YWCA St. Joseph

08/04/2025

:::CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:::

YWCA St. Joseph, St. Joseph NAACP, and MoWest are proud to once again honor the legacy of civil rights leader Kelsy Beshears by presenting the Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award to an individual, group or organization that embraces her commitment to promoting racial justice and eliminating racism.

Please consider nominating someone for the 2025 Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award which will be presented at the 29th Annual Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism Breakfast on Friday, September 12th. Visit www.ywcasj.org/day-of-commitment for a nomination form and a list of past award recipients.

Nominations are due by August 14, 2025.

08/03/2025

Help Us Fill Backpacks with More Than Just Supplies! This school year, let’s send our YWCA Shelter kids back to school not just prepared, but excited.

We’re collecting fun, colorful, and confidence-boosting school supplies to help our kids feel proud, seen, and ready to shine in the classroom. Think bright folders, glitter pens, themed backpacks, cool lunchboxes, silly erasers, bold notebooks—
anything that brings a smile to a child’s face.

DROP-OFF LOCATION:
YWCA St. Joseph, 304 N 8th Street
Monday–Friday | 9 AM–5 PM - Now through August 14

Want to help but don’t have time to shop? We’ve made it easy! Scan the QR code below to view our Amazon Wish List and send supplies directly to us.

And feel free to get creative! You don’t have to stick to the list—think about what would make a kid smile on their first day of school. Cool pencil cases, fun stickers, character folders, or a sweet note in their backpack can make all the difference.

Let’s remind these fantastic kids that their community is behind them—and that learning should feel like a celebration.

THANK YOU for helping us pack their bags with love and confidence!

08/03/2025

Everyone needs a team who works to make our community better! We have that team! Super School Supply Guy, aka Zach, and Kristina helped gather school supplies with United Way of Greater St. Joseph today at Walmart.

08/01/2025

Mark your calendars!

https://www.ywcasj.org/day-of-commitment

07/30/2025

THANK YOU to Topsy’s Popcorn for making our Community Ladies Night: PJ & Movie Night at the YWCA Shelter feel extra special! The popcorn was buttery and absolutely perfect, but it was more than just a snack. It was comfort. It was care. It was a little taste of normal in a space where women are working so hard to rebuild and heal.

We curled up in our comfiest pajamas, laughed through the movie, and passed around big bowls of Topsy’s like it was gold. You helped turn a simple night into something significant.

And while the ladies soaked up the joy of PJ night, our staff Jade and Kristina joined in too, stepping it up in full style with matching MOO MOOs that had everyone laughing and loving every moment. Because yes, comfort can be fabulous!

To everyone who participated, thank you. Whether you showed up in fuzzy slippers or simply shared a kind word, you helped create a night full of warmth, fun, and connection.

Ladies Night happens on the last Tuesday of every month from 6:00–7:30 PM, and we want you to be part of it! The community is invited to join us—come and share in the fun, the laughter, and the love the YWCA provides.

Let’s keep showing up for one another. That’s how healing happens.

07/30/2025

Help Us Fill Backpacks with More Than Just Supplies! This school year, let’s send our YWCA St. Joseph kids back to school not just prepared, but excited.

We’re collecting fun, colorful, and confidence-boosting school supplies to help our kids feel proud, seen, and ready to shine in the classroom.

Think bright folders, glitter pens, themed backpacks, cool lunchboxes, silly erasers, bold notebooks—anything that brings a smile to a child’s face.

DROP-OFF LOCATION:
YWCA St. Joseph, 304 N 8th Street
Monday–Friday | 9 AM–5 PM, Now through August 13

💜 Want to help but don’t have time to shop?
We’ve made it easy! Scan the QR code below to view our Amazon Wish List and send supplies directly to us. Get creative! You don’t have to stick to the list—think about what would make a kid smile on their first day of school. Cool pencil cases, fun stickers, character folders, or a sweet note in their backpack can make all the difference.

Let’s remind these amazing kids that their community is behind them—and that learning should feel like a celebration. 🎉

THANK YOU for helping us pack their bags with love and confidence!

07/29/2025

At the 2025 9th Annual Wicked Sisterz Bike Show, your generous donation of money and hygiene products wasn’t just a gift—it was a lifeline for the women and children at the YWCA Shelter. It was love in action—community wrapped in compassion.

Because of your support, the women and children at the YWCA Shelter will have what so many take for granted: basic necessities that restore dignity and a message that says, “You’re not alone.”

For the mom who’s starting over with nothing but hope, your kindness means she can provide basic care for her children. For the young girl learning to trust again, your support reminds her she’s worth fighting for.
For every child facing uncertainty, your generosity brings comfort and dignity in a world that can feel so uncertain.

What you provided is more than just money and items; you gave hope and care. You reminded them that even in the darkest moments, there are people who show up, believe, and ride for something bigger.

From all of us at YWCA St. Joseph—thank you for being wicked strong, wicked kind, and wicked good.

07/28/2025

If Super School Supply Guy can do it, you can to. Help stuff the bus this weekend!

🦸‍♂️ Super School Supply Guy is feeling SUPER pumped...

Because it’s almost time for United Way’s 17th Annual STUFF THE BUS! 🚌✏️📚

He’s stocking up on supplies, spreading the word, and doing happy dances in the school supply aisle (we like to imagine) all to help local students start the school year ready to learn! 🎒✨

🗓️ Friday, August 1 & Saturday, August 2
📍 North Belt & South Belt Walmarts

Join the fun and help us STUFF THE BUS with donations of new school supplies. Let’s make this year SUPER for every student! 💛

07/28/2025

07/18/2025

For our July edition of LUNCH ON A MISSION, we chose to support our downtown neighbors at Jake's Steakhouse & Sports Bar!

Jake's is woman-owned and has become a favorite for St. Joe locals and visitors alike. Opening their doors at 620 Edmond in 2017, Dee Marriott founded the restaurant in memory of her late son, Jake, who loved cooking and showing hospitality to others. Whether enjoying some pulled pork nachos and a Chiefs game on the big screen or enjoying drinks and live music on the patio, there is something for everyone. Thank you Jake's Steakhouse for the excellent food and service!



************************************

About Lunch On A Mission:
Each month, we'll feature a local woman and/or minority-owned restaurant for a staff lunch as a meaningful extension of YWCA's mission to eliminate racism & empower women 🧡♀️ Follow along and support these eateries with us!

07/18/2025

Today, we’re celebrating 3 incredible years of Regina’s heart, hustle, and unwavering dedication to the YWCA and our New Start Store!

From folding clothes with care to helping customers feel seen, supported, and empowered, Regina brings warmth and purpose to everything she does. Her smile is steady, her spirit is strong, and her commitment to lifting others up never wavers.

The New Start Store isn’t just a place for fresh starts because of the clothes—it’s because of people like Regina who show up every day ready to make a difference. 💜

Help us thank Regina for three amazing years of service and impact—and here’s to many more!