When heavy rain hit Kansas City, KS this summer, it caused severe flooding across the area. The McNewton Community Outreach Center was one of the places hit hardest. A wall in their event space collapsed, stopping their programs, interrupting food distribution, and leaving families and youth without needed resources.
At Foundation 1, we were proud to lend our hands and expertise to help rebuild after the flood. Our goal was to restore a place that provides steady help and hope for the people of KCK.
The McNewton Center’s Role in the Community
The McNewton Community Outreach Center has long been a cornerstone for residents in Kansas City, Kansas. Their programs focus on mental health support, family assistance, and community connection. They’ve provided food boxes, job resources, showers, and safe spaces for those who need it most. But after the flood in July, one of their main event spaces was left with a collapsed wall and a gaping hole filled with mud. Without that space, the center’s work slowed dramatically. As Board President Carl Newton shared,
“The gap has been noticeable for our youth and our homeless… we had to slow down.”
The Call to the Community
When traditional insurance coverage fell short, Carl Newton turned to the community for help. A GoFundMe provided a small start, but it was the local partnerships that made true rebuilding possible. Businesses and volunteers stepped forward:
- Precise Forms donated funds to kickstart repairs.
- Foundation 1 provided skilled labor to rebuild the damaged wall.
- Gates and Sons Bar-B-Q brought food to feed the community during the effort.
- Odell Plumbing and Commissioner Gayle Townsend also stepped in to support the cause.
Every contribution helped turn a damaged space back into a center of hope and service.
Our Part in the Rebuild
At Foundation 1, our crews are trained to handle tough structural repairs, and this project hit close to home. Seeing the center’s wall collapse reminded us how essential strong foundations are, not just for homes, but for communities. We joined the volunteer team to handle the wall rebuild and stabilization work, ensuring the new structure could withstand future storms. It was hands-on, heartfelt work, and we were honored to stand beside other Kansas City businesses to make it happen.
A Symbol of Resilience
The McNewton Center’s new wall will be complete by early October. To celebrate, the center is already planning to host a Halloween haunted house in the same event space that was once filled with mud and debris, a powerful symbol of how far this community has come. Carl Newton summed it up best:
“Everyone has been chipping in and making us feel so good about how we’re received and respected in the community. All the glory goes to God because without Him none of this would be possible.”
Our Commitment to Kansas City
At Foundation 1, we take pride in being part of this community. Helping rebuild the McNewton Center reflects what we believe in: strong structures, stronger people, and the shared responsibility to lift each other up after disaster strikes. We’re grateful to everyone who showed up and answered the call. Together, we helped rebuild not just a wall, but a vital space for hope, healing, and connection in Kansas City, Kansas.
Contact Us
If your property or organization faces structural damage after a storm, contact Foundation 1. We’ll assess, repair, and help you rebuild with the same care and commitment we brought to the McNewton project.
