The mission of Literacy KC is, and has been for 40 years, to help a wide variety of people master English in order to help complete their educational paths and set them up for good career opportunities.
Literacy KC’s recent move to a new headquarters in Kansas City speaks to the organization’s commitment to the population it serves.
And as much as Literacy KC thrives with its staff, it relies heavily on volunteers. Those volunteers fill the role of tutors, of course, but sometimes there are other needs that have to be filled in order for the organization to fulfill its primary mission.
Recently, that’s where the Bestway International team stepped in.
“We did a coat drive in December,” says Brooke McKenzie, volunteer and support specialist at Literacy KC. “Not only did Bestway donate coats for students, they also showed up, inventoried and sorted the coats and blankets – and helped with distribution.”
Who else would know how to move freight like the Bestway team? And in this case, there was a lot of it.
“As cold as it’s been, a lot of our students take public transportation, and they’re waiting at the bus stop extremely uncomfortable – coming in freezing,” McKenzie says. “So we were hoping to fill more than 400 coat requests. With our staff and our schedule, it’s sometimes hard to do that. But when groups like Bestway come in, we can fulfill all the orders of students and distribute them quickly.”
Bestway President and Managing Partner Jay Devers says the volunteer team from Bestway was very enthusiastic about helping.
“We were able to do a donation drive here at the office – not only coats but gently used blankets as well – so we had the opportunity to arrive at the Literacy KC office with the donations already in hand,” Devers recalls. “Once we got there, it was a natural fit for us to help them organize everything and make sure the students got what they needed. We were glad our team could take care of that so their staff and volunteer tutors could stay focused on their other tasks. The whole community benefits when we come together and work as a team like that.”
With the coats distributed, Literacy KC students could return their focus to learning. As they complete the program and obtain their GEDs, the students have opportunities to apply for college or obtain certifications for specific careers. McKenzie says opportunities for nurses and forklift drivers are common among graduates of the program.
And she loves how many people come together to make it all happen.
“I believe with 100 percent of my heart that Literacy KC has the best volunteers in the world,” McKenzie says. “It’s been a huge blessing for me to build relationships and opportunities through these generous people – to get them involved with something as cool as Literacy KC.”