The Power of One

Pawsperity Donor and Volunteer Supports the Organization in Multiple Ways

BY LINDA O’DELL

For Stephanie Moody, it was love at first listen. Her neighbor, then Grooming

Project Board President Kathy Miller, had approached Stephanie and others in their neighborhood seeking auction item donations for one of the organization’s early fundraising galas.

Stephanie knew nothing about The

Grooming Project but was intrigued enough from Kathy’s description to attend the event – and by the end of the evening, she was a full-on fan.

“I instantly fell in love with their mission,” Stephanie says. “Interacting with the students who attended the event, hearing their stories and about what this opportunity has done for them – I thought it was incredibly amazing, and I wanted to do more.”

Since then, this busy working mom of two has helped those in her circle fall in love with The Grooming Project, too – proving the power of an individual supporter to make a positive difference by spreading the word and engaging others in its mission.

As an employee of Novo Nordisk, Stephanie had an opportunity in August to introduce The Grooming Project to her coworkers at a presentation for Novo Nordisk employees interested in social responsibility. Participants watched a video, assembled backpacks for students’ children, and heard from staff members who shared about the life-changing impact of this program.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Stephanie recalls. Coworkers opened their hearts and checkbooks, their individual donations enhanced by a match from Novo Nordisk as well as an additional corporate contribution.

“I’m very grateful to work for a company that gives back to the community and supports employees’ passions in community service,” she says.

Stephanie shows up in other ways, too. She still attends the galas, has donated turkeys for students’ Thanksgiving dinners, adopted a family at Christmas, volunteered to help decorate The Grooming Project’s student dormitory for the holidays -- and most importantly, recruits others to join her.

“Any time I run into someone looking for an organization to support, The Grooming Project is the first one I talk about,” she says. There are many ways beyond just financial contributions to be of service, she adds, noting that Volunteer Coordinator Susan Redinger excels at matching the program’s needs with the interests and availability of those who want to help, which makes the effort even more rewarding.

For Stephanie, it’s all about being able to see tangible results that will resonate into the future, as children who live in more stable families today become better equipped to pass that experience on to their own children tomorrow.

“While I have no personal experience of living in poverty, a colleague who spent time in the foster care system has shared information with me about how that cycle just goes on and on, generation to generation. This is a real opportunity to break that cycle,” she says.

“When you see the success of this program, the statistics about graduation and employment rates, and when you talk to these parents and hear how their lives and their children’s lives have turned around, you can see the real results that your support enables.

“As a mom, I feel a personal connection to The Grooming Project. I love what they’re doing. It’s amazing.” Novo Nordisk employees donated school supplies and assembled backpacks at a regional staff meeting in Kansas City.

Connect through Volunteering

As Pawsperity grows, so do the volunteer opportunities. Volunteering can be one of the most rewarding ways to connect with us as we work together to break the cycle of poverty. We are always interested in talking with groups or individuals to find meaningful and mutually beneficial experiences.

Contact Sharon Redinger, Volunteer Coordinator, at sredinger@epeckc.org or call 816.214.5376.

Year-round Needs

Cutting dog bandanas Sewing durable, reusable bags Food/meals for family residence meetings Customer service/reception positions Curbside drop-off attendant Seasonal needs

Garden at the dorm Family residence holiday decorations Back-to-school backpacks Annual gala Thanksgiving meal baskets Adopt-A-Family for the holidays