If you drive by the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer on a Wednesday afternoon, you’ll likely find the parking lot full of cars. The families arriving are there to visit the Northland Infant and Children’s Clothing Center (NICC KC), a ministry dedicated to helping local families meet the basic needs of their children. In recent years, NICC KC has helped provide clothing for more than 2,000 infants and children across the Kansas City metro area.
The NICC KC began over 25 years ago as the passion project of Vickie Asbury, a parishioner at Redeemer. Her understanding of the challenges families face to provide clothing led to the creation of this ministry in the former rectory behind the church. In the early days, it occupied only one room, but eventually its growth took over the whole building, including the basement!
Under the current Director Louise Thurlow, NICC KC has continued to grow, so much that Redeemer’s vestry approved the creation of NICC KC as its own 501(c)3 organization. NICC KC has also recently partnered with Happy Bottoms to guarantee that each child in the program gets 75 diapers a month, which included a remodeling of the building to help store diapers and make space for the continued growth.
“We are grateful to The Diocese of West Missouri for their grant programs, which made most of this possible. We highly encourage any ministry to take advantage of this generous gift of outreach funding through Diocesan centralized grants,” wrote the Very Rev. Miranda Cully, Rector of Redeemer. “We also invite you to come and learn more about us on Thursday, August 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for our Open House. We are always looking for new and innovative ways to meet the needs of our patrons, so please be in touch or come by if you or someone you know is in need of children’s clothing! You are also welcome to donate any used baby and children’s clothes and items, and baby wipes and diaper rash creme. See our website nicckc.org to learn more.”
There are many ministries across the diocese that you can get involved with. Head to our Food and Clothing Ministries page on the website to find a project that piques your interest, whether it’s in your community or somewhere in our diocese. Partnership is one way we come together as the Body of Christ and as The Episcopal Church. Let’s continue to show Christ’s love through service to our communities!
This article was submitted by Dr. Heather Lewis, Board Member, Louise Thurlow, NICC KC Director, and the Very Rev. Miranda Cully, Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and Board Member.
Photo credit: Milt Tootle
