Neighbor2Neighbor Christmas Eve Breakfast Shows Growing Need Among Families

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Neighbor2Neighbor, a Kansas City-based organization that supports the homeless and near-homeless, hosted its annual Christmas Eve breakfast on Tuesday.

It also included health screenings, through a collaboration with the Filipino Nurses Association of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City World Outreach Lions Club.

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“It’s a group effort,” said Helen Hatz, president of the Lions Club Kansas City World Outreach.

Babette Orlich volunteers with the Lions Club and the Philippine Nurses Association and shares Hatz’s sentiment.

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“Collaborating with the community is really important,” Orlich said. “Some of these people don’t want to go to a clinic or a doctor. So if we show them it’s as simple as taking your blood pressure and then knowing how you’re doing, that could be the warning sign- runner of something else.”

On Christmas Eve, the plates are as full as the Neighbor2Neighbor room.

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“We’ve become a little family here, so when other people come, we try to hold on and give the same love to each other so we can all become not only strong, but powerful,” Jason said Jones, a participant who said he comes to N2N often.

Their higher power nourishes them spiritually.

“God saved me, so I want to help others not die on the streets,” said Gregory Parr, executive director of N2N. “A lot of low-income people are hesitant to go to any hospital to get tested, which is why we want to do it here, every year on Christmas Eve.”

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Parr said he was surprised by the number of children at Tuesday’s event, and Hatz agreed.

“I think the need is growing every year,” Hatz said. “It’s hard for people who have a job, you know, two working parents, it’s hard today. Some of these people don’t have a job.”

Parr says he also sees it as a good thing that N2N can help provide for them.

“Hard times have hit a lot of people, and particularly when it comes to homelessness and near-homelessness, minimum wage,” Parr said. “It involves a lot of variables. COVID has affected a lot of people, and we’re still dealing with the aftereffects.”

As families fill their bags with warm clothes, there are other things people like Jones walk away with that can’t help but fill your heart.

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“A little hope, a little faith, a little doctrine, a little knowledge, a little power, resources,” Jones said. “It gives you unwavering love. Like when you want to give up, it gives you a little push.”

N2N will be open Wednesday Christmas Day from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., as will its pantry, which includes items like gloves, ski caps, socks, hand and toe warmers and thermal underwear.

N2N is located on the right side of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church at 2910 Victor Street in KCMO.

To learn more about the organization or make a donation, visit their website.

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KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.