November Blog Post: Gratitude in Action: Bringing More People Home

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are thinking about what we are grateful for. Family gathered around the table, a warm meal, time spent with loved ones, and the comfort of being home.

Home is something we often take for granted. But for thousands of individuals and families across Kansas City, having a safe place to call home remains out of reach.

For 45 years, reStart has worked to change that. And for 45 years, the Kansas City community has stood beside us, believing that everyone deserves the safety, dignity, and stability of a home.

As I reflect on this season of gratitude, I am incredibly thankful for the donors, volunteers, community partners, businesses, and neighbors who have supported reStart's mission throughout our history. Your generosity has helped tens of thousands of people move from crisis to stability, opened doors to new opportunities, and brought families home.

This year, we have even more to be grateful for.

In July, we opened the doors to our new reStart Family Lodge, creating 45 private suites where families can stay together while working toward permanent housing. We have continued helping youth, young adults, and individuals find stability, build skills, and take the next steps toward independence.

But our gratitude comes with a renewed sense of urgency.

In just the first three months after opening the Family Lodge, more than 600 families reached out to us seeking shelter; this number represents thousands of children who are living in cars, tents and storage units. With only 45 suites available, the need is far greater than our current capacity.

We are grateful for how far we have come, but we cannot lose sight of how many people are still waiting for a place to call home.

That is why reStart is taking action.

We are moving forward with plans to expand housing for families, youth, and adults, develop more permanent housing, and strengthen the services that help people build lasting stability.

These are ambitious plans, but Kansas City has shown us time and again what is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose.

As we celebrate 45 years of reStart, I hope our community will continue to strengthen its support for this mission. The next chapter of our work will require even greater investment, stronger partnerships, and a willingness to act with the same urgency as the families and individuals who turn to us every day.

This Thanksgiving, I encourage each of us to turn gratitude into action. Whether through a financial gift, volunteering, opening doors to new partnerships, or simply sharing our mission, every act of support helps us move closer to a Kansas City where everyone has a place to call home.

To everyone who has been part of reStart's journey over the past 45 years, thank you. You have helped us build something extraordinary, and there is still so much more we can do together.

Let's honor 45 years of generosity by taking action today to bring even more people home tomorrow.

Donate to reStart Inc. to help families find safety and support. 

Volunteer with your company or group to support reStart’s work. 

Advocate for housing solutions in your neighborhood.