KCK nonprofit seeking community help after Sunday’s storm
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Storm damage is forcing a nonprofit in Kansas City, Kansas to look for a temporary spot to continue its operations helping refugees.
On a typical Friday, one room would be filled with sewing machines with refugees learning different skills like how to sew. But on this Friday, it’s quiet and empty because of Sunday night’s storms.
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The Central Avenue Betterment Association owns the damaged building off 13th and Central. But inside was a teaching space, and a second home to people new to this country.
Ramki Shaiza is the founder of Stitching Change. She and volunteers and board members got right to work cleaning up after Sunday’s storm.
“Usually we have Friday morning classes for our refugee women. Everyone of them called and said, ‘when are you all going to pick us up?’ and that was just a grief that all of us are going through,” Shaiza said.
“We knew we needed to get the fabric out because we didn’t have anymore of it and we just came in and started working as soon as we got in,” Frieda Smith, a board member with Stitching Change said.
Now what’s left is unrecognizable.
“It’s really sad coming in here knowing our fabric and machines are not available,” board member Betti Kalahurka said.
The biggest loss wasn’t just machines or supplies. It’s the sense of community you felt walking in.
“For me, this is a place where you come from a different country, from a different culture, from a different neighborhood and we find out common humanity that is love and kindness,” Shaiza said.
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They’re looking for a temporary space to bring their community back together.
“They’ve already been through so much, you know, and they give me so much, just in their example, their resilience,” Kalahurka said.
You can help give back to Stitching Change here.
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