5445 Parallel Pkwy, Kansas City

Founded in 1912, the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City (HSGKC) is the only no-kill animal shelter in the Kansas City area. It offers a number of important services to the community, including lost/found pet services, adoption services, education services, and affordable veterinary care. Since it first opened its doors, HSGKC has helped over 100,000 animals in the community. As a volunteer, you will become a part of this legacy! The projects you may be working on include refurbishing the facility, yard work, restocking the pet pantry, and of course, working with the dogs and cats.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Saturday, January 10th, 10 am - 12 pm

Important information for volunteers:

An organization-specific waiver is required to volunteer at this facility. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have their parent or guardian sign the waiver.

Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. We may be working outside, so please bring a jacket or heavy sweatshirt.

Maximum number of volunteers:

There is a maximum of 20 volunteers for this project.

Getting there:

HSGKC is a 15-minute ride from the Convention Center.

Introduce fencing to local youth! Teach area kids the sport of fencing in a carnival-style format. We need help setting up the carnival, staffing the booths, and general help during the carnival. If you love teaching other people how to fence, this is the volunteer opportunity for you!

No prior experience with teaching or coaching is required - just a love of the sport and an eagerness to introduce others to fencing!

We need help with: 1) setting up, 2) staffing the welcome/check-in desk, 3) staffing the seven carnival “booths”, and 4) cleaning up.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Saturday, January 10th, 12-2 PM (Set up)

Saturday, January 10th, 2-4 PM (Winter FunFest)

Saturday, January 10th, 4-5 PM (Clean up)

Maximum number of volunteers:

There are no maximums! The more the merrier.

Getting there:

Good news! The Fencing FunFest will be held right in the Kansas City Convention Center. It can’t get closer than that!

Kansas City Convention Center

Since 1981, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) has been serving Kansas City families fighting childhood illness. RMHC-KC alleviates the worry and expense of finding a close, comfortable and affordable place for a family to stay while their child receives the medical care they need. Their mission is to reduce the burden of childhood illness on sick children and their families by providing comfortable lodging convenient to local health care facilities, creating a caring and uplifting environment, undertaking resource and fund development activities that support our facilities, programs, and services.

We will be making 100-150 snack packs for families staying at RMHC-KC. These snack packs are helpful when families don’t have time to sit down for a meal, or when they just need something to tide them over until the next time they can eat. We will also add a short note of encouragement to each snack pack.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Sunday, January 11th, 10:30 am - 12 pm

Maximum number of volunteers:

There is a maximum of 20 volunteers for this project.

Getting there:

We will meet at the USA Fencing check-in desk inside of the Kansas City Convention Center. From there, we will proceed to a work area where we will assemble the Snack Packs.

Kansas City Convention Center

Brrr! It’s cold outside! This winter season, do something kind for your neighbor and learn a new skill!

Founded in 2022, Knit Knot Knoop’s mission is to educate young people about the homelessness epidemic in a creative way - volunteers learn to knit scarves and donate them to the homeless though Knit Knot Knoop’s partner organization, Ezra. Knit Knot Knoop was created by Kate Elterman, a women’s epee fencer who wanted to do something kind for the homeless in her community during the pandemic. Kate has taught over 40 fencers how to knit and the organization has since grown to three chapters in the US.

Scarves knitted by Knit Knot Knoop volunteers give homeless individuals the extra layer of warmth they need in the colder months. It’s a layer of love and kindness. We will teach you how to knit and provide all the supplies. This is something that once you learn how to do, you can do at every tournament or in your spare time.

All knitting levels are welcome, from beginner to experienced.

Available dates and times to volunteer:

Saturday, January 10th, 12 - 2 pm

Getting there:

We will meet at the USA Fencing check-in desk and work in a quiet space in the Convention Center.

Kansas City Convention Center

Cords for a Cause is a fencer-led initiative whose mission is to collect broken fencing body cords, repair them, and provide the repaired cords to fencers and clubs that have limited access to such equipment.

By extending the life of used cords and redistributing them where they’re most needed, we aim to reduce waste and expand access to fencing.

At Cords for a Cause, we believe that no one should be stopped from fencing because of the cost of equipment! What starts as just fixing a few broken cords turns into something bigger….a way to help and support other fencers and - more importantly - a way to make the sport a little more accessible for everyone!

Volunteers will collect left-behind/broken body cords around the competition venue at the end of the day.

Important information for volunteers:

After collection, the body cords should be dropped off in a box labeled “Cords for a Cause”, which will be located at the DoGood table.

Volunteers should take a picture of the collected cords and send it to cordsforacause.fencing@gmail.com. You will not get credit for this service hour unless you email this address.

Available dates & times to volunteer:

Friday, January 9th, after 5 pm

Saturday, January 10th, after 5 pm

Sunday, January 11th, after 5 pm

Maximum number of volunteers:

There is a maximum of 1 volunteer per shift. Please note: in order to let other people have the chance to volunteer for this project, you are only allowed to sign up for ONE shift. Multiple registrations for this project will be cancelled.

Getting there:

You will earn 1 service hour for each time you collect cords - all without even leaving the Convention Center!