De Soto Youth Ministries Inc

DESOTO YOUTH MINISTRIES, INC. EXISTS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO CHRIST, TO COMMUNITY, AND TO THEIR CALLING. WE DO THIS THROUGH COMPASSIONATE DECLARATION AND DEMONSTRATION OF THE GOOD NEWS TO BRING HOPE.

IN 2022, DESOTO YOUTH MINISTRIES (DYM) CONTINUED ITS MISSION TO SHARE HOPE AND GOD'S LOVE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. DYM HAS BECOME EVEN MORE A CONNECTION POINT FOR NOT ONLY YOUTH, COLLEGE AGE, AND YOUNG ADULTS, BUT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES THROUGH ONGOING PROGRAMS, EVENTS, COMMUNITY, AND VOLUNTEERISM WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING OTHERS DISCOVER THEIR MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEREVER THEIR FEET TAKE THEM. DYM'S FIRESIDE, YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM TARGETING OLDER HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS, ATTENDANCE GREW IN 2022 WITH GUEST SPEAKERS, STUDENT LED MEETINGS AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS. DYM, FIRESIDE, PLUS OTHER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS (MISSIONARY PATHWAY, VOICES, AND ORIGINAL FILM SHOWING, LOCAL EDUCATOR'S EVENTS, WORSHIP/PRAYER NIGHTS, AND OTHERS) HAD A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 945. FIRESIDE STUDENTS COLLECTED 705 IN GIFT CARDS AND DISTRIBUTED THEM TO LOCAL UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILIES. NUMEROUS HOURS WERE SPENT WITH SMALL GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS MENTORING AND DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS. DYM'S FACILITY IS UTILIZED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND THE 15 PASSENGER VAN TO TRANSPORT YOUTH ON MISSION TRIPS. IN 2022, 106 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 3,842 HOURS TOWARD THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF DYM. DYM NONCASH DONATIONS IN 2022 INCLUDED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ON FACILITY AND 15-PASSENGER VAN, LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES, WORK ON SPRINKLER SYSTEM, FOOD DONATION FOR PROGRAMS, AND PREP WORK FOR NEW MIRRORED WALL AND COMMERCIAL BACK DOOR. LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS VALIDATE THE LONGSTANDING WORK AND PRESENCE OF DYM AND ITS POSITIVE REPUTATION FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

FRESH START KC SUPPORTED FAMILIES AND PEOPLE IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY AREA WHO ARE SEEKING TO TRANSITION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. WORKING ALONGSIDE HILLCREST TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, FRESH START SPONSORED 2 APARTMENTS WHICH HOUSED RESIDENTS WORKING TO COME OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. FRESH START PROVIDED MONTHLY RENT AND UTILITIES FOR BOTH APARTMENTS, CLEANED AND MADE NECESSARY REPAIRS BETWEEN CLIENTS, AND BOUGHT NEW LINENS AND RESTOCKED THE PANTRY EACH TIME NEW RESIDENTS MOVED IN. FRESH START ALSO SUPPORTED HILLCREST TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THROUGH LIGHT REMODELING PROJECTS ON APARTMENTS. THE FRESH START TEAM COMPRISED OF 8 PEOPLE VOLUNTEERED 300 HOURS, WHICH INCLUDED REPAIR WORK, SHOPPING FOR APARTMENT SUPPLIES, AND ONE ON ONE FINANCIAL TRAINING.

CAUSE COFFEE, AN EXTENSION OF DYM'S MISSION, CONTINUES TO BE A HUB FOR YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTING WITH LARGE NUMBERS NEARLY EVERY WEEK. IN ADDITION, CAUSE DONATED PASTRIES TO AREA HOMELESS, GAVE 2,000 TOWAD FIGHTING SEX TRAFFICKING, 1,700 HELPING FOSTER CARE, 1,000 TO HELP FIRE VICTIMS, GAVE TOYS TO NEEDY CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS, 500 IN NEW BLANKETS TO LOCAL NICU FACLITIES, DONATED SUPPLIES TO THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL CANCER MARATHON, AND GIFT BASKETS AND SUPPLIES FOR NUMEROUS LOCAL SCHOOL EVENTS, ETC.

STAFF TRAVELED TO VARIOUS CITIES THROUGHOUT EASTERN KANSAS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE WEEKEND LONG YOUTH RODEOS HELD BY THE CHRISTIAN YOUTH RODEO ASSOCIATION. STAFF PROVIDED A CHURCH SERVICE FOR FAMILIES EACH SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER THE RODEO WITH AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 95.