Goal: $10,000

The band students of St. Mary’s Academy are passionate and committed to their craft, using their instruments not only to support school athletic functions and community events but also to participate in concerts that showcase their talent and teamwork.

These experiences teach valuable lifelong skills such as discipline, collaboration, and dedication, which are hallmarks we want in our students.

The high cost of equipment poses a barrier. Many of the instrumental program’s instruments are outdated or in need of replacement. Additionally, proper storage is critical for maintaining instruments.

Your generous support would go directly toward buffering these costs, making new instruments possible and securing durable storage cabinets to support student learning and performance. This investment will enable more students to participate actively in the band, reduce financial barriers, and ensure the longevity and quality of the program.

This St. Mary’s Academy instrumental program requests your support. Together, we can continue to foster musical growth and inspire students to achieve their full potential.

Goal: $1,000

For the last 30 years at St. George Elementary School, a caring teacher has been overseeing the “Shoe Bank”. For many families, purchasing two sets of shoes (one for regular wear and one for physical education class) can be quite expensive. It’s not uncommon that a child comes to school with shoes that are worn out or too small. When a child arrives in need, they are brought to the shoe bank to look for a more suitable pair. If a child outgrows a pair of shoes, they can donate it to the shoe bank for another child to use.

For this project, we are requesting $1,000 to purchase 20-30 pairs of shoes to supplement the current supply and keep kids active in and out of school.

Goal: $5,000

Every day, students across our district walk through the school doors carrying more than just backpacks—they carry the weight of challenges many of us never see. Some worry about whether their clothes are clean, if their family will have enough food that week, or if they’ll have the supplies they need for a class project. Those worries can take away from what matters most: learning and growing.

That’s where the USD 322 Caring Closet makes a difference. From preschool to high school, the Caring Closet provides clothing, shoes, hygiene products, school supplies, laundry detergent, and food for families in need. With support from this fundraiser, we’ve been able to maintain and expand these services, offering both everyday essentials and fresh, healthy food options.

This effort has become a true lifeline for many of our students and families. Having access to these resources restores dignity, eases stress, and enables students to arrive ready to focus on their schoolwork. Families find hope and relief in the resources offered through your kindness and generosity.

This mission is only possible through your generosity. Every contribution directly supports kids and families here in USD 322. Whether it’s a pair of new shoes, laundry soap, or food for their family, your gift has an immediate and lasting impact.

By giving to the USD 322 Caring Closet, you’re doing more than meeting basic needs—you’re helping create a foundation where students can thrive. Together, we can ensure no child in our district has to go without the essentials that help them succeed.

Thank you for continuing to support and strengthen our Buffalo community.

Goal: $5,000

Threads of Kindness provides clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and school supplies to students experiencing challenges in Pottawatomie County. With the help of generous donors and a team of dedicated volunteers, we make sure kids feel proud, comfortable, and confident— ready to learn and thrive.

The Threads of Kindness Youth Closet exists because too many children in our community come to school without the essentials they need to feel comfortable, confident, and ready
to learn. With your gift, we will provide students experiencing challenges with clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and school supplies—all in good, like-new, or new condition. Every donation restores dignity, builds confidence, and help students focus on learning instead of worrying about their basic needs.

The Kansas Communities That Care survey shows many students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 don’t feel a sense of belonging in their community. Together, we can change that. We have a dedicated team of volunteers ready to sort donations, deliver items to schools, and even provide direct support to families. A gift of $5,000 would allow us to purchase clothing items, shoes, school supplies (including backpacks), and hygiene products, as well as the shelving, totes, and mobile clothing racks needed to organize donations and host pop-up events. By partnering with schools, churches, and local organizations, we are building a safety net of kindness, ensuring no child is left behind. Your support will directly place these resources into the hands of children who need them most, proving to them that their community cares, and giving them the chance to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Together, we can show students they belong, and that they can count on their community.

Goal: $10,000

The Sodality is a women’s volunteer group connected with the Immaculata in St. Marys, Kansas, which works to provide for local families in need throughout the year. As the Christmas season approaches, we solicit donations specifically to provide for dozens of needy families in the community.

Traditionally called Christmas baskets, we deliver a large assortment of perishable and non-perishable food items to each family. These baskets can, and often do, include specific non-food items that the family needs. It is the generosity of a wide range of people in the community that makes this possible!

Goal: $100,000

The Caring Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity serving Pottawatomie, Marshall, Nemaha, and Jackson counties. We have invested over 40 funds, growing to meet the charitable needs of our communities. We award grants and scholarships annually and help fundraise for non-profit organizations. We create funds for your charitable purposes, and we depend upon our Community Fund so that we can always be an available resource for you.

We are firmly committed to our local communities and always have our sleeves rolled up, ready to lend a hand.

Goal: $1,500

The “barn” was dedicated in 1989. The construction of this building was really a labor of love. Countless hours of planning and manpower were involved in the construction of this beautiful building. Many bake sales and ice cream socials were held, and generous donations were made before the realization of our dream came through of having our second museum building. Initially, the barn was intended to house large pieces of equipment. However, its beauty and potential led to its transformation into a heated and air-conditioned museum building. Today, it houses a diverse collection of displays, artifacts, agricultural items, and equipment.

Any amount donated above the $1,500 will be used toward a plan for replacement of seals and air gaps around the barn doors and walls. We hope that you will once again, through your donation, help us to maintain and further enhance our museum facilities.

Goal: $5,000

The historic Wiziarde Circus Barn was used by the Wiziarde family as a practice facility during their off-season in the early 1900s. One of them, Frank Wiziarde, later became “Whizzo the Clown” hosting a children’s show for many years on WIBW-TV. Currently, the building serves as a place to exhibit artifacts given to us by the family as well as a meeting space for local events. The exterior siding is rotted in several places and is in urgent need of replacement. The project is expected to cost $30,000.

Currently, Rock Creek Valley Historical Society has $20,000 available through donations and savings and is committed to acquiring the remaining funds needed. A contractor has been hired and will work to have it completed prior to our 50th anniversary celebration in 2026.

Goal: $5,000

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library, established in 1962, is the only two-county public library in Kansas. The library serves over 29,000 residents across 1,612 square miles and serves patrons from eight locations in the rural communities of Alma, Eskridge, Onaga, St. Marys, Alta Vista, Harveyville, Olsburg, and Westmoreland. The PWRL Onaga Branch Library is located at 313 Leonard Street in Onaga and has been proudly serving the community there since the Regional Library was established.

The PWRL Onaga Branch Library serves an important role for the community. The library supports individuals at every stage and connects them with the resources they need to live their best life. During the recent 2025 Summer Reading / Summer Food Program the PWRL Onaga Branch Library hosted 37 special programs for both children and adults during the months of June and July. These programs were attended by 3,296 people and included the distribution of almost 1,000 meals to children aged 0-18 participating in the 2025 Summer Food Program at the library. Each of these events provided an opportunity for the library to have an impact on the quality of life available for every resident in our community. We want every encounter to be excellent, and we would like our public spaces to complement and support that goal.

The update at the PWRL Onaga Branch Library includes replacing the sidewalk awning at the building’s entrance so we can provide shade and a welcoming face to our community. We would like to replace the furniture and rugs in the children’s area and add a collection of educational STEM-based learning activities that will engage and inspire our youngest patrons. We would also like to have some painting done including a mural to spark interest and stimulate creativity.

The proposed renovations will significantly improve the quality of the library experience for residents of this community by creating an interactive, safe, and welcoming environment. We would greatly appreciate any assistance in making this update a reality.

Goal: $3,000

On the north end of Havensville, you’ll find the old brick building which at one time housed the Havensville High School and, later, the Havensville Grade School. Many students have  walked these halls and made memories to last their lifetime. Each time we host an event, alumni enjoy returning to the halls, finding their classrooms and lockers, retelling their memories to their families and reminiscing with old friends. A walk into the gym lights up any face!

The Havensville Rural High School Association has been around since 2002 creating new memories and traditions for the community to provide a community center for fellowship and to maintain an old building with a lot of stories to tell. Some of our events over the past 23 years include meals, dances, music shows, weekly coffee groups, monthly Bunco nights, our annual Havensville Independence Day Celebration, Breakfast with Santa and Holiday Vendor Event, and many other fun opportunities to get together with family and friends for fellowship.

It takes a lot to keep an old building standing tall. These events help with the upkeep and maintenance of the building, but sometimes it’s just not enough. More funding and help is needed to make the repairs necessary to preserve the building we all know and love. Money raised through the Care Catalog will begin a fund which will address items needed for the building such as updated electrical work in the dining room, extending the plug ins in the gym for easier use, replacing windows on the north and east sides of the building, replacing thermostats, replacing the coil for the gym furnace, repainting, remodeling the pantry, replacing the vacuum and rugs, and purchasing a commercial dehumidifier or air purifier. This is a small portion of the ever-growing list.

We appreciate the support from our community to help preserve the history, and we especially love the memories you share. It keeps us inspired to continue the work!

Goal: $5,000

The Union Pacific Caboose at the Onaga Historical Museum has always been a drawing point for visitors to the Museum. With an exciting new project, we expect even more visitors to come to the Museum specifically to spend time at the Railroad Exhibit.

The displays from the former Railroad Museum, located on the Bypass Road into Onaga are moving to the Onaga Historical Museum. These displays, which include all kinds of railroad memorabilia and model train sets, will add excitement and interest to the railroad artifacts already at the Museum.

Changes need to be made for the inclusion of the railroad artifacts into a larger exhibit set up in a building which is not climate-controlled. To prevent humidity damage to all items and rusting of the model train sets two improvements are needed:

1) installation of a HVAC system

2) replacement of two large doors with weather-tight seals.

The approximate cost of the project is $12,000.00. The Historical Society is asking for $5000.00. The Railroad Club will be donating $4500.00. The remaining balance of $2500 will be covered by the Historical Society through fund-raisers.

Wait, there is more! Part of the original publishing equipment from the Onaga Herald office has been donated to the Historical Museum. This equipment includes a 1905 Linotype, 1879 paper cutter, Mustang mailer, etc. It is essential that the Linotype is in a climate-controlled environment. This equipment is to be housed in the same building.

Two historically significant businesses of Onaga, the railroad and publication, will benefit from this preservation project.

Goal: $4,000

Goal: $1,500

A little over a year ago, thanks to the fundraising efforts of Caring Community Foundation Care Catalog, Kevin Gray with Custom Woods, and our St. Marys Grade School supporters, we were able to put up a fence on the north side of our building surrounding our playground. The fence stands out as school traffic, families, students, and visitors drive by it every day. The sidewalk by the fence connects the grade school to the high school and is a heavily trafficked area for both drivers and walkers.

The north side of the fence is a blank canvas. Because of that, we would like to purchase some customized put-in-cups to decorate the fence and spread some school spirit. This project not only benefits the students at the grade school but the high school as well. The addition of these cups would be a great visual for both students and families as they are driving around our campus. It would show our school pride to those visiting and would make our schools stand out and be the first thing people see when they drive by.

Our SMGS Booster Club has expressed interest in helping with this project. They primarily contribute to SMGS by funding programming for our staff and students. Your donations which will be solely allocated for the fence cups will allow the Booster Club to do what it does best – supporting our staff and students on projects throughout the year.

Thank you for your consideration!

Goal: $10,000

Onaga Elementary School is seeking $10,000 to help grow funding efforts that will be combined with other sources for the purchase and installation of new playground equipment. The goal is to create a play space that promotes physical activity, social interaction, and inclusivity for students of all abilities. Our current playground is outdated and lacks accessible features, limiting opportunities for many children to participate fully in play and outdoor learning.

Onaga Elementary serves 161 students in grades Pre-K through 5. The existing equipment does not meet the diverse needs of our student population. In particular, the lack of inclusive and adaptive features disproportionately affects students with physical disabilities, sensory processing challenges, and developmental delays—leaving them on the sidelines during recess and outdoor activities.

There is a clear and urgent need for safe, developmentally appropriate play structures that
support students with a wide range of abilities, encourage social inclusion, and promote healthy physical activity.

With your support, we aim to create a vibrant, welcoming, and engaging outdoor environment for all our students to learn, grow, and thrive.

Goal: $10,000

Students’ physical fitness balances their intellectual and spiritual potential. The Physical Education Department at St. Mary’s Academy has long needed to supplement the available indoor equipment and outdoor athletic fields with outdoor PE equipment.

The Academy will work with local suppliers and fabricators to build an all-steel outdoor workout circuit consisting of pull bars and dip stations. It will be used for both boys and girls PE at the middle school and high school levels as well as extracurricular sports teams and the campus CrossFit program. When completed, the circuit will be adjacent to the sports fields and 5K running course providing easy access for workouts. It will accommodate 24 students at a time for calisthenics with an end toward improving physical development and body weight. Use of the equipment will be scalable for any size and physical ability.

Please help St. Mary’s Academy complete this long needed physical education enhancement.

Goal: $4,000

The goal of this project is to enhance the safety and well-being of students participating in extracurricular sports at USD 322 by providing travel automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for our athletic teams. This initiative will directly impact our baseball, track and field, golf, cross country, and football teams, ensuring that critical life-saving equipment is available at all practices, games, and travel events.

Currently, our school has AEDs available in specific, centralized locations on campus, but there is a need for travel-ready devices to accompany athletes during off-campus events and practices. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in athletes, and the immediate availability of an AED can dramatically increase the chances of survival if used within the first few minutes. By equipping our teams with travel AEDs, we will be able to respond immediately in case of an emergency, regardless of the location of the event.

We will implement a comprehensive safety plan that includes regular checks and maintenance of the AEDs, along with protocols for their usage during practices and games. This project will provide peace of mind for parents, coaches, and athletes, knowing that life-saving equipment is readily available during athletic activities. It will also ensure that USD 322 remains compliant with safety standards for athletic events.

Goal: $6,000

The Patient Ease Project is raising funds to purchase an AccuVein vein finder, a device that allows nurses and lab technicians to quickly and accurately locate veins. This technology reduces patient discomfort, minimizes repeated needle sticks, and builds confidence for every patient we serve.

With AccuVein, first-attempt success rates can reach up to 92%, meaning fewer sticks and less stress for patients. Fewer punctures also help preserve veins, protecting them for future treatments that may be life-sustaining—or even lifesaving.

For patients who require frequent IVs or lab draws, this tool can make a world of difference. By supporting this project, you’re helping CHCS caregivers provide care that is not only efficient, but also more comfortable and compassionate.

Goal: $10,000

Community Care Ministries (CCM) is a valuable organization that has been serving low-income uninsured community members of Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, and surrounding counties for 24+ years. Our health care clinic strives to eliminate many healthcare related barriers, including the cost of medications, to make healthcare as accessible as possible to those in need. CCM also recognizes that social determinants such as food, transportation and social needs contribute to a client’s overall health. We constantly seek creative ways of addressing needs and identifying resources to promote health and wellness.

Along with our medical and mental health services, we also provide social assistance, food assistance through our food pantry, TEFAP commodities and Senior Box programs, prescription assistance and medical equipment/supplies. Our goal is to identify underlying cause(s) of diminished health status with the underserved in our communities by providing the conduit from the needs of the client to their providers and connecting them with appropriate resources. We strive to bridge gaps of care to wellbeing to keep community members safe, healthy, and to give them resources they would otherwise lack. Funding will help us fill the gap created through policy and program changes.

Goal: $2,500

The Cardiopulmonary Health Initiative is raising funds to purchase a PhysioCycle. This is a fitness device that allows for improved cardiovascular and respiratory fitness by raising the heart rate like cycling or running. Ideally used for patients who cannot walk well or have limited lower body ability to exercise. By having a seated whole body fitness device, we will be able to serve our patients who have these challenges. Your support will enhance Community HealthCare System’s Cardiopulmonary Rehab services and improve the confidence of our patients to meet their cardiovascular fitness goals.

Imagine being a patient who has just had a heart attack, and you have limited mobility related to injuries from earlier in your life to your lower body. Your provider suggests that you need to improve your fitness and cardiac health, but you do not know where to begin. The PhysioCycle gives CHCS the option to assist patients and engage them with adapted exercises to help meet their fitness goals.

Goal: $3,000

Many of the residents at Wellsprings of Westmoreland, formerly Westy Community Care Home, are avid gardeners, both outside and inside the buildings. We are lucky enough to have an activities director, Angela Coleman, who has the greenest of green thumbs, and one of the things she is passionate about is giving our residents the opportunity to grow plants in pots and beds. The raised beds and big pots outside are full of vegetable plants, flowers and greenery from late spring until early fall. Houseplants abound in the buildings year-round. A greenhouse would lengthen the growing season for plants, giving residents a longer time window to enjoy this activity.

A greenhouse would provide the opportunity to start vegetable earlier in the spring, giving a longer harvest period. Some veggies could be planted in the greenhouse later that would provide food into fall. Homegrown fresh vegetables are the best tasting and the most nutritious. As for houseplant cuttings, they could be propagated earlier, making nicer plants to sell at the community garage sale, which helps support the activity fund. They could also be kept outside longer before having to move them in for the winter.

If this interests you, please make a contribution to our greenhouse fund. Let’s get growing!