This year, we will host lots of exciting Geeks for Kids events this year because a job this huge takes a village. To build custom cars for kids with movement limitations, Geeks for Kids needs 200+ people – students and professionals alike - with lots of different skills including:
- Engineers
- Roboticists
- Programmers
- Mechanics
- Physical and occupational therapists
- Designers
- Seamstresses
- Project managers
- Writers
- Fundraisers
- Marketers and social media mavens
- Sponsors and donors
- And, more!
Design & Planning Meetings
The folks who keep Geeks for Kids and Invent for Good humming like a well-oiled engine - our Design and Business teams - meet Monday and Thursday evenings. These folks fuel all that we do. The Design Team designs and builds all the technical components that go into our vehicles. And, the Business Leaders Board handle all business tasks including recruiting recipients and volunteers, planning events, raising money, identifying potential partners, writing documentation, etc. To learn more about how you can make magic happen for all the kids who are waiting for the #Power2Play, visit our Join the Team page to learn more or drop us a note to arrange a visit.
Build Events
It’s "all hands on deck" for Build Events. Over the course of each Build, 40 to 75 volunteers strive to assemble up to 8 cars in a day.
No tech skills are necessary for many tasks. Physical therapists check our designs to make sure they suit each child’s specific needs. Seamstresses help us cut out and sew seat cushions and make seat belts. Folks from all walks of life help with tasks like wrapping hard, plastic wheels with rubber tread, pulling LED lights through plastic tubing, installing license plates and cushions, and more.
There are lots of jobs for our technically-minded folks, too. The techies can pitch in and help our Design Team build drive systems that make it possible for kids to drive using only their hands, or their feet, or just with a flick of the finger or the press of a cheek. They also help us assemble other assistive devices. They create wiring harnesses. And, they modify steering assemblies and ready safety systems for installation.
There is lots of work for every skill set and interest. And, no one has to "go it alone." One of our experienced team leaders supports every team.
The Details
- Dates: There are 9 Build Events this year. See the column at top, right to check out this year’s schedule.
- Time: 8:30a to 4:30p – You can join us for the day and see a build through from beginning to end, or you can choose to volunteer for just the morning or afternoon. The morning shift runs from 8:30a to 1:30p, and the afternoon shift runs from 11:30 to 4:30p.
- Location: The Downtown Underground, 3101 Mercier Street, Suite 419, Kansas City, MO 64111
- To Fuel Your Engines: Drinks, lunch and snacks will be served.
Invent for Good Open House
In this program, middle school through college students work in teams with our pros to design cool tech for kids with movement limitations. Since 2020, Invent for Good teams have been designing a wide variety of solutions that kids and parents have requested we add to our Geeks for Kids cars. Attend our Open House to learn more.
The Details
- Date: Monday, September 18
- Time: 6:30 to 8p
- Location: The Downtown Underground, 3101 Mercier Street, Suite 419, Kansas City, MO 64111
- To Fuel Your Engines: Drinks and snacks will be served.
All Abilities Trunk or Treat
On October 7, join us to see some of our kids receive the #Power2Play as we gift each of them a custom, electric car. Then, stay for a fun Trunk or Treat event for kids of all abilities. There will be lots of treats, amazing displays and more.
The Details
- Date: Saturday, October 7 (or Sunday, October 8 if the weather is bad on the 7th)
- Time: 1 to 4 for guests; noon to 4:30p for volunteers
- Location: The Summit Church, 3381 NW Chipman Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081
- To Fuel Your Engines: Lots of treats will be served.
Be a Driving Force Happy Hour
More and more kids with movement limitations lining up for a Geeks for Kids car and the other assistive devices we build. To meet their needs, we have to grow our Design and Business teams, technology base, volunteer and referral networks and funding pipeline. You can help us meet our kids' needs. Join us to see what we do, why we do it, and how you too can give kids who can't move easily the #Power2Play.
The Details
- Date: Saturday, April 20
- Time: 2 to 4p
- Location: The Downtown Underground, 3101 Mercier Street, Suite 419, Kansas City, MO 64111
- To Fuel Your Engines: Drinks and tasty nibbles will be served.
Delivery Celebrations
To our team – and we hope soon for you too – Delivery Days are like the best Christmas morning ever! We bring together our recipient families, volunteers and sponsors for one huge party.
We set up a play area and a racetrack, do a final fitting for each child and then send the kids out to take a few loops around the track. When you see our kids (kids who cannot explore on their own) race around in their custom, electric cars for the first time, you'll see why our team volunteers so much of their free time to give these kids the #Power2Play. Then, relax and enjoy the party! There will be treats and drinks, music, bubbles, balloons and lots of fun. It will be the best day of your year!
The Details
- Kansas City Delivery Day
- Date: June 1 (pencil us in for June 2 too in case of rain on the 1st)
- Time:
- Volunteers: 11a to 6p
- Recipients & Other Guests: 1 to 5p
- Location: Porsche Kansas City, 9415 W 65th St Building #2, Merriam, KS 66203
- To Fuel Your Engines: Drinks and treats will be served.
- One-on-One Deliveries for Those Who Cannot Attend a D-Day Event
- Date: Saturday, June 15
- Time:
- Volunteers: 11a to 6p
- Recipients & Other Guests: 1 to 5p
- Location: The Downtown Underground, 3101 Mercier Street, Suite 419, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Cleveland Delivery Day
- Date: Tuesday, June 25
- Time: 1 to 5p
- Location: Hyland Software, Building 3, 28105 Clemens Rd, Westlake, OH 44145, USA
