"Welcome to the Christmas In October website. We hope that it provides you with the information you are seeking. If you are new to Christmas In October I encourage you to review the information found in the About Us section. Please contact us if you don't find the information you are seeking." -- Tom Redmond, Executive Director
House Captain meeting, June 17th, 2009.
Rockhurst High School at 5:30pm
93rd and State Line, KCMO
Christmas in October Celebrates 25 Years of Helping Kansas City
WATCH THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO ON YOUTUBE
Kansas City-born and raised Christmas in October (CIO) is celebrating its 25th anniversary of rebuilding houses, lives and neighborhoods. In spite of the recent economic depression, this organization continues to step forward to help those in need.
Christmas in October was founded in 1984 by Richard Miller, a Kansas City attorney, and John McMeel, co-founder of Andrews McMeel Universal. Working with a simple plan of dedicating a few Saturdays in October to working within specific neighborhoods, as many as 6,000 volunteers “adopt” houses that have been prescreened and approved for rehabilitation. On the first weekend in October, professional union workers do the “heavy lifting” involving plumbing, electrical and roofing repairs. The second weekend is when the majority of volunteers from corporations, universities, faith-based organizations, and many other groups work on at least one home each—some as many as 30. They come together and lend their time and talents to sprucing up and winterizing the homes they have adopted.
The charity especially helps with homes of economically challenged residents including elderly, disabled, veterans, or families with young children, focusing primarily on heating and safety issues in the home. Homes chosen must be owned by the individual; they cannot be rental properties.
Led by Executive Director Tom Redmond and assisted by Program Director Brian Mooberry and a host of dependable volunteers who don’t mind being on-call 24/7. Christmas in October has turned into a year-long program. Homes with leaking roofs, no running water and no electricity cannot wait for help during only one month of the year.
So, all during the year, Christmas in October renovates homes and schools by installing and repairing furnaces, performing electrical and plumbing work, repairing roofs, building wheelchair ramps, painting, and installing water heaters, windows and gutters. Some of its bigger non-residential projects have included updating and rebuilding the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center, Our Lady’s Montessori school and daycare in Kansas City, Kan., and the Cristo Rey Kansas City high school.
Christmas in October is the largest charity of its kind in the country. It started out with Mr. Miller and Mr. McMeel and 100 volunteers working on 20 homes. Now it has grown to include thousands of volunteers—as many as 6,000—working on up to 500 homes yearly. Even with the economic downturn, Christmas in October still has high hopes to continue its tremendous impact on the community. It is also accepting donations by mail or online.
This year is special in more than one way, because Christmas in October is the charity of record sponsoring the PGA Nationwide Golf Tournament event coming this summer to the Kansas City area. The event will be in the Lionsgate community at the Nicklaus Golf Club, in Overland Park, Kan., Aug. 17-23. Christmas in October will be the main beneficiary on record for this golf tournament.
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