Your Support Transforms Lives – Let’s Make 2025 Extraordinary

As we begin 2025, TNC Community extends a heartfelt thank you to all of our donors, supporters, and advocates. Thanks to you, we’ve continued to expand our services and create meaningful opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through our new day habilitation program and Howdy Homemade KC.

New Beginnings With Howdy Homemade KC

This year, we’re thrilled to introduce Howdy Homemade Ice Cream to the Kansas City market, a venture that combines delicious ice cream with a mission to provide inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The shop will be located in Lee’s Summit and staffed by hardworking, passionate individuals with IDD who often face barriers in the job market. Your continued support can help us bring this initiative to life, creating not just jobs but confidence, independence, and purpose.

Learn more about this exciting project at HowdyHomemadeKC.com or make a contribution to help launch the shop here.

Howdy Homemade Ice Cream Scoops to Support TNC Community logo

Expanding Our Impact with Day Program

In addition to Howdy Homemade, we’re expanding our services with a brand new day habilitation program. The Community Connections Day Program is focused on getting individuals with IDD out into the community for enriching activities that promote socialization and life-skill development. Every day this program provides opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun in a supportive environment. Individuals enjoy volunteering, arts and crafts, cooking, enriching games, and physical activities.

Making a Difference Together

Here’s how your contributions change lives:

Upon high school graduation, students with disabilities face the question of what comes next. Many considerations arise for the student, family, school, and community partners, including post-secondary education, employment, and working toward independent or community living.

For individuals like Skeet, TNC Community’s Community Connections Day Program provides an answer to this question. It offers a supportive, enriching environment where individuals can continue to grow, build connections, and embrace opportunities tailored to their unique interests and goals.

Meet Skeet: Thriving Through Day Habilitation

Skeet, a member of our Community Connections Day Program, embraces the variety of activities the program offers. His days are filled with joy, growth, and exploration. Whether he’s walking, swimming, visiting the park, solving puzzles, or enjoying sensory activities, Skeet is always engaged and excited to participate. He especially loves volunteering at local organizations like ScrapsKC, George Owens Nature Park, and Literacy KC, where his kindness and enthusiasm shine.

Skeet also enjoys outings that allow him to relax and have fun, like trips to the trampoline park, watching new movies as they release, or savoring a soda from a convenience store. His regular weekday routine at Day Program provides the structure and social interaction he loves, while his evenings at home are spent with family, relaxing with TV, the computer, or simply unwinding.

At 21-years-old, Skeet graduated high school in February 2024 and joined the Community Connections Day Program shortly after. His transition into adulthood has been marked by opportunities to thrive in a supportive community, building skills, relationships, and memories along the way.

Your Support Makes It Possible

Skeet’s story is just one example of the meaningful impact made possible by programs like Day Habilitation. Together, we can continue to provide life-changing opportunities that promote independence, foster community connections, and create moments of joy for individuals with IDD.

Ways to Support in 2025

  • Donate to our special fundraising campaign to help launch Howdy Homemade Ice Cream here in the KC area and create jobs for individuals with disabilities in our community.
  • Contribute to programs like our new Day Program that empower individuals to become more engaged in our community and live fulfilling lives.

Every gift makes an impact. To give, visit www.TNCCommunity.org/donate.

Thank You for Being Part of Our Community

Together, we can make 2025 extraordinary. Your support changes lives, creates opportunities, and ensures that everyone has a place to thrive. Stay connected with us on social media and visit www.TNCCommunity.org for updates on our programs and impact.

Thank you for your unwavering support. Let’s continue making a difference, one life at a time.