Bright Futures

This program's intent is to help HHS students dress smartly for school.  4U2 Wear is a personalized clothing and accessory service for Harrisonville High School students, grades 9 - 12.  4U2 Wear is tailored to the student’s individual tastes, needs and lifestyle. Personal shoppers will be matched anonymously with a student, then select and deliver clothing to school for your student each month.  For more information, contact Robbin Garrett - robbin.garrett@harrisonvillescchools.org. 

Each summer, community members can "adopt-a-wildcat" and provide school supplies.  School supply lists for each grade level are provided and individuals, businesses or organizations can choose the student(s) by grade-level that they want to adopt.

Families can sign up to receive back-to-school assistance - school supplies, clothing, shoes, hygiene items, haircuts - at the Bright Futures Back-to-School Fair which is held in August.  Families receive applications for the fair prior to the end of the school year. Volunteers are needed prior to the fair to organize and stuff school supply backpacks and prepare Station 42 and volunteers are needed the day of the event as well.  

If you’re a family in need, contact Kelly Melzer, kelly.melzer@harrisonvilleschools.org.

Our blue barrels are located throughout the community and the items collected in those barrels changes each month. Barrels are located at Cass County Public Library, Commerce Bank, Community Bank of Harrisonville, Cornerstone Community Church, Chamber of Commerce, Community Center, Crossroads Assembly, Heartland Baptist, Family Center, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Nazarene Church, United Methodist Church, Schroeder Chiropractic, Quality Auto Service, Brick House Coffee, Hawthorn Bank, The Vault, all district schools & the school district admin office.  The collection schedule is as follows:

• September - Socks & Underwear
• October - Non-perishable food & paper products (for Shepherd’s Staff Food Pantry)
• November – Feminine Hygiene products; Pajamas
• January - Classroom Snacks
• February - Notes of Encouragement for students & staff (as part of Kindness Month)
• March – Summer 1^st Aid (Sunscreen, bandages and bug spray)
• April - Toothbrushes/Toothpaste (toothbrushes for Cass County Dental Clinic)
• May - Deodorant, Shampoo, Soap for back-to-school hygiene kits
• June/July/August - School Supplies

**Subject to change based on needs

Uniformed first responder to enjoy breakfast or lunch at any of our schools any time.  The Code 7 program (formerly Blue Light Special) helps us achieve one of our goals - bringing positive adult role models into our children’s lives.  By interacting with you, our children see that there are many people in our community who care for them and want them to succeed beyond their parents and teachers. Breakfast runs from 7:10-8:40 a.m. and lunch runs from 10:20-1:00 p.m. any day, you can come and enjoy a meal with our children!   We do ask that you be in uniform, but no RSVP is necessary. Once you arrive at the school, please check into the school’s main office and they will direct you to the cafeteria. 

The Bright Futures Library is located in the basement of the Rockford One-Room Schoolhouse at McEowen Elementary School. Staff who know of students in need of reading material at home can submit a request form for books to the #My42 Kids Club at McEowen.  The Kids Club members will fulfill the order and send the books to the staff member to give to the student. The library is also available for staff to select books for their classroom libraries.

Businesses, groups, organizations “adopt” a classroom to build relationships between community members and students to provide examples of positive role models outside the school setting.  Min. 60 minutes per month in the classroom/with students. Partner & teacher plan visits to fit needs.  Contact Jill Filer, 380-2727, ext. 1224 or jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org

CTP scholarships are available to high school students hoping to enroll in dual credit classes. This program supports students for whom financial need could be a barrier to their ability to take college credit courses while in high school.  This program involves an application process - students can get an application from the HHS Student Services office.  CTP scholarships could be for full or partial payment of class fees.

The Food 4 Thought Backpack Program provides boxes of child-friendly food for students each month to sustain them for the weekends when school is not in session.  The food is purchased in bulk based on donations from individuals, churches, organizations, businesses, etc. Twice a month, a group of 6-10 volunteers preps & packs the food boxes for distribution.  To schedule a group to help with backpacking, contact Paige Welhoff at 380-2727, ext. 1221 or paige.welhoff@harrisonvilleschools.org. 

Positive adult role models greeting elementary students once a month as they come to school.  Usually a group/organization with greeters wearing uniform/shirts that readily identify them/their group.  For more information, contact Aidan Walton, walton5952@harrisonvilleschools.org

Families in need can sign up for "adoption" for the holidays. Families provide Bright Futures with their children's clothing sizes and wish list. Bright Futures seeks individuals, families, groups, churches, etc to adopt the families and provide gifts. Care is taken to ensure social services agencies in the area do not duplicate efforts. Sign up for adopting a family begins in October. For more information, contact Kelly Melzer, kelly.melzer@harrisonvilleschools.org

Bright Futures provides free hygiene supplies for students who need them - shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.  The supply cabinet is located in the nurse’s office at each school and students can visit the nurse at any time to get supplies. 

The Just4Me summer food program provides children in need with food over the summer months. During the school year, these students can participate in our Food 4 Thought program which provides a box full of weekend food each month. However, once school ends, the Food 4 Though program also ends. The Just4Me program provides three months worth of breakfast & lunch food and is funded entirely through community donations. Individuals, civic organizations, churches, and businesses donate money. A community volunteer coordinates the entire program from fundraising, to purchasing the food, to managing volunteers to pack the food boxes and make the deliveries. For more information, visit the Harrisonville Just4Me Facebook page.

Instruments donated to the Katie Rios Instrument Closet ensure all students who want to participate in band have that opportunity.  The closet was established in memory of Katie Rios. Donations may be dropped off at Harrisonville Middle School, 601 S. Highland Drive or the District Administrative Office, 503 S. Lexington. 

McEowen Elementary's Lunch Buddy program provides a positive adult role model to students in 4th & 5th grade.  Twice a month, Lunch Buddies will spend 45 minutes with their student eating lunch, playing games, and talking.  Applications are available at McEowen Elementary School. Lunch Buddies will be asked to submit to a background check - the fee is covered by Bright Futures.  They will also participate in a one-two hour training session prior to their first meeting. For more information, contact Jill Filer - jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org

Bright Futures offers high school students help with getting attire for Prom if they want to attend.  We take girls to one of two KC area prom events to select dresses and boys’ needs are met through our Facebook network.  Interested students should contact their counselor or Linda Hipp at HHS. 

Each school in the district has a snack pantry.  The snacks are given to students who might have missed breakfast or just need a little something to get them through the day.  Snack donations can include granola bars, cheese/peanut butter & crackers, cereal bars, fruit snacks, etc. Donations can be dropped off at any school. 

Station 42 is a clothing resource area for our families.  It is located off of Eastwood Road, south of Memorial Stadium.  It is open to families by appointment - call 380-2727.  Donations are accepted as needed. 

Each year, Community Bank of Harrisonville, hosts the Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive.  The supplies collected are distributed during the Back-to-School Fair. Donations can be dropped off at any blue barrel location during the drive. 

This program was established to help high school students who cannot afford some of the expenses associated with activity participation.  We are seeking businesses/organizations who would be willing to have a student "work" and then donate $12/hour directly to the activity the student is involved in to cover his/her expenses.  For example, a student who owes $50 for activity expenses could work 4.5 hours helping a local business/organization and get his/her debt taken care of. The work could include cleaning, filing, etc.  If you would be willing to be on our list of business/organization participants in this program, please email Lacey Domnick - ldomnick@shelterinsurance.com.  Families in need of assistance through this program should contact their student’s coach/sponsor.

Bright Futures collects new and gently used youth sports equipment to ensure that children who want to participate in youth sports have that opportunity. The donations are then sorted and distributed to the local youth sports organizations. 

1. Donate 42 minutes to help in Station 42 (sorting, laundering, folding clothes). Contact Kelly Melzer, kelly.melzer@harrisonvilleschools.org to schedule a time.
2. Go to a school and have lunch with a student twice this month (lunch shifts are approx. 20 minutes)
3. Buy 42 pencils to donate to our school supply section at Station 42.
4. Drop off donations at 503 S. Lexington.
5. Give $42 to Bright Futures to help support our many programs.  Make checks payable to Bright Futures & mail to 503 S. Lexington, Harrisonville, MO 64701. If designating to a specific program, please include the program in the memo line.
6. Join a building-level Bright Futures Council (meetings are once a month for about an hour).
7. Organize a group to help pack backpacks for the Food 4 Thought weekend backpack program. Contact Jill Filer - jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org or 380-2727, ext. 1224.
8. Visit a school 1-2 mornings to greet students as they come to school.
9. Volunteer to serve dinner at an HES Family event. Call 380-2727, ext. 1224.
10. Be an “adopted” grandparent for a Grandparents Day event at ECC. Call 380-2727, ext. 1224.
11. Read with a child during one of the monthly Breakfast with Books events at ECC and/or arrange for your business or group to cover one of the dates. Call 380-2727, ext. 1224.
12. Donate 42 pairs of underwear to the Station 42. Drop off donations at 503 S. Lexington.
13. Purchase 42 cans of soup, jello or pudding containers, rice krispie treats or fruit cups for the backpack program. Donations for this program can be dropped off at the Admin Office, 503 S. Lexington.
14. Spend 42 minutes cleaning off your bookshelves to donate children’s books for our summer reading program.
15. Donate 42 stocking hats or pairs of gloves for our Winter Apparel Drive.
16. Volunteer 42 minutes at an elementary school picture day to ensure our children look the best for their school pictures. Call 380-2727, ext. 1224.
17. When shopping, look for buy one, get one free or great sales and stock up on items that Bright Futures could use.
18. Clean out your child(ren)’s gently used sports gear (shoes, baseball gloves, balls, football pants, etc.) and donate it to our Youth Sports Equipment Closet. Sports gear donations can be dropped off at the Bright Futures Blue Barrel at the Harrisonville Community Center.
19. Get into your attic or basement and find that musical instrument to donate to the Katie Rios Instrument Closet 
20. Spend 42 minutes shopping for gifts for a family through our Holiday Adopt-a-Family program.
21. Invite 42 friends to “like” our Bright Futures Facebook page - www.facebook.com/BrightFuturesHarrisonville and/or join our Bright Futures Harrisonville Engagement Network group on Facebook.
22. Volunteer to help serve “treats” to McEowen students who meet their AR goal each month. 
23. Donate 42 snack items to HES or McEowen to use in their snack pantry for students who can’t afford to bring daily snacks.
24. Volunteer at a school health fair. 
25. Donate $42 to the Food 4 Thought Backpack program or the Just 4 Me summer food program to help provide weekend/summer food for those in need. Make checks payable to Bright Futures & mail to 503 S. Lexington, Harrisonville, MO 64701. Please put Food 4 Thought or Just 4 Me in the memo line.
26. Donate 42 toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, boxes of Kleenex, combs, hair brushes, shampoo, soap, etc. for our hygiene packs that we send home in our weekend backpacks once each quarter.
27. Volunteer 42 minutes to speak to classes about career opportunities. 
28. Donate 42 pairs of socks to the Station 42. Drop off donations at 503 S. Lexington.
29. Encourage 42 friends to participate in one of our monthly Blue Barrel collections - send emails, texts, Facebook messages, etc. Bright Futures blue barrels are located at Commerce Bank, the Harrisonville Community Center, the Harrisonville United Methodist Church, Hawthorn Bank, the Cass County Public Library (Harrisonville Branch), the Harrisonville Schools district administrative office, Sherwood Community Bank, the Harrisonville Church of the Nazarene, Cornerstone Community Church, First Christian Church Harrisonville, MO, Community Bank of Harrisonville, Heartland Baptist Church, and all schools.
30. Write 42 cards of encouragement for school counselors to share with students throughout the year.
31. Spend 42 minutes using sidewalk chalk on the front sidewalk of a school building to welcome students, teachers and administrators to school.
32. Partner with other parents & community members and get 42 students to give back through a volunteer effort with a local charity or civic organization.
33. Share 42 articles, throughout the school year on the importance of volunteer work and/or providing education on children in poverty via your social media outlets.
34. Tell 42 people about being a Bright Futures community (share with those who may not live here to help expand the Bright Futures network). Additional information on becoming a Bright Futures community is available at www.brightfuturesusa.org. Use #My42 on social media to share with others how you are supporting Bright Futures.
35. If you’re an employer, give your employees 42 minutes/month as time off to volunteer.
36. Spend 42 minutes this month praying for our teachers & students.
37. Provide two packages of birthday-type treats (24 per package) for children to share with classmates if they’re unable to bring treats from home.
38. Spend 42 minutes talking to a middle or high school student about your career field.
39. Spend 42 minutes talking to a high school student about applying to colleges and/or applying for financial aid.
40. Invite a high school student to job shadow you for 42 minutes.
41. Spend 42 minutes helping at the community garden.