Approximately 12 EY employees volunteered at Operation Breakthrough's annual event to clean and organize the warehouse. The warehouse contains household goods and furniture donated by the community for families served by Operation Breakthrough who are in economic need. However, without paid staff, the warehouse becomes disorganized, making it difficult for social workers to find items for families. The EY volunteers helped reorganize donations, discard unusable items, and implement an ongoing organization system.

1. Operation Breakthrough

2. Who did you serve and what did you
accomplish?
Approximately 12 EY employees helped with our annual volunteer half
day where we clean and organize the Operation Breakthrough warehouse.
Due to the economic situations of the families whose children attend
Operation Breakthrough, they often have a need for household goods and
furniture. The Kansas City community has been very generous and donates
these much needed items. However, as the warehouse does not have paid
fulltime staff, it often becomes disorganized, making it harder for the social
workers to find and distribute the items that the families so desperately need.
We assist by going in once a year to organize the donations, throw away
items that cannot be distributed to the families, and try to create a system
that will allow for ongoing organization of the warehouse.
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3. What is your plan for an ongoing relationship
with Operation Breakthrough?
There are many ways in which EY plans to stay involved with Operation
Breakthrough.
► First, one of our partners, Kevin Boyer, is a member of the Board of Directors,
and also leads the Advisory Board, so he is able to identify areas where we are
able to provide support.
► Second, Sara Strunk is involved with a young professionals group that
organizes an annual event to raise funds for Operation Breakthrough. Last year
was our first event and we look forward to making the event next year an even
bigger success.
► Third, many EY members attend Operation Breakthroughs annual event and
donate generously there.
► Fourth, many EY employees use the United Way as a way to donate directly to
Operation Breakthrough, during the annual United Way event.
► Fifth, EY has remained committed to sending volunteers to Operation
Breakthrough to provide whatever services are needed each year.
► Sixth, EY adopts Operation Breakthrough families during the holiday to make
sure the children and adults in those families do not go without.
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4. What would Operation Breakthrough do with
the grant if they won it?
It would allow Operation Breakthrough to continue serving homeless children
and other children who are most in need, by providing them:
► a full day of care,
► education every weekday,
► nutritious meals,
► dental and health care,
► speech and occupational therapy,
► mental health programming,
► family support such as housing and job search assistance for parents, and
► aid from their food pantry, clothing closet, and warehouse.
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5. Pictures of EY’s work at the warehouse
September 20, 2013
Putting together shelving is fun,
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6. Pictures of EY’s work at the warehouse
September 20, 2013
but sometimes you need an extra hand
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7. Pictures of EY’s work at the warehouse
September 20, 2013
Meanwhile on the other side of the warehouse..
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8. Pictures of EY’s work at the warehouse
September 20, 2013
the team was hard at work organizing pallet donations.
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9. Pictures of EY’s work at the warehouse
September 20, 2013
…and organizing more pallet donations.
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10. Pictures of EY’s work at the warehouse
September 20, 2013
…and still organizing pallet donations.
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11. Pictures of EY’s work at the warehouse
September 20, 2013
Others were a little more camera shy…
but everyone enjoyed helping a wonderful organization
and we hope you will too!
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