WRITING
LONGFORM
When hundreds of Tennesseans gathered in Nashville for the Families Belong Together March, I captured their voices with my phone and camera, writing this piece and processing the photos that same afternoon. ​
SOCIAL COPY
PRESS RELEASES
Kansas City, Missouri (November 29, 2021)
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GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities by inspiring people to give back on November 30, 2021, and throughout the year. For the 2nd consecutive year, Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas (MOKAN Goodwill) will join the GivingTuesday initiative with its Holiday of Giving appeal to support hundreds of individuals and families this holiday season.
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For more than 127 years, MOKAN Goodwill has been providing services to our most vulnerable communities. Through the Holiday of Giving campaign, MoKan Goodwill will open our stores and our hearts to those in desperate need of support. A gift to Goodwill has a value three times greater than at most retail stores and will provide warm clothing, household necessities, and employment services for many of our neighbors in need.
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“As we push through the lingering effects of COVID-19, many people in our communities have been impacted by employment changes, displaced housing, medical emergencies, and rising living expenses. With your gift, Goodwill can brighten the spirits of many of our neighbors by providing comfort, security, and hope this holiday season.” said Anita Davis, MOKAN Goodwill’s Chief Mission officer.
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GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 as a simple idea: to create a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
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“GivingTuesday inspires people all around the world to embrace their power to drive progress around the causes they care about, not just on one day but throughout the year.” said Asha Curran, GivingTuesday’s CEO, and co-founder.
Those who are interested in viewing stories of individuals impacted by MOKAN Goodwill’s services and donating to the Holiday of Giving initiative can visit www.mokangoodwill.org/holiday-of-giving.
Kansas City, Missouri (February 7, 2022)
Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas (MoKan Goodwill) is promoting an alternative Valentine’s Day date night experience through its Facebook and Instagram channels now through February 14th. Followers and fans are encouraged to plan a date night around picking their partner’s outfit from its thrift stores and submitting their best photos. All photo submissions received will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will select one lucky entry that will win a Valentine’s Day package worth over $150.
Couples or friends will purchase each other’s clothing outfits without their input, keeping spending under a $20 limit per person. Couples or friends will then dress up and go out on their date – wearing the surprise outfit their partner chose specifically for them.
“We hope this is a fun way to shake up what can sometimes feel like a monotonous holiday,” said Josh Kelley, Community Engagement Manager for MoKan Goodwill. “Instead of roses and chocolate, make this Valentine’s Day an experience to remember with your partner or friend. Those memories will last long after the roses fade and chocolate is gone.”
Research states unequivocally that Americans put a price on love. According to the National Retail Federation, Valentine’s Day spending is expected to reach $23.9 billion this year, up from $21.8 billion in 2021. More than half of U.S. consumers plan on opening their wallets for the holiday, with the average shopper spending $175.00 on gifts.
This contest isn’t just for a couple’s night; money spent at the thrift stores is used to fund MoKan Goodwill’s career advancement programs and services. “This is a fun way to get out and do something different with your partner or friend, but the fact that it helps us further the goals of our mission to assist local job seekers is what is most rewarding. That’s what we’re all about.”
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Those interested in the contest can submit their photos by commenting on the pinned post on Facebook or by Direct Messaging their photos to Instagram.