Welcome 

Central Avenue Center of Hope, Inc.

 located at 11 N.15th St. Kansas City Ks. 66102

Telephone: 913-233-2511

Hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM - 2 PM

A Place where All are Welcome

The Central Avenue Center of Hope is a local agency housed in a converted gymnasium, near downtown Kansas City, Kansas in Wyandotte County, staffed by one full-time employee and many volunteers.   The community served consists of many homeless, unemployed or under-employed, low- income individuals and families.  Many of our clients face the difficulties of medical conditions, emotional problems, or broken or harmful family relationships. Some are veterans who have not transitioned into mainstream society. Others have become victim to economic or health reversals. Yet others have lost homes and means of support due to substance abuse and/or the stigma of prison records. School-age children lack appropriate clothing and school supplies in order to go to school.  The needs of the people of this community are seasonal for some and on a daily basis for others.

To fill community needs Central Avenue Center of Hope provides help in several ways.   The Food Kitchen serves lunch-time meals each week day.  During the summer or winter vacations more children come with parents for lunch because they don’t have school lunches. Special meals are served on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Homeless outreach distributes blankets, coats, and food for days the center is closed and offers a place to rest during the day to endure the hardships of life on the streets.  Individuals may take hot showers and receive personal item kits consisting of soap, shampoo, a razor, comb, and other donated toiletries.   Families depend on the food pantry for distribution of  food, school supplies, and holiday baskets.  The Center of Hope is also a distribution point for State of Kansas Commodities.  The thrift store offers a place to purchase inexpensive clothing, furniture, household items, and toys. The thrift store also furnishes a small income to defer some of the costs of operating the Center of Hope.  Referrals are made for clients who need specialized care. http://centralavecenterofhope.org/

For some clients these measures are temporary assistance in times of job loss, seasonal lay-off, health problems, or loss of home.  Other families and individuals are literally sustained in their daily efforts of survival.  All points of need are up at the Central Avenue Center of Hope.  Need for commodities has more than doubled in the last two years, going from 448 qualifying households in 2008 to 968 qualifying households in 2010.  Higher numbers of meals and showers also indicate growing need in the community for this Center to remain as a viable part of the community.  

Central Avenue Center of Hope partners with Community of Christ, Midlands Mission Center, Local churches, Mid-America Assistance Coalition, Wyandotte Countians Against Crime, and Central Avenue Betterment Association.

Service totals for 2009:

Meals: 16,196   Pantry: 390                       School Supplies: 67    

Showers: 2,218                                          Homeless Services 1,762      

Commodities households: 968                    Volunteers: 61 +128  

special Volunteer hours: 9,356                  Donors including groups: 289             

CABA youth hours: 144                             Community Service hours: 2,245