Give Joy to Gillis Families

Every day in our community, more children and families find themselves in crisis and in need of assistance.  That need is often magnified during the holidays when the cold and lack of resources can dampen their holiday spirits.

 

But with your help and support in stocking our Gillis Gift Gallery, together we can bring extra joy and light to these needy children and families on our programs.  

 

The Gillis Gift Gallery provides donations such as toys, clothes, household items and more from generous community supporters like you to our families, offering something for everyone to make the holidays a little brighter.  This event gives our families an opportunity to ensure all their loved ones have something special to open during this most joyous season.  

We hope you will consider donating to the Gillis Gift Gallery. Your donation of any item on our Wish List will truly bring joy and smiles to the children and families we serve.

GIFT GALLERY WISH LIST

 

Baby items - crib sheets, blankets, bottles, formula, baby towels, wash cloths, soap and shampoo, lotion, thermometers, diapers, wipes, sleepers, socks, bibs, clothes, infant toys, etc.

Children items - board games, UNO, puzzles, Legos, Silly Putty, Hot Wheels, books, remote control cars and helicopters, action figures, dolls, Playdough, Nerf Balls, creative arts and crafts, watches, gloves, hats, winter coats, backpacks, clock radios, clothing, etc.

Women's items - beauty products, perfume, household items, clothing, candles, etc.

Men's items - cologne, electric razors, tool sets, watches, grill accessories, dart boards, etc.

Family items - family board games, small appliances (popcorn maker, cake pop maker, toaster), family movies (G or PG), etc.

Gift cards - Target, Wal-Mart, Price Chopper, HyVee, QuikTrip, Restaurants, etc.

           

Renovate a Room. Renovate a Life.

Over the last 86 years, the Gillis intensive residential program has provided a home to more than 4,000 boys. Throughout our history in serving these desperate children, these cottages have come to need some serious rehabbing. Several individual donors just like you have already stepped up to make that change.


We know that physical living space truly makes a significant difference in how the children receive their time in treatment, so we not only want to renovate these rooms we want these renovations to have a direct impact on these children’s lives. When they come to Gillis, they will see a beautiful room, complete with beautiful walls; new, comfortable, kid-friendly beds, posters and decorations along with a complete, matching bed set that will be theirs to take with them when they go.


When children come to Gillis we want them to find love and acceptance – for most the first time they’ve felt these emotions. We want them to have an experience that they’ve never had: Something that has been created for them. Just them.


We are still in need of help to ensure the completion of this project! Contact Jennifer Hurst,

at Jennifer.Hurst@gillis.org for information on how you can help.

GILLIS NAMES NEXT PRESIDENT AND CEO

The Gillis board of directors, Gillis staff and Cornerstones of Care are pleased to announce Stephen O’Neill as the President and CEO of Gillis. Stephen brings with him over 10 years of experience providing and managing a spectrum of social work services including: mental health, substance abuse, housing, case management and residential treatment.

Stephen is a mission driven leader who believes that the key to creating innovative and impactful services is to allow service participants, families, staff and the community, etc. to participate in the process of generating ideas and designing service delivery systems. He believes that the organizations who find success in the future will be those organizations that are able to think in terms of what isn’t or might be rather than what is.

"I am very pleased to welcome Stephen O'Neill to the Gillis team, and believe he will bring strong leadership, energy, and empathy to the children and families we serve in our community" said Cindy Mahoney, chairman of the Gillis board of directors.

 

O’Neill began his new role as President and CEO on May 20. Gillis supporters are cordially invited to tour the Gillis campus and meet our new President and CEO. If you would like to set up a tour, please contact Gillis at 816-508-3500.

Centurions Gift Gillis with a new Deck

Members of the Greater Kansas City Chamber Commerce’s Centurions leadership program are leaving a lasting impression on not only the children living at Gillis today but those who will live at Gillis in the future through their legacy program. The Centurions built a custom deck on the historic Gillis campus large enough to accommodate 20 children at once. The deck will be completed on April 26th with custom landscaping and a new barbeque grill.

Cody, a 14 year old boy living at Gillis, shared his excitement about learning how to grill a hot dog alongside a Centurion volunteer, "I always wanted to know how to do that!" Centurion volunteers are teaching Gillis children how to have fun outside and grill a hotdog while helping them to find new hope for their future. Gillis Volunteer Manager, Jennifer Hurst, shared that "the quality time and attention that the Centurion volunteers gave our kids was the biggest gift of all from the legacy project. The volunteers created great memories for our children.

Since 1976, the Centurions Leadership Program has earned a reputation as an unequaled training ground for future Kansas City leaders. The mission of Centurions is to prepare a representative cross-section of the community's emerging leaders for their role in shaping the future of greater Kansas City. The Legacy Project is a tradition Centurions began in 2007 to leave a lasting impact on the greater Kansas City community.

Gillis Home - My Home by Robert E. Winger

A past Gillis resident named Robert Winger recently sent us a letter about his time here at Gillis. Robert lived at Gillis from 1937-1946 and since leaving Gillis spent 7 years preparing for the Christian Ministries and 52 years as a Pastor. His story takes us back in time to a Gillis after the Great Depression. We are so happy to hear the years he spent at Gillis had such a positive impact on his life. Thanks Robert for sharing your story!

 

GILLIS HOME - MY HOME

AS I REMEMBER IT - 70 YEARS LATER!

ROBERT E. WINGER

 

 

 

Would you believe me if I told you I have about eighty brothers and sisters? Probably not. However, that’s what I often tell people. The truth is I only had one real brother. However, because my parents were not physically or financially able to care for me, I grew up at Gillis Home. I came to Gillis at the end of the Great Depression and lived there during all of World War II. When my brother came back from the war in 1946 he became by guardian. As a child at Gillis I was never without friends. I fondly remember the names of many, some with whom I still keep in touch.

 

When I arrived at Gillis Home, in 1937, the beautiful and spacious grounds were attractive and inviting. Gillis was operated by the Women’s Christian Association, and was located just outside the city limits of Kansas City, Missouri. The home began in 1870 and was originally located at 8^th and Troost, and was moved in 1927 to the present location at 8150 Wornall Road, South of Waldo. Transportation was convenient from anywhere in KC by way of the historic Country Club and Dodson street car lines.

 

On the grounds four beautiful and modern brick buildings were built to care for the growing number of needy children in the Kansas City area. The first building housed the administration offices and contained three stories with living quarters for the superintendent and staff, the infirmary and dental office and laundry room. This building also included a very large meeting room with a stage where all of the children would gather for special events which were held often throughout the year. They provided wonderful programs for our entertainment as well as religious services and a variety of other activities.

 

All of the children lived in three huge cottages on the circle drive. The outside appearance of these cottages was identical. They were two stories high and housed about 25 children in each one. The Central Cottage was reserved for the very young children. The older girls lived in the East Cottage and the older boys lived in the West Cottage. The main floor of each cottage had a foyer, kitchen and dining room, library with study tables, a family room with comfortable furniture and a very large general-purpose recreational room with a fireplace and an attached portico. There were two very large dormitory rooms on either end of the second floor, where we slept and kept our few personal possessions in a small locker. Our cottage housemother had her living quarters between the dormitories and was always available.

 

We were all well fed and clothed, had good health and dental care, lots of opportunities for play and exercise. We took trips to the zoo, art gallery, circus and had many other special activities. We attended the public schools and local churches in the area. Community organizations and philanthropic individuals shared with us. We were able to participate in far more activities than thousands of other children who were not blessed by living at Gillis Home.

I am and always will be grateful that MY HOME was GILLIS HOME!