How many children do you serve?

More than 600 daily, ages 6 weeks to 18 years.

Are their parents working?

Yes. To qualify for state-subsidized child care, the parents must be working or attending school. Operation Breakthrough enrolls children whose parents are not working when there is concern that the children will not have food or might be unsupervised if they are at home. The state does not pay for those children's care.

Do you have any open child care slots?

Unfortunately, no. Our enrollment is full, and we have a waiting list of more than 500 children.

Are all the families low-income?

98% of the families live below the federal poverty guideline. Most are headed by single women in low paying jobs whose annual earnings are less than $14,000. About 25% of the children are homeless. About 25% are living in foster homes.

Are your staff members volunteers?

No. Operation Breakthrough has 117 employees, most of whom live in the surrounding neighborhoods. All the classroom teachers go through extensive training in early childhood care and education and are working toward or have earned associates degrees. The Center does, however, welcome volunteers and offers a variety of options, ranging from holding babies, to reading to preschoolers, to tutoring school-age children, to clerical work.



How can I apply for employment at Operation Breakthrough?

You can send a letter of interest and your resumé to Sister Corita Bussanmas, Co-Director, Operation Breakthrough, 3039 Troost Ave., Kansas City MO 64109. Operation Breakthrough does not accept electronic submissions for employment inquiries.

Where does your funding come from?

Only about half comes from government sources - city, state and federal. Grants from foundations and corporate and individual donations make up the rest. Without private support, Operation Breakthrough would be unable to offer its many social service programs, such as play therapy, dental and medical care and parenting education.

Is Operation Breakthrough affiliated with or supported financially by the Catholic church?

No. Operation Breakthrough has no religious affiliation and because of its government funding it is not allowed to have any religious content in its programming. Individual churches and temples throughout the community support Operation Breakthrough, however, with gifts of volunteer time, goods or funding.

How old is Operation Breakthrough?

Operation Breakthrough began 35 years ago when a group of working-poor parents in the central city voiced their need for child care to Sister Corita Bussanmas and Sister Berta Sailer. Together, they incorporated Operation Breakthrough as a not-for-profit agency. The center has been located at 31st and Troost, in a former JC Penney store, since 1981.

Do I need to call ahead when delivering donated items to Operation Breakthrough?

No, unless you are bringing heavy furniture or such a large amount of donations that we may need extra manpower and/or special equipment to help you unload the items. Donations of used clothing, toys, books, baby items and household goods may be delivered any time between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and placed in the blue van parked nearest Troost in our parking lot. (It has children painted on the windows.) If you need help carrying things or would like a tax receipt, please go inside and see our receptionist. If your items are new please bring them inside and leave them with our receptionist.

Can you come to my home and pick up furniture or appliances that I want to donate?

Yes, but we are reliant on volunteers when it comes to getting our truck out to make pickups. That means that we may not be able to come right away or that we might not end up being able to come on the appointed day. While we are always in need of furniture and appliances for our families, we are hesitant to encourage your donation to Operation Breakthrough if you need the items removed quickly or at a set time. We just don’t want to cause problems for you by accepting your kindness and then not being able to respond in a timely enough way for your needs. However, if you don’t mind waiting and are flexible about pickup times, please contact Kim Davis about your donation at kim@operationbreakthrough.org.

Can my child fulfill community service requirements by volunteering at Operation Breakthrough?

Yes. If your child is younger than 14, we require a parent to accompany him or her while here. Youngsters 14 and older may volunteer on their own in our classrooms and offer helping hands for field trips, special events and other projects. All interested volunteers are asked to contact our volunteer coordinator, Jenny Buehler, at jenny@operationbreakthrough.org or 816-329-5233. Jenny is happy to provide documentation of hours worked for youngsters doing community service.

How can I help?

You can come and tour Operation Breakthrough and bring friends and family with you. You can donate used children's clothing, furniture and household items. You can collect items for our food pantry, such as peanut butter, hearty soups, cereal, toiletries or disposable diapers. You can make a monetary donation in honor of a friend's birthday or in memory of a loved one. You can make us aware of opportunities to receive financial support for the children through your company, faith community or civic group. You can volunteer to rock babies, solicit items for our annual silent auction, enter data in the computer or become a mentor for a child who needs a friend. And much more! Every contribution of time, goods or funds makes a difference for our children.