program established on October 7, 2023, dedicated to supporting reservist families in the Ramle and Gezer region. Through its Community Care Program, the organization provides essential services—babysitting, homework assistance, meal preparation, and errands—for 195 families. With 21 high school student volunteers, HaOgen’s Holiday Hug Program fosters community connection and strengthens Israeli resilience during wartime.

Priya provides emotional and financial support to Jewish families facing infertility issues. Since it began, more than 30 children have entered the Jewish community from families financially assisted by Priya. Priya’s services include counseling, support groups, and subsidies to help pay for fertility treatments or adoption fees for qualified Jewish households. Because infertility is a significant issue in the Jewish community, this program can have a long-term positive impact.

For almost 20 years, KC Hospice & Palliative Care has participated in the National Institute of Jewish Hospices accreditation program to train their staff to be sensitive to the needs and practices of its Jewish clients. The organization typically sent a few staff members each year who would in turn give presentations to the rest of the staff. The National Institute of Jewish Hospices have changed the rules for accreditation and now require that all staff participate in the NIJH program at the same time to receive the accreditation. Up to $30,000 is need to cover this expense.

Midwest Center for Holocaust Education is seeking gifts in support of rehousing the New Americans documents/photos/materials in archival quality housings and will be conducting archival scans of all documents for preservation. It has secured the commitment of a professional curator/collection manager as a volunteer to process the documents and rehouse them. The current estimated cost to purchase archival materials and the scanner is $1,500-$2,000.

The Mitzvah Garden has grown food for those in need since the year 2000 with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers of all abilities, ages, backgrounds, cultures, and religions. It distributed 10,432 pounds of food to KC area food distribution centers or pantries in 2023. It spends around $2,500 on seeds and plants annually. Grants of any size would help underwrite seeds and/or gardening supplies.

In 2026, Village Shalom’s current bus lease will expire. It aims to either renew the lease or purchase a 14-passenger bus with wheelchair access. This bus is essential for daily transportation to medical appointments, group outings, and community activities, helping residents maintain independence and stay engaged.

Village Shalom needs to add specialized scales, including a Lift Scale, Roll-On Scale, and Chair Scale, to its healthcare neighborhoods. Accurate weight measurements are essential for monitoring health and providing optimal care for its residents.

$7,500 would provide new furniture, tables, and chairs to create a more welcoming, functional space for residents and visitors.

$500-$750 would provide a new tree for shade and/or a water feature to enhance sensory stimulation and create a calming outdoor space.

$250 helps provide live music, special events, or engaging activities that bring joy and connection to daily life.

$5,000 is needed for this therapeutic upgrade that offers comfort and relaxation for residents.

Village Shalom seeks $299 to purchase a Vasco M3 Language Translator Device. This handy device, which translates text or voice quickly and accurately, will be quite helpful for several residents who do not speak English as their primary language.