Harvesters—The Community Food Network will honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Day of Service at Harvesters on Monday, Jan. 17.
As Dr. King said, “I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.”
Volunteers will donate food and help Harvesters sort and pack donated food during five, two-hour shifts. Volunteers also will participate in a service-learning project focused on King and his legacy. Volunteers include individuals, organizations, and corporate groups. All the volunteers will wear masks at all times and will be socially distanced from each other.
Volunteer sessions will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1t o 3 p.m., 3 to 5 p.m., and 5 to 7 p.m.
“We’re very grateful for the generous gift of time these volunteers will give to Harvesters on this Day of Service,” says Valerie Nicholson-Watson, Harvesters president and CEO. “We welcome more volunteers to give their gift of time throughout the year, and we are diligently working to keep our volunteers safe during this pandemic by our stringent cleaning measures, mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing stations throughout our facility,” she added.
Anyone wishing to schedule a future volunteer session can do so online at https://www.harvesters.org/how-to-help/volunteer.
A bald eagle was on display during Eagle Days in January 2020 at the James P. Davis Hall at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas. The event is scheduled this year for Saturday and Sunday at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library and the Davis Hall at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (File photo by Steve Rupert)
The annual Eagle Days will take place Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 15 and 16, at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road.
The annual event is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, according to a news release from the Board of Public Utilities, which is one of the event sponsors.
Events will take place at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library at the lake, and also at the James P. Davis Hall at the lake. There are some changes to the event format this year due to COVID-19 protocols.
The free family-oriented program will provide those who attend with an opportunity to see eagles and birds of prey at each location. There are educational programs in connection with the viewing. Birds of prey from Operation WildLife Rehab Center will be on display.
Hours for Saturday are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Masks will be required.
Spotting scopes will be available outside for birdwatching around the lake. Visitors should bring binoculars and cameras to take advantage of the scenic views and beautiful winter landscapes.
According to information from the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library, the program will offer 15-minute live bird viewing this year with species such as owls, hawks and a bald eagle instead of a one-hour formal presentation.
Each guest will need a free ticket to view the live birds at both the Schlagle Library and Davis Hall, according to library information. The ticket will allow a 15-minute time slot to take pictures, ask questions and enjoy watching the birds of prey indoors. There will be different bird species at both buildings and those who attend may reserve a time slot at both buildings.
Those who arrive without a reservation ticket will have to wait until there is a vacancy, according to the library information. While they wait, people may participate in crafts, wild bird spotting stations and outdoor activities.
Those who attend may re-enter the live bird viewing area more than once during the event as long as there are spots open, according to library information.
Eagle Days at Wyandotte County Lake are offered in partnership with Operation WildLife, the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library; the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities; the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library; Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools; the Unified Government; and Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City.
You can dispose of your natural holiday trees and help the environment at the same time by recycling them.
Holiday trees, wreaths and garlands are discouraged from being deposited into Kansas landfills.
Communities are offering a number of ways to recycle the holiday trees, keeping them out of landfills and creating a useful product that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as trail surfaces, erosion control, landscaping and fish habitat in lakes.
Sites that are in the Unified Government park system are accepting natural holiday trees through Jan. 30. All tinsel, lights and ornaments must be removed.
Some drop-off holiday tree recycling sites in Wyandotte County include:
• Bonner Springs — North Park, 1200 S. 134th St., Bonner Springs, Kansas, 913-422-7010 • Kansas City, Kansas — Alvey Park, 4834 Metropolitan Ave., north side of the south parking lot, Kansas City, Kansas, 913-573-8327 • Kansas City, Kansas — City Park, 2601 Park Drive, inside the park, to the right, Kansas City, Kansas, 913-573-8327 • Kansas City, Kansas — Stony Point Park, 531 N. 86th St, northeast corner of parking lot, Kansas City, Kansas, 913-573-8327 • Bonner Springs, Kansas — Wyandotte County Park at Bonner Springs, 600 N. 126th St., ball field parking area, Bonner Springs, Kansas, 913-573-8327 • Kansas City, Kansas — Missouri Organic, 1260 Alma St., Kansas City, Kansas, 816-483-0908
To see holiday tree recycling sites in other communities in the Greater Kansas City area, visit https://www.marc.org/News-Releases/12_2021/Treecycle-your-natural-holiday-tree-and-greenery.html.
