The Convoy of Hope Rolls into Kansas City Providing Some $1 Million in Goods and Services in a Single Day

In 2011 Jackson County's unemployment rate was 9.6%, a full point higher than the statewide rate of 8.6% the Missouri Department of Health reported. According to the United Community Services of Johnson County, the poverty rate in Jackson County grew 29% between 2000 and 2009. During that same period the number of poor in Kansas City increased by 65%.

In response to the alarming statistics, hundreds of Kansas City-area residents are preparing to welcome hurting neighbors at what they hope will become a community movement. Local businesses, churches, government agencies and nonprofits will partner with The Convoy of Hope, a community outreach event June 16 at Swope Park (Swope Parkway and Meyer Boulevard). This community event is one of dozens of stops along a 50-state, $50 million tour of hope and help for the 46 million Americans currently living in poverty—the largest number on record.*

WHAT:    The Kansas City community will provide some $1 million in goods and services in a single day through lasting solutions to real need such as 40,000 pounds of groceries, dental and medical screenings, kids zone activities, haircuts, portraits, clothing, job fair, prayer time and spiritual guidance, family portraits, live entertainment with free lunch, breast cancer screenings courtesy of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and more.

WHEN:    Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

WHERE:    Swope Park (Swope Parkway and Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. (Map)

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

•     Interview local families benefitting from poverty-free day
•     Interview national leaders from The Convoy of Hope
•     Interview a national spokesperson for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, providing free breast cancer screenings
•     Press kit materials and high-res photos of the national tour available at DeMossNews.com/ConvoyofHope

THE CONVOY OF HOPE 50-STATE TOUR
W women's coats ith an 18-year track record of serving 1.6 million Americans in poverty, The Convoy of Hope is now headed to all 50 states in a two-year, $50 million effort to unite communities to provide neighbors a poverty-free day and the first step on the path out of poverty. The National Breast Cancer Foundation is partnering with The Convoy of Hope to provide education and—in select cities—breast cancer screenings to help with early detection for the 70 percent of community outreach guests who are women.

Convoy of Hope
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based international humanitarian organization that has served 50 million hurting people in 100 countries since 1994. Through children's feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing, Convoy of Hope has given away more than $272 million (wholesale value) in food and supplies and is a nine-time Charity Navigator Four-Star Award winner. The organization is based in Springfield, Mo.    

CONTACT:
Jeff Nene
417.823.8998 / 417.860.2196 mobile
Gina Hanna 816.721.2803
Marc Vasquez 816.668.6921
DeMossNews.com/ConvoyofHope

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*Associated Press, 2011