KCKidsFun

One of the most popular searches on our site continues to be “indoor swimming pools”–and now is a great time for us to share our list!!  Swimming is great exercise for the whole family, and many indoor pools have special holiday hours.  It won’t be long now before the kiddos are on winter break and by about Day 4, you’ll be looking for things to keep everyone busy and off the video games!

Our list is just pools open to the public – many communities, schools and fitness centers also have indoor pools but no open swim availability.  And, you’ll want to visit their websites before heading out.  Schedules typically vary during holiday break.  Fees are also listed.  Check out our list, and if we’ve left anything off, please pass it our way.  Suit up!

Kansas City, MO

Gregg/Klice Community Center (Kansas City, MO)

The New Southeast Community Center (Kansas City, MO)

Tony Aguirre Community Center (Kansas City, MO)

Northland

Liberty Community Center (Liberty, MO)

Gladstone Community Center (Gladstone, MO)

North Kansas City Community Center (North Kansas City, MO)

Park Hill Aquatic Center (Kansas City north, MO)

Platte County Community Center North (Platte City, MO)

Platte County Community Center South (Parkville, MO)

Eastern Jackson County, MO

Legacy Park Community Center (Lee’s Summit, MO)

Centennial Pool Plex (Blue Springs, MO)

CoCoKey Resort (eastern Jackson County, MO–KCMO) - day passes are available to the public

Henley Aquatic Center (Independence, MO)

Johnson County, KS

Matt Ross Community Center (Overland Park, KS)

Roeland Park Aquatic Center (Roeland Park, KS)

Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center (Mission, KS)

Blue Valley Recreation Aquatic Center (south Overland Park, KS)

Cass County, MO

Belton Community Center (Belton, MO)

Harrisonville Community Center (Harrisonville, MO)

It’s that time of year when thoughts naturally turn to helping others.  Sometimes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by requests for donations. I think that teaching our kids the importance of giving back to the community and helping the less fortunate should be an ongoing process–not just reserved for November and December.

That being said, we thought we’d offer some suggestions for kid-friendly volunteering opportunities. Remember–it doesn’t have to be about money–it’s giving your TIME and ENERGY that matters! These are life lessons that your children will never forget, and volunteering can become something the whole family looks forward to doing together–all through the year!

• The Salvation Army Bell-Ringing is underway! The best part about this is that the money collected in the kettles stays right HERE in the KC metro. My 7-year-old son and I have manned the kettle for several 2-hour shifts at our neighborhood Hy-Vee for the past 4 years–and kids have a way of turning EVERY passer-by into a donor! Bundle up the whole family and enjoy a great time together.

• Check out the Youth Volunteer Corps of Greater KC. YVC organizes youth and family helpers at Harvesters, the city’s largest food bank. Your help is needed sorting and boxing donated food! It’s no news that food banks are running dangerously low now…some are even forced to close their doors. You might consider a small neighborhood or classroom food drive…and then deliver the food to Harvesters on the day you choose to volunteer. Location: 3801 Topping Ave., KCMO 816.929.3000

• Adopt a family through Don Bosco Centers’ Holiday Friends! This is such a great project for a family or neighborhood to take on. Holiday Friends is a fundraising program which benefits the clients of the Don Bosco Centers.  You can get specific names, ages and sizes for a family in need and can even personally deliver your gifts. This really shows us the true meaning of the holiday season! Your kids will never forget it. For more information, call the Holiday Friends Hotline at 816-691-2906 or visit www.donbosco.org.

• Check out www.VolunteerMatch.org. The site features loads of volunteer opportunities, and you can organize your results by Distance, Event Date and even Date Posted. While not all are kid-specific opportunities, you might find something suitable for the whole family or just for you!

• Operation Breakthrough. Operation Breakthrough- St. Vincent’s Family Service Center is located at 30th and Troost in KCMO. According to their website, volunteers range from ages 8-80 and do everything from “rocking babies to tutoring parents for the GED exam.” They also have an adopt-a-family Christmas program, similar to Don Bosco Center’s. The children who receive Christmas aid all come from low-income families. Some are homeless, many reside in foster care and most attend Operation Breakthrough’s day care program or are alumni.  Please help!

• Brighten someone’s day with a little artistic cheer… you can do something as simple as having your child(ren) draw some holiday-themed pictures; use glue, markers, construction paper, glitter, etc. Take your creations to a nearby nursing home or to Children’s Mercy Hospital near Crown Center. You’ll be glad you did!

• City Union Mission– You can go in with family, friends or coworkers to adopt a family for the holidays through City Union Mission, too. Please remember that families need our help year-round…not just at the holidays. Click here for a list of inexpensive, everyday items which you could collect and deliver to the Mission any day of the year.

• HappyBottoms.org — a program of GiveWhatYouGot.org.  This local organization is hoping to collect 7000 diapers in 7 days!!!  The diaper drive, going on now through November 14, 2009, aims to help Kansas Citians and fill in the gaps often left by other agencies.  Did you know that diapers aren’t covered by SNAP (food stamps) and WIC (Women, Infants, Children)?  There are several diaper drop sites throughout the metro– including  Children’s Orchard resale clothing stores in Lee’s Summit, Olathe, Blue Springs, KC North and Independence.  Check the website for more details.

Please feel free to submit any additional kid and family-friendly volunteer opportunities. We would be happy to post them!

CONTEST UPDATE:  JAMI H. FORCE IS OUR WINNER!!!

Congratulations, Jami!  We will definitely use Facebook for another giveaway…our readers seem to like it!  If you haven’t already, please visit us and become a FAN!

Since we like to have fun over here at KC Kids Fun…we thought we’d mix things up for our latest giveaway.  You could win a 4-pack of  tickets to the Miami Heat/New Orleans Hornets exhibition game at Sprint Center! It’s coming up quickly–next Thursday, October 15, 2009, to be exact.

Kansas City welcomes NBA All-Stars D Wade and Chris Paul to their first ever visit to Sprint Center. You won’t want to miss the triumphant return to KC of Big 12 Alumni  Mario Chalmers, Julian Wright and Michael Beasley!

Here’s what you need to do:  Visit us on FACEBOOK and leave a comment.  Unlike our other ticket giveaways, there is a short window of time to act on this one–we are only accepting entries (comments) until NOON today!!!  What this means is that you need to hurry and get a hold of your family and friends and encourage them to enter, thus increasing your chances of being invited to attend the game!  And, while you’re at it on FACEBOOK, become a “Fan” of KC Kids Fun! It’s fun!  It’s easy!  All the cool people are doing it!

Good luck–and remember:  1)entries only accepted as comments on FACEBOOK, 2)entries must be received by NOON CST TODAY (Friday, Oct. 9, 2009) and 3)winner will be contacted via email and Facebook sometime on Friday, Oct. 9.  And, if you aren’t the lucky winner, you can still get in on the fun by purchasing your tickets online and entering the special discount code “kckids” in the special offer code box.  You could save $5-$15 per ticket!!!