The chill and light rain did not dampen the spirits of the dozens of volunteers and the hundreds of community members served during the drive through event distributing free diapers and food as well as the administration of free flu shots and COVID-19 tests hosted by Community Builders of Kansas City in mid-November.

Set up in the parking area of the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center at 3700 Blue Parkway, the well-organized event routed cars through two lanes – those wanting only the food and/or diapers and a second lane for those wanting food and/or diapers plus a flu vaccine and/or COVID-19 test. 

“It was a very gratifying event,” said DaRon McGee, community and government relations manager for CBKC. “Our volunteers and partners are the best and it was rewarding to be able to meet a need for so many of our community members.” McGee said those giving of their time included volunteers from Blue Parkway Sun Fresh Market, Catholic Charities, Greater Kansas City AFL/CIO, Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades, Happy Bottoms, Harvesters, Jackson County, Missouri, LiUNA! and Swope Health.

The line of community members participating in the drive through wound around the entire block – Cleveland Avenue to Cleaver II to Benton Boulevard and along Blue Parkway stretching east as far as the eye could see. Some of the stats of those served include:

  • 558 households
  • 994 adults
  • 957 children
  • 227 seniors
  • 14,225 diapers for 373 children

November’s drive-through was the latest CBKC-organized community outreach. It followed a number of other free, pandemic-sensitive, socially-distanced events hosted with partner organizations and enabled by a legion of volunteers all geared to meet the practical needs of its community in the areas of food, health and social engagement:

July 18 Free Food Distribution and COVID-19 Testing Drive Through
September 11 Movie Night at Starlight
October 3 Kansas City Symphony at CBKC

With several community partners, CBKC is hosting a free COVID testing and flu shot event at the Robert J. Mohart Center at 32nd & Wayne Avenue on December 19th.

“Community service and advocacy is core to the CBKC mission,” said McGee. “These kinds of events are the outward representation of our heart for this community.”