Kansas City Rescue Mission Steps Up Efforts to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Save Money and Resources in Tough Economy

During the busiest season of the year for homeless shelters, the Kansas City Rescue Mission, 1520 Cherry Street, is stepping up efforts to “go green” for economic and environmental reasons.

“We’ve always been frugal,” explains Julie Larocco, development officer at the Mission. “But when we learned that making this one simple change would save $3,900 of our donors’ money on trash pick up in the next year, and allow us to recycle on site, we jumped on it.”

Larocco says the savings would pay for more than 2,000 plates of food for homeless people in Kansas City. “That’s a better way to spend our money.”

KCRM’s staff takes a number of steps to save money: “We reuse paper in our copiers and printers; our kitchen serves meals with real dinnerware instead of paper and plastic; and many on our staff haul plastics, paper and glass home to recycle,” said Larocco.

KCRM has already replaced more than 200 inefficient overhead lights, earning a substantial rebate from KCP&L. “Now we’re raising funds to replace appliances and air conditioning with energy star-rated equipment to lower our electrical use and costs,” said Larocco.

The Mission switched disposal services and added recycling stations throughout its facility in November. “We want to be good neighbors in the Crossroads Arts District,” explained Larocco. “Recycling is a lot of work when you are sheltering more than 100 people each night and serving 250 meals a day, but we believe it’s worth it.

“This has been a very tough year for the Kansas City Rescue Mission financially, but we’re stretching every donor dollar we receive by practicing good financial stewardship and by reducing, reusing and recycling wherever we can.”