Socktober 2015 has begun!

WRITTEN BY HEATHER LANGE

There's nearly 3.5 million homeless people currently in the United States. That means thousands upon thousands of Americans sleeping in parks, cars or wherever else they can find shelter.

With winter on the horizon, most of these individuals and families — including children — will have to bare the coming months outside in the cold. While the majority of us have heated homes, these less fortunate are just trying to find a place to survive the night. It can be the difference between life or death.

For that reason, The Call Kansas City is proud to announce it'll be holding its annual Socktober campaign for the third straight year.

Inspired by Kid President, we'll be collecting packages of new socks throughout the month of October to donate to local homeless shelters in downtown Kansas City. Over the last two years, we've collected and donated over 600 pairs of new socks plus 1,200 items of clothing to charities such as City Union Mission, ReStart, Morning Glory Cafe and more. While these donations alone won't stop homeless, they may just help save a life — or more — this winter.

So the next time you're at the store, grab a package of new socks and contact us at outreach@thecallkc.org to arrange a pick-up date — it's that easy! Also, if you'd like to orchestrate a sock drive through your work, school or church, please let us know. This is a great and easy way to get everyone involved. Happy Socktober!

CALLING CARDS: SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES ARE HERE

Our last Calling Cards of May is jam-packed with ways to help out area nonprofits. Something for everybody folks, all you have to do is get involved.

CITY UNION MISSION’S CAMP CUMCITO

Outside of Kansas City, but still benefiting the local children of the area, City Union Mission will be hosting its Camp CUMCITOthroughout the summer at Warsaw, MO. The camp is for children ages 4-16 to enjoy a week of outdoor actives and religious workshops.

What are they looking for: City Union Mission is looking for volunteers to spend a week serving the children. Various opportunities include: cooking, teaching, group leaders and more. For more information, visit https://apps.cumission.org/cumpp.

ANNUAL REVUP FOR RESTART BENEFIT

For 10 years, RevUp for ReStart has been a huge annual fundraiser filled with live music, fun games, delicious food and an exciting auction to benefit the homeless in the area.

What are they looking for: The organization needs people to attend. Tickets are currently on sale for the June 13 event and cost $100. The event starts at 6 p.m. with all proceeds going towards ReStart and its vision of ending homelessness in the Kansas City Community.

KC PET PROJECT OPPORTUNITY AT BOULEVARDIA

Boulevard Brewing Company is holding a brand new event over June 13-15 in the West Bottoms this summer — Boulevardia. The festival will feature food, music and brand new beers with artists jamming on two stages, one housing homegrown talent and the other hosting national stars such as Robert Delong and THE MGDS.

What are they looking for: At the festival, KC Pet Project needs 56 volunteers to help bartend. Six percent of all bar sales will be given to participating organizations and each organization gets to keep all of their tips. No experience in bartending is needed, just bring energy and a positive attitude since the more tips you get, the bigger the benefit is for KC Pet Project.

Volunteers are needed for three hour shifts Friday through Sunday and every volunteer must be available to attend training on Tuesday, June 5 from 6-8 p.m.

CALLING CARDS: LAST MINUTE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS WEEKEND

Another weekend, another set of volunteer opportunities. Take advantage of these last-second chances to impact your community this Saturday. Give up two hours and positively change someone’s life.

Ronald McDonald House teams up with NASCAR
It’s a NASCAR race weekend at Kansas Speedway and what better way to enjoy it than by volunteering. To that extent, the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City has joined forces with NASCAR to raise funds for the sick children and their families of Kansas City.

The Skinny: Collect donations from race goers in exchange for NASCAR Unites wristbands and pins. Fifty percent of the money collected will go toRMHC-KC. Two to three hour shifts are available on Saturday, anywhere from noon to 6:30 p.m. All ages are welcome, especially you high schoolers out there. To sign-up, visit the nonprofit’sVolunteerMark page.

Blair’s Foster Socks hosting ‘Drive For Your Community’
We will keep the driving theme going here with Blair’s Foster Socks’ ‘Drive For Your Community’event on Saturday. The fundraiser needs volunteers as well as participants, as the <strong>Ford Motor Company will donate $20 for every person who tests drives one of its cars at the Bass Pro Shop located at Bass Pro Drive, Independence, Mo.

The Skinny: The volunteer needs are pretty easy: set-up, registration and clean-up for the event, which lasts from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Any form of help, whether it’s for one or four hours, is needed. If you wish to help, contact Brent at 877-203-5848 ext. 2 or thecallkc@gmail.com. If you can’t spare that much time, test drive a new car real quick for free and the Ford Motor Company will donate $20 to the children’s nonprofit. No purchase required. Just donate 20 minutes, enjoy the wheels and you will have helped clothed a needy child.

ReStart’s ‘Mommy Dearest – Drag Your Mother Out For Art’
With Mother’s Day on Sunday, this is a great way to celebrate. ‘Mommy Dearest – Drag Your Mother Out For Art’ will be held from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Uptown Arts Bar on 3611 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo. The show will include a variety of entertainers as well as a raffle and costume contest, with the first-place prize going to the best dressed mom in attendance. In addition, there will be art made by reStart youth up for bid. <strong>All funds raised from the evening will go towards ReStart’s youth art programs, which are in association with the Arts Asylum.

The Skinny: Show up. That’s all you have to do to help this wonderful homeless shelter in downtown Kansas City. Not only will you be helping the hopeless, but you will be helping children as well. Tickets will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance.