The Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas (UG), and several community partners are seeking volunteers to help residents recover from this week’s severe storm.
Justice for Wyandotte, the Village Initiative, the American Red Cross, and other agencies have joined the effort. Many residents remain without power, and the UG says the need for help and donations is still great.
Documented volunteer hours may help the county meet FEMA disaster-recovery matching requirements, according to the UG.
How to volunteer
Individuals and groups of 15 or fewer can report to the Village Initiative at 3004 North 27th Street, or sign up through the online form, “After the Storm: Northeast KCK.” Volunteer hours run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Skilled laborers and groups of 15 or more should check in at the Volunteer Reception Center inside the Kensington Community Center, 2900 State Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.
Volunteers should bring their name, contact information, availability, relevant skills, and any limitations that could affect the work they can safely do.
The UG encourages individuals, churches, neighborhood groups, businesses, and nonprofits to take part. Assignments may change as officials assess recovery needs, so the UG asks volunteers to follow directions from emergency management staff and community partners.
Tasks may include clearing debris from public areas; distributing food, water, and supplies; supporting shelters and distribution sites; checking on vulnerable residents; sorting donated goods; and providing administrative or logistical support.
Donations needed
Residents can drop off donations at the Village Initiative, 3004 North 27th Street. The UG has asked for bottled water, nonperishable food, heavy-duty work gloves, safety glasses, contractor trash bags, tarps, flashlights, batteries, phone power banks, first-aid kits, coolers, and ice.
Residents who want to give money can donate through Justice for Wyandotte’s “Ways to Give” page.
Curbside debris collection
The UG has enacted a storm waste removal plan, with curbside collection of vegetative debris set for Tuesday, Sept. 8. Vegetative debris includes tree branches, limbs, leaves, and other organic yard waste.
Residents must keep other materials separate. They must not mix construction debris, roofing, lumber, fencing, masonry, rubble, metal, or garbage with the vegetative piles.
Curbside pickup covers vegetative debris that residents cannot reasonably haul to the Recycling & Yard Waste Center or that Waste Management does not collect. Residents, property owners, and volunteers should sort their debris and move it to the curb by Sept. 8. The UG set the date to give people time to prepare and to limit the strain on regular operations.
Four UG departments will each assign one four-person crew to the daily cleanup. Environmental Services, Street Maintenance, Buildings & Logistics, and Parks & Recreation will take part for as long as the plan is needed. Each group will cover its own labor and costs, and Public Works will lease three grapple trucks for the collection.
The UG cannot pick up debris from for-hire businesses, such as tree-trimming companies. Vegetation from a regular business property is acceptable.
Extended center hours
The Recycling & Yard Waste Center, 3241 Park Drive, will keep extended hours for three months. It will operate Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The UG may adjust staffing based on visitor and material-volume data.
The UG encourages residents to stay connected for updates on storm resources and collection details.