- 8800 Grant Ave. Overland Park, KS 66212
This year, Bill Barr & Company is celebrating seven decades in business. Our longevity is a testament to the dedication of our employees, the loyalty of our customers and the support of our suppliers and industry partners. To pay that support forward, we are donating to organizations that represent the values important to our team.
Harvesters Community Food Network and The Children’s Place were the first recipients, and we would love for you to learn more about these great organizations and how you can support them, too.
Serving a 27-county area in northwest Missouri and northeastern Kansas, Harvesters Community Food Network collects, stores and transports food to those in need. A recent report from Feeding America indicates that in their service area, 1 in 7 residents (over 420,000 people), including 1 in 5 children, face hunger. Along with food, Harvesters provides related household products to more than 900 nonprofit agencies such as food pantries, community kitchens, senior centers, children’s homes and homeless shelters.
In addition to immediate food relief, Harvesters operates vital community programs, including weekend food backpacks for children, mobile pantries for seniors, SNAP application assistance and emergency disaster relief coordination.
Beyond direct food distribution, Harvesters is committed to developing long-term solutions to hunger. They provide public education to raise awareness in the community and offer nutrition programs that help individuals and families lead healthier lives. To learn more about Harvesters Community Food Network, visit their website at harvesters.org, where you can find additional information, donate or sign up to volunteer.
Located in Kansas City, The Children’s Place is a nonprofit mental health and trauma treatment center dedicated to helping young children and their families. Founded in 1978, the organization focuses on supporting children from birth to eight years old who have been victims of trauma, abuse and neglect. Research has shown that early intervention has the power to lessen future health and social challenges. Since its beginning, The Children’s Place has helped more than 20,000 children and families heal from traumatic events.
The core services at The Children’s Place include psychological assessments, outpatient counseling, family support programs and day treatment to help children recover from trauma and guide them toward happy, healthy and hopeful lives. They also operate innovative outreach initiatives such as The Children’s Place on Wheels, a retrofitted minibus that functions as a mobile therapy playroom, bringing mental health services directly to schools and early education centers. Mobile therapy helps overcome barriers that make it difficult for children to receive mental health care, such as busy family and caregiver schedules, finding childcare for other children and the expense of weekly sessions.
Alongside its clinical programs, the center fosters a welcoming environment with friendly symbols like facility dogs and Rudy Bear to ensure young children feel safe and cared for. Rudy Bear is named after Mr. Rudy Liggins, who taught at The Children’s Place for 42 years. There are Rudy Bear statues at two entrances, and each child receives their own Rudy Bear to snuggle with when they graduate from The Children’s Place.
To learn more about The Children’s Place or to make a donation, visit childrensplacekc.org.
By pairing goodwill with dedicated support for our suppliers, partners, customers and team members, we strive to have a lasting positive impact on our community. Stay tuned for our next blog, which will feature two additional organizations that are close to our hearts.
