A tiny Wyandotte County charity is participating in the Bill and Melinda Gates fundraiser on Facebook today, trying to raise $1,000 in one day that will be matched.
In 2.5 hours this afternoon, the Reola Grant Center, which provides a food pantry in Kansas City, Kan., has raised nearly $600 in donations online, said Janice Witt, CEO.
She said the foundation is matching funds up to $1,000 for 500 organizations nationwide, giving away $500,000 today only. Today is national Giving Tuesday.
Witt said some of her donors today are some of the people who received food donations through the year. Many are giving very small amounts, such as $1 or $2.
“What we’re about, we’re teaching people to be givers, your pennies can make a difference for somebody,” Witt said.
Besides the small amounts, the organization also received some donations in the hundreds, she added.
“I am blown away that we were given this offer,” Witt said, adding that she was very happy. “We’re tiny. For us to pull $1,000 out of our hat in six to eight hours is a big deal. That might as well be a million dollars for us.”
The Reola Grant Center’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/donate/1367880469921155/10153923656255723/
Grinter Place’s annual Christmas event will be on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the historic site at 78th and K-32 in Kansas City, Kan.
According to Pat Spencer of the Grinter Place Friends, there will be a breakfast with Santa in the morning, then a Holiday with the Arts in the evening.
The breakfast will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the nearby Grinter Barn at 1400 S. 78th. There will be three options for breakfast, depending on the number of pancakes and sausages desired. The prices range from $3 to $7.
Children may have their photo taken with Santa Claus, receive a bag of goodies and do a craft activity, Spencer said. There will be vendors with gifts and baked goods, and Grinter house will be open for tours from 9 a.m. to noon at a charge of $3 for adults and $1 for school-age children.
The evening event, Holiday with the Arts at the Grinter House, will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3.
As of this morning, five artists, authors and musicians had signed up to be there, Spencer said.
Holly Zane of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas is scheduled for a beading demonstration and will have cultural items available for viewing.
Those attending may participate in a wine tasting and pairing, as well as a treasure hunt.
Tickets are $7 per person or two for $12.
Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman today charged Efrain Gonzalez, 18, of Kansas City, Mo., with first-degree murder in connection with the Nov. 27 shooting death of Louis M. Scherzer, 29, in the 500 block of Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.
Gonzalez is in custody in the Wyandotte County Jail. Bond was set at $1.5 million.
