COVID 19 RESPONSE
COVID-19 RESPONSE
I marvel at the human determination, ingenuity, and leadership being demonstrated at this time across our region and by our Scholars!
I reassure you that KC Scholars stands firm in its goals. KC Scholars will honor its commitments to Scholars already awarded, will award new Scholars this year and in years forthcoming, and will create positive impact for the Greater Kansas City community.
Let me share facts about where KC Scholars is and about the commitments we will fulfill by working together:
- KC Scholars is a strong community asset, designed and supported by this community, and is an essential program to the Kansas City region.
- KC Scholars provides hope and opportunity.
- For many, college was a dream outside their reach being made possible through KC Scholars.
- KC Scholars are changemakers who give back to our community!
- 100% of operations for KC Scholars are covered for years into the future. Our sustainability is strong, as will be the program’s continued impact on the region’s postsecondary attainment rates and workforce pipeline.
- KC Scholars will make its annual scholarship awards in May 2020. We will not cancel or postpone what we call “the best day of the year”. We will celebrate the outstanding student and adult awardees and support their college completion. Follow on social media as we celebrate the surprise awards (@KCScholars on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; #KCScholarsAwardDay for May 1st).
- Our Scholars are enrolling and persisting in college at rates significantly higher than for our region, state, and nation. We are on target to achieve outcomes greater than projected in our business plan.
- Near 100% of 11th grade awardees enrolled in college and 96% persisted from year one to two.
- Adult Learner Scholars persist in college at 30% higher than the national average.
As we reflect on what we are grateful for, KC Scholars is grateful for its many donors and community stakeholders who believe in the program and students and adults from across our region. Our current donors remain with us and we continue to bring on new donors. Our donors care about our Scholars and about this community’s future.
Our work together is mission critical – we are preparing the next generation of front-line responders, health care providers, and future leaders across all sectors.
Together, let’s continue to create the impact we all envision!
Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, President and CEO

March 16, 2020
KC Scholars is committed to doing our part to protect the well-being of our staff, families, Scholars, and the community as we all do our best to proactively respond to the COVID-19 virus.
To that end, the KC Scholars’ office is closed for two weeks (with a planned re-open on April 27) during which all business is being handled via phone or technology. Meetings and events are being canceled. Some meetings and events will be rescheduled, while others are being conducted via phone or technology. Impacted parties have been notified.
KC Scholars’ staff will respond to your email as soon as possible and thank you for your patience and understanding.
In times such as these, it is important to remember that (as someone tweeted) all these things are also contagious: gratitude, thankfulness, laughter, kindness, teamwork, support, and a community spirit.
May we all stay well!
Sincerely,
Beth Tankersley-Bankhead
President and CEO
KC Scholars
COVID-19 Kansas City Local & Online Resources
In light of the recent COVID-19 health crisis, we are compiling a running list of helpful resources that are available either in the Greater Kansas City area (Jackson, Clay, Platte, & Cass Counties in Missouri; Johnson & Wyandotte Counties in Kansas) or online.
If you know of additional resources that should be added to this list, please email civory@kcscholars.org
- Food Assistance
- Transportation
- Housing & Utilities
- Childcare & Family Resources & Childcare
- Technology Assistance
- Healthcare
- Emotional Wellness
- Employment
- Debt Assistance
- Educational Resources
Food Assistance
- NOTE: Most local school districts are offering free meals to all children under the age of 18 (even if your child is not enrolled in the district or not yet in school). There are drive-up and delivery drop-off locations. Please check your nearest school district’s website for information.
- Harvesters Food Assistance Locator – searchable database of food pantries and meal sites
- Curbside KC– List of local restaurants offering curbside and/or delivery services
- SNAP Helpline – assistance with applying for SNAP Food Assistance benefits
- The Rieger/Crossroads Community Kitchen – pay-what-you-can meals
- Thelma’s Kitchen – donate-what-you-can lunches (open M-F 11am-2pm)
Transportation
- RideKC – all buses in the metro area are currently running and are not charging fares
Housing & Utilities
- NOTE: Evergy, Spire, BPU, Ameren, and KC Water are temporarily suspending disconnections for nonpayment. Evergy & Spire are not charging late payment fees through May 1.
- Friends of Yates – Emergency Housing
- KC Area Homeless Shelters – List of shelters, emergency hotlines & resources
- KC Area Homeless Shelters – United Way 211
- Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City – one-time emergency assistance (rent, utilities, etc.)
- Community Services League
- Jewish Family Services – food pantry, employment assistance, counseling, driving assistance
- Bishop Sullivan Emergency Assistance
- Metro Lutheran Ministries – rent/utility assistance, food & meal pantries, diapers & hygiene items, minor home repair
- United Way of Wyandotte County Temporary Assistance – rent assistance, medical expenses, emergency food resources
- Johnson County Outreach Services – utility assistance, medicine cabinet, food pantry
- Northland Assistance Center –
- Guadalupe Centers – housing/utilities assistance,food pantry,
- Catholic Charities – food pantry, emergency assistance, housing support & utilities assistance
Childcare & Family Resources
- YMCA of Greater Kansas City – daycare for children of essential workers
- Daycare Connection – daycare resources for parents and providers
- Happy Bottoms – provides diapers for families in need
Technology Assistance
NOTE: Many phone carriers are now offering unlimited data, free hotspot data and/or free international calling. Check with your provider or view a list of updates
- Everyone On – Database of low-cost computers, internet providers, and tech literacy training programs
- Connecting for Good KC – low-cost desktop computers and laptops; curbside pick-up available
- Spectrum Internet – 2 months free to new households with students
- Charter Internet – 2 months free to new households with students
- Comcast – temporarily suspending late fees, disconnections, and data overages; new service package free for 60 days
Healthcare
- COVID-19 Information
- Text 888777 to receive updates about KCMO’s COVID-19 Response
- United Way KC Coronavirus Metro Updates
- Corona Virus Frequently Asked Questions
- General Healthcare
- TEL-LINK – Hotline for maternal and child healthcare resources – 800-835-5465
- Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
- Kansas Department of Health
- AdventHealth NurseLine
- Children’s Mercy Nurse Advice Line
- HCA Midwest Nurses on Call
- Mosaic Community Nurse Line
- Kansas City Medicine Cabinet – financial assistance for medical supplies, emergency dental care, vision exams and select prescriptions
Emotional Wellness
- Mental Health KC – emotional wellness resources and support
- Mental Health & Crisis Lines
- Missouri Mental Health Crisis Line (open 24/7) – 1-888-279-8188
- Johnson County Mental Health Crisis Hotline (open 24/7) – 913-268-0156
- * Wyandotte County Mental Health Crisis Hotline (open 24/7) – 913-788-4200
- Crisis Text Hotline – Text HOME to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Compassionate Ear Warmline 1-800-WARM-EAR (927-6327) (open 4-10pm)
- * National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
- MOCSA – Sexual Assault Advocacy & Crisis Line (open 24/7)
- Therapists willing to take on new clients for video or phone therapy: Cricket Burwell, Tandem Counseling, Shawna Shaw, Brock Caffee, Naomi Norton
*Disponible en español
- Physical & Emotional Wellness Online Resources
- Calm – Free Meditation App
- Down Dog Yoga – customizable yoga sessions; free membership til July 1
- Peloton – fitness classes, free 90 day membership
- YMCA Online Exercise Videos
- Jewish Community Center – online fitness, nutrition and cultural classes and activities
- How to Maintain Mental Health during Social Isolation
Employment
- Unemployment Resources
- Kansas Labor Department Resources & FAQs
- Missouri Labor Department Resources & FAQs
- Full Employment Council (Missouri) – career assistance & job training (phone calls only)
- Workforce Partnerships (Kansas) – career assistance & job training (phone calls only)
- Local Employment Immediate Opportunities
- Team KC Career Network – Listof KC Metro Area Employers Hiring
- Missouri One Start – List of employers in Missouri with open positions
- Online Employment Opportunities
- Flexjobs – Directory of remote/work-from-home jobs (full & part-time)
- SwagBucks – Earn free gift cards by completing surveys & watching videos
- Amazon Mechanical Turk – complete marketing and academic surveys to earn cash
- 1000+ Remote Jobs Currently Hiring –
Debt Relief
- Federal Student Loans – information about temporarily pausing payments for federal student loans
- Credit Cards – list of credit card companies offering hardship/assistance programs or payment deferrals
- Auto Loans – list of banks and lenders offering assistance to borrowers impacted by COVID-19
Educational Resources
- Missouri College Access Network Resources – list of educational resources and emergency funds
- Digital Library Branches – free access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, videos, & hundreds of online learning resources
- General
- Scholastic Learn at Home
- Khan Academy – daily schedule for online learning for grades K-18
- Brainfuse – free online tutoring and digital literacy training
- Brainfuse Webinar – walkthrough of how to register for and use Brainfuse
- Pre-K-5th Grade
- How to Talk to Your Children About the Corona Virus
- Virtual Museum Tours – Tour over 500 museum
- Lunch Doodles – learn to draw with Kennedy Center Artist-in-Residence
- Virtual Field Trips – live cams at zoos, aquariums and museums
- Good Energy @ Home – Movement and mindfulness videos & activities for children
- Khan Academy for Kids
- Storytime Online – free videos of children’s literature, read by actors and actresses
- Just For Fun!
- Online Board Games – connect with friends online to play Monopoly, Chess, Uno, and more!
During Virtual Advising Period
High School | College Adviser | Phone | Text | Social Media Handle | Other Platforms | |
Belton High School | Katie Havorsen | khalvorsen@bsd124.org | 816-835-7867 | 816-835-7867 | ||
Center High School | Darius Myles | dmyles@center.k12.mo.us | 918-237-6539 | 918-237-6539 | ||
Central High School | Bria Douglas | douglasbp@missouri.edu | 816-394-8747 | 816-394-8747 | ||
East High School | Batula Hussein | batula.hussein@kcmsd.net | 816-699-9582 | 816-699-9582 | bhussein@missouri.edu | |
Fort Osage High School | Krystal Brier | kbrier@fortosage.net | 816-379-6750 | 816-379-6750 | Twitter @FortOAdviser Instagram @fortoadviser | |
Harrisonville High School | Samantha Kates | katess@missouri.edu | 816-408-0450 | 816-408-0450 | ||
Northeast High School | Alexis Broom | abroom@kcmsd.net or abroom@missouri.edu
| 816-408-0194 | 816-408-0194 | ||
North Kansas City High School | Kendric Carlock | kendric.carlock@nkcschools.org | 816-343-4210 | |||
Paseo Academy | Jalissa Santiago | jrspq4@missouri.edu | 314-749-7058 | 314- 749-7058 | ||
Raytown High School | Peyton Sandfort | peyton.sandfort@raytownschools.org | 314-640-0738 | 314-640-0738 | ||
Raytown South High School | Lauren Fant | lauren.fant@raytownschools.org | 314-459-4031 | 314-459-4031 | lfant@missouri.edu | |
Ruskin High School | Jasmyne Neely | jasmynen.uofmo@hickmanmills.org | 913-624-9645 | 913-624-9645 | ||
Southeast High School | LaMarco Aikens | lamarco_aikens@kcpublicschools.org | 816-418-1159 | 314-349-7716 | laikens@missouri.edu | |
Van Horn High School | Tshulthrim Zangmo | tshulthrim_zangmo@isdschools.org | 816-922-9589 | 816-922-9589 | @vhcollegedvising | tzwvh3@umsystem.edu |
William Chrisman High School | Daryn Williams-Bounds | daryn_williams-bounds@isdschools.org | 816-396-6196 | @WCHSadviser | ||
Winnetonka High School | Addison Kingsbury | addison.kingsbury@nkcschools.org | 913-283-5375 | 913-283-5375 | @TonkaCollege | |
FL Schlagle High School | Erin Davis | erin.davis@kckps.org | 913-850-1465 | Twitter: @SchlagleCCC Instagram: @SchlagleCCC | ||
JC Harmon High School | Jasmine Antunez | jasmine.antunez@m.kckps.org | Google Classroom | |||
Sumner Academy | Megan Stone | megan.stone@kckps.org or megan.stone@m.kckps.org | (913) 283-4407 | (913) 283-4407 | Twitter: @sumnerccc Instagram: sumnercollegeandcareer | Their classes Google Classroom |