KC Homeless Center Scores $50K Game Day Gift from NFL, Little Caesars

By Kevin Collison

It was the kind of pre-game Chiefs gathering that occurred all around Kansas City Thursday, people munching pizza, getting pumped with loud DJ music and even a guest appearance by KC Wolf.

But this one had a surprise delivered by the NFL and Little Caesars, a $50,000 donation to the Downtown Community Service Center aka The Beehive at 750 The Paseo. And the guests were scores of homeless people served by the center.

“What the Beehive provides here is unbelievable,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility. “We’re honored to be here serving you today and kicking off the season for the NFL.”

Isaacson and Christine Snyder, director of marketing activations and Love Kitchen, were joined by former Chiefs great Christian Okoye in presenting a symbolic check to Sean O’Byrne of the Downtown Council, which operates The Beehive.

“Not only are we here today serving,” Issacson said, “but on behalf of the NFL and Little Caesars because we want to continue to make an impact here long after the game tonight is over we’d like to make a $50,000 contribution to the Beehive.

The Little Caesars’ Love Kitchen distributed pizza to the homeless in the parking lot of The Beehive.

The traveling Love Kitchen operated by Little Caesar’s has served nearly 4 million people in the 10 years its been on the road, according to Snyder.

The Downtown Council acquired and renovated the Beehive building in 2010 to provide comprehensive services to the homeless population. The upstairs floor includes services such as counseling, help obtaining documents and assistance finding permanent housing.

The lower level houses the NourishKC community kitchen and dining room that provides meals to the homeless. After enjoying free pizza at the event, people were provided with to-go meals from the NourishKC kitchen.

Later in the day, O’Bryne told the Downtown Council board how helpful the $50,000 donation was for The Beehive.

“When you think about this, NourishKC last month provided 16,700 meals and you can imagine the cost it takes to run that center so we need every dime it takes to run that shelter,” he said.

“Today was a great day and it all was because of our partnership with NourishKC.”