Ways to help
Growing Compassion
Compassion Grows When We Practice It
City Union Mission helps Kansas City families find practical ways to teach kids compassion, talk about homelessness and poverty with dignity, and serve their neighbors together.
Whether you start with a conversation around the dinner table or choose a family service project in Kansas City, like building a Neighbor Care Kit, every step is an opportunity to help kids see their neighbors more clearly and put compassion into action.
What Does Compassion Look Like?
Compassion is more than feeling concern for someone. It means seeing the person, seeking to understand what they may be experiencing, and responding with dignity when we have an opportunity to serve.
Learn Together: Understand the experiences and challenges our neighbors may face.
Talk Together: Have thoughtful conversations that replace assumptions with empathy.
Serve Together: Turn what you are learning into practical acts of care in your family and throughout Kansas City
Family Activities That Help Kids Grow in Compassion
Help kids learn what it means to be a good neighbor.
Kids learn compassion through the conversations we have, the example we set, and the opportunities we give them to care for others.
How to Talk to Kids About Homelessness
Children notice when someone is struggling, and their questions can open the door to meaningful conversations. Learn how to talk about homelessness with honesty, compassion, and dignity in a way that fits your child’s age.
7 Questions That Help Kids Practice Compassion
Compassion often starts with a good question. Use these simple conversation starters at the dinner table, in the car, or before bed to help kids think about what it means to notice, care, and be a good neighbor.
5 Ways to Practice Compassion as a Family
Compassion becomes real when we put it into practice. Discover five simple ways your family can care for others together, from checking on a neighbor to building a Neighbor Care Kit.
Family Compassion Challenge
Small actions can build lasting habits. Take the Family Compassion Challenge and practice simple acts of kindness, gratitude, service, and generosity together.
Prefer to Give Toward a Kit?
Put Compassion into Action
Build a Neighbor Care Kit in Kansas City
Looking for a meaningful family service project you can do together?
Neighbor Care Kits provide clothing and everyday essentials for guests and program participants at City Union Mission. Families can choose a kit, shop the approved list, and pack it together while talking about dignity, gratitude, and what it means to care for a neighbor.
**Each Neighbor Care Kit should be purchased as a complete backpack using the approved Amazon shopping list below.**
Infant Neighbor Care Kits
Available clothing sizes: Newborn, 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–9 months, 9–12 months, 12–18 months and 18–24 months
Suggested items (valued at $113.00) :
Two-piece infant outfit
Sleeper or pajamas
Bodysuit
Baby socks
Diapers in the selected size
Baby wipes
Diaper rash cream
Baby wash
Baby shampoo
Baby lotion
Receiving blanket
Bib
Burp cloth
New
sealed pacifier
Small board book
soft baby book
Why it matters: Caring for an infant requires a steady supply of everyday essentials. This kit provides parents and caregivers with practical support during a season of transition or crisis.
Kid Neighbor Care Kits
Available clothing sizes: 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T, and sizes XS through XL
Suggested items (valued at $100.00):
T-shirt
Sweatpants or joggers
Pajama set
Underwear
Socks
Children’s toothbrush
Children’s toothpaste
Gentle body wash
Shampoo
Conditioner or detangling spray
Body lotion
Washcloth
Comb or brush
Reusable water bottle
Coloring or activity book Crayons or colored pencils
Age-appropriate book
Small sensory or stress-relief item
Why it matters: Familiar routines and simple comforts can mean a great deal to a child. This kit provides clothing, personal-care essentials and items that encourage comfort, play and connection.
Teen Neighbor Care Kits
Available clothing sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL and 1X
Suggested items (valued at $112.00):
T-shirt
Sweatpants or joggers Pajama set
Underwear
Socks
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Body wash
Body wipes
Reusable water bottle
Small notebook or journal
Pens
Small stress-relief item
Single-use emergency
phone charger
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body lotion
Lip balm
Washcloth
Comb or brush
Feminine hygiene products
Why it matters: Teens deserve to feel respected, prepared and included. These practical items can support personal care, daily routines and a sense of normalcy during an uncertain season.
Adult Neighbor Care Kits
Available clothing sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL
Suggested items (valued at $112.00):
T-shirt
Sweatpants or joggers
Pajama set
Underwear
Socks
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Body wash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body lotion
Lip balm
Washcloth
Comb or brush
Feminine hygiene products
Body wipes
Reusable water bottle
Pocket tissues
Small notebook and pen
Small stress-relief item
Single-use emergency
phone charger
Why it matters: Personal-care essentials and clean clothing can support comfort, dignity, routine and readiness for work, appointments, family responsibilities or other next steps.
Maybe growing compassion begins as a family activity, but compassion can grow from there. If you're a pastor, church leader, business owner, executive, volunteer coordinator, or community leader, Neighbor Care Kits can also become a meaningful way to bring people together around dignity, service, and practical care for our neighbors.
Neighbor Care Kits can give employees a practical way to serve together through a collection, packing event, or other community-focused activity.
Interested in exploring an opportunity for your team?
Neighbor Care Kits can be a practical way for individuals, volunteer teams, schools, clubs, and community groups to serve together while meeting an immediate need with care and dignity.
Interested in volunteering or organizing a group project?
Keep Compassion Growing
You Built a Kit. What’s Next?
Compassion does not have to end when the kit is packed.
It can become an ongoing practice — noticing people, learning about the needs around you, serving together, and finding new ways to come alongside neighbors in your community.
Maybe your family volunteers together. Maybe you attend an Awareness Coffee. Maybe your child begins noticing new opportunities to care for a classmate, neighbor, or friend.
The goal is not simply to complete a project. It is to help compassion become something we practice again and again.
You can keep compassion growing by:
–Volunteering with City Union Mission
–Attending an Awareness Coffee
–Exploring current needs
–Learning more about the Mission
–Giving to sustain Christ-centered care
Drop-Off Information
Ready to Bring Your Neighbor Care Kits to the Mission?
Thank you for taking the time to build Neighbor Care Kits with care, dignity, and purpose.
You can drop your kits to our warehouse, where we would be more than happy to collect and then redistribute them to those most in need.
Non-Food Donations should go to our main warehouse
1700 E. 8th Street | 8:30am – 3:30pm | Mon – Fri (Closed Sat & Sun)
FAQ’s
What are some family service projects in Kansas City?
Growing Compassion gives families practical ways to learn and serve together, including conversation activities, family compassion challenges, and building Neighbor Care Kits for City Union Mission guests and program participants.
Can kids help build Neighbor Care Kits?
Yes. Building a Neighbor Care Kit can be a meaningful family activity. Parents can involve children in shopping, packing, writing encouragement notes, and using the Talk While You Pack questions to discuss compassion and dignity.
What goes in a Neighbor Care Kit?
Neighbor Care Kits include approved clothing, personal-care items, and other useful everyday essentials. Contents vary by age and size, so families should follow the current shopping list for the kit they choose.
Can my church, business or community group build kits?
Yes. Churches can connect with Timothy, businesses with Rodney, and volunteer or community groups with Elizabeth to discuss a larger Neighbor Care Kit project.