There's no place like home

Lindy and Eva have watched the Wizard of Oz at least 70 times and they aren't tired of it yet (unfortunately). What is it about the movie that is so enticing to a five-year-old and a two-year-old? Is it the flying monkeys? Munchkins? The tornado? The "lizard" himself?

Maybe it's the idea that no matter how far you travel, there's really no place like home. That certainly was my theory during a spring break vacation spent right here in Kansas City entertaining three little girls. There is so much to do in this wonderful community of ours, and there was much to do at home, like cleaning out the basement and donating used clothing to the Community Services League (which picks up curbside!). 

In all the spring break fun, I made sure to remind the girls that our community is home to some wonderful people who unfortunately are struggling in these difficult financial times. We made a point during the week to set aside donations to help meet the basic needs of those who could use a helping hand. At the Community Foundation, we continue to be inspired by the hundreds of caring donors across our region who are reaching out to help their neighbors with food, clothing, and shelter through a community-wide, coordinated effort.

Oh, and in the spirit of the Wizard of Oz, the highlight of the week was a visit to the Kansas Sampler store. It was smooth sailing until someone couldn't resist opening a container of chocolate covered sunflower seeds. The clean up was a photo op!