Jackie Knabe, at right, Grandview Assistance Program's new Executive Director, receives a donation of school supplies from Burger and Brown Engineering.
by Mary Wilson, mwilson@jcadvocate.com
Grandview Assistance Program’s new executive director may be
a slightly familiar face to those who have been in the area for a while. Jackie
(Burkhart) Knabe officially began her new role at the beginning of the month,
but has already made a splash in the community by helping to bring relief to
those who suffered damage due to the recent flooding.
Formerly with Hillcrest Transitional Housing in Kansas City,
Kansas, Knabe is a Grandview High School alum with two children. She grew up in
South Kansas City and Grandview, and after getting married, became a
stay-at-home mom in Lee’s Summit. She ran a daycare in her home for a while and
became very involved in the PTA organization at her children’s elementary
school.
“When my daughter was heading into kindergarten, I realized
that I felt invisible as a person,” said Knabe. “I became just this mother and
wife and nothing was for me anymore.”
She began reading a series of books that opened her mind to
the world outside of motherhood, and at 38-years-old, decided that she wanted
more out of life. She then reflected on
her entire life and weighed the pros and cons of most everything.
“From just being so involved in volunteering at the school
at the time, I realized that I knew a lot of women who were in the same place I
was,” she said. “I could tell that they, too, felt invisible.”
Knabe would hear of needs in her own community, and began a
gift card program where women would buy WalMart or other cards and started a
small food pantry. Another mom came to her and told her that the heat was out
in their vehicle, so Knabe then organized funding for the family for a new van
after enough community members pitched in what they could.
Circle of Hope was born out of this group of moms who would
gather together for dinner, crafts and fellowship. She began visiting a
different church after reading a book read by the congregation that changed the
way she thought about life. There, she met the pastor and they began Coldwater
of Lee’s Summit, a faith-based organization which provides food and clothing
for those in need in the community.
“They had just started a clothes closet, and I had my little
food pantry. So, we created Coldwater,” said Knabe. “The premise of it is that
if you have nothing else to give, you can offer a cup of cold water. Sometimes
just doing something small is enough to make an impact.”
She then divorced, and as a single mom couldn’t manage the
hours of working at Coldwater. An opportunity with Hillcrest Transitional
Housing eventually came along and Knabe became a case manager there for four
years. She was happy where she was, and wasn’t looking for a change when the
Grandview Assistance Program’s executive director position became available.
“It is GAP’s desire and passion to really impact people’s
lives and to really help people, not just by putting a bandage on, but to help
them learn to be self-sufficient,” she said. “If somebody is willing and the
circumstances are right, you can change their lives for the better. To get to
do that in Grandview, where I came from, it just really spoke to me.”
She is excited to be able to give back to the community that
raised her, as she said she had a wonderful experience growing up here. Knabe
brings a fresh set of eyes and new ideas to the organization, and would like to
see GAP further their financial education and training for their clients. She’d
also like to partner with as many other area resources as she can.
“I definitely want to get involved in the community more
than just GAP,” she said. “Everything that was said during my interview process
for GAP just aligned with what I am all about. I can’t wait to get past this
learning curve I’m in right now and really get in there.”
Knabe would also like to expand volunteer opportunities to
get more citizens involved in the organization. She feels that GAP’s hours are
not aligned with when families can typically volunteer to serve and she’d like
to find a way to offer an opportunity for those who may not have had one before
to become involved.
“I want kids in there working, and teenagers and families,”
said Knabe. “I think it’s important that we offer an array of options for
people in the community to be able to give back.”
She’d also like to create a welcoming and inviting space for
clients using GAP’s services and those who are there to volunteer.
“I want us to be able to say yes as much as we can, and I’m
working on figuring out a way that we can do that,” said Knabe. “I don’t want
to just give people a fish, I want to find ways that we can teach them to
fish.”
Established in 1991, GAP’s mission is to assist in a
dignified manner families and individuals in Grandview and the Grandview School
District with emergency assistance and guidance toward ultimate
self-sufficiency. Community members looking to volunteer with GAP can do so by
either emailing Knabe at grandviewassistanceprogram@gmail.com,
or by calling 816-761-1919. Currently, Grandview Assistance Program is open
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and days align with the Grandview School District. They
are located at 1121 Main Street in Grandview.
