Our History

Urban Community Connections is a mobile volunteer-based 501(c)3 social service organization committed to connecting disadvantage residents of Missouri and Kansas to basic human essentials. Founded in 2013 by Jessica Bentley-Johnson as Urban Community Linc, the organization launched as a summer pantry program in Kansas City, MO, aiding families in fighting food insecurity by providing healthy meals. We believe food insecurity is more than a lack of food but encompasses the disparity of access to healthy nutritious options, knowledge of meal prep methods, and food handling education. With our heightened awareness of the food insecurity gap and the understanding that the solution does not come in the form of a handout, UCC adopted a multilateral initiative plan which included the introduction of our Life Skills Connections Program in 2015. In 2018, Urban Community Linc was rebranded and re-launched as Urban Community Connections, which is more suitable to our mission and goals. We recognize the juggle of finances and the lack there of our participants face. Majority of our participants are plagued with limited funds, time, transportation, education, access to nutritious cost-effective food and essential basic needs. Urban Community Connections strives to grow and develop the programs and resources offered in addressing and relieving the stresses of everyday basic needs. Since its conception, Urban Community Connections has launched the following programs:

· Pantry Connection Program (2013)

· Adopt-A-Family @ Christmas Program (2014)

· Project Cinderella’s Closet & Man of the Hour (2015)

· Baby Connection: Community Baby Shower (2016)

· Hygiene Connection (2017)

· Replenish-2-Finish Back to School Fair (2017)

· Christmas-N-July: The Connection Fair (2018)

· Community Clothing Closet (2019)

· Connection Sites (2019)