KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Shelves are empty at the Kansas City Rescue Mission after the need for food increased 25 percent over the summer.
"So, in reality this should be full, typically this is full, but these days, we're hurting," Executive Director, Joe Colaizzi explained.
This year has been tough for the mission, and the extreme weather did not help.
"Driven by the weather, the rain, the heat, it's driven a lot of extra clients in our door and so it's really taken a toll on our food supply," Colaizzi said.
As the need for food on the shelves has grown, so has the need for financial donations. Colaizzi said the mission didn't reach their budget goals this year.
Each year, the mission spends nearly $40,000 on food and serves 100,000 meals. Colaizzi said 75 percent of the food comes from Harvesters.
"Their supply is down so, it's really hitting the pantry quite hard right now," he said.
This time of year, Colaizzi refers to as the summer slump. As donations to the mission slow down, the need does not.
"The most liquid resource we need is dollars and cents in order to help us get through what we call that summer slump and get us on our feet and get us prepared for the holidays," he said.
On average, the mission serves about 250 meals every day. In recent weeks, Colaizzi said it's closer to 300.
In hopes of making a bigger impact, the rescue mission is rebranding. On Tuesday, the mission will launch as Shelter KC, a new name but the same concept.
