City Union Mission’s CELEBRATE HOPE: Reach Out to K.C.’s Poor and Homeless fundraising campaign has exceeded its $3.5 million goal, Executive Director Daniel J. Doty announced today.  “We are in awe of God for His blessings, and we’re thankful for the generosity of so many in greater Kansas City!” he said.

    The campaign began October 1, 2009, with the goal of raising one-half of the Mission’s cash budget by the end of January 2010, to support the Mission’s services and programs for the hungry, homeless and poor in the metro area all year long.  The Mission receives nearly 75 percent of its donated income from individuals, businesses and churches.  Those contributions are used to provide basic necessities including food, shelter, clothing and medical services, along with counseling, long-term recovery and career-development and job-placement assistance.

    Doty believes Kansas Citians have been especially sensitive to the needs of the community in recent months as their fellow citizens continue to battle the effects of the economy.  The situation became even more critical as record low temperatures caused families already struggling financially to ask for help with utility payments and the homeless to seek shelter from the cold. 

    The Mission’s leadership is grateful for the outpouring of support to the CELEBRATE HOPE campaign, which allowed the Mission to begin the year on solid ground, but Doty stresses the generosity of donors and partners remains vitally important in the months ahead.

    “We invite all our donors, friends and partners to celebrate with us in prayer and in their hearts and to acknowledge that this achievement is their achievement.  Their selfless generosity will benefit our neighbors in need and our community as a whole in far too many ways to count,” Doty said.