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If you are moving to Kansas City this holiday season, get into the gift-giving spirit and help give teenagers-in-need a gift for Christmas by taking part in the city’s Sack It for Santa donation.

This year, FOX 4 and The Love Fund for Children are teaming up in order to give teenagers something to look forward to this Christmas…gifts. Since teenagers often get overlooked by holiday gift giving programs, FOX 4 and The Love Fund for Children want them to get recognized and enjoy the holiday season.

If you will be moving to Kansas City this month and want to give a local teenager the chance at getting a gift on Christmas, you can help by filling a sack of toys meant specifically for teens. Sack It for Santa sacks will need to be dropped off at participating CVS, Plato’s Closet, or Seasonal Concepts by December 9.

If you cannot make it to a participating location by December 9, you will have one more day to drop off your sack of toys for teens, at the FOX 4 location on Summit Street. FOX 4 is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you will not be moving to Kansas City by December 10 but still want to be able to participate, you can go to the FOX 4 website and donate the suggested amount of $35 to the Sack It for Santa fund.

Some gift ideas for teens are: perfume or cologne, toiletries, sports related items for boys, purses and jewelry for girls, games, and appropriate clothing.

FOX 4, The Love Fund for Children, and local Kansas City moving companies want EVERYONE to have a Merry Christmas and every resident can help, one gift at a time.

If you are moving to Kansas City and have children that need afterschool care so that you can work, check out Johnson County schools.

Johnson County Park & Recreation District (JCPRD) Children’s Service Manager Kim Chappelow-Lee has enjoyed over 30 years of employment and continues to strive for better afterschool care for the children of Johnson County.

With her new title of Afterschool Ambassador for the 2014-2015 school year, Chappelow-Lee is part of the national nonprofit organization Afterschool Alliance; a group that aims to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs.

The national group consists of only 13 members, so with Chappelow-Lee being the only representative for Kansas, it is surely an honor.

“I was just so honored because I feel like this is very important work,” Chappelow-Lee said. “I’ve been on the provider side for the majority of my career and I feel like now is the time to step up and advocate for more after-school care so that everyone that needs after-school care can access it.”

In 1980, at Brookwood Elementary in the Shawnee Mission School District, afterschool programs began to be offered and served only 20 children. Today, JCPRD provides afterschool care to 1,924 students.

JCPRD’s afterschool programs help to assist families in which both parents work until after school hours, providing afterschool care until 6 p.m.

Chappelow-Lee’s health and physical fitness awareness is what earned her the spot on the Afterschool Alliance. JCPRD’s afterschool programs make sure that children get a healthy fruit or vegetable snack and at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, whether it be from tag, kickball, running, or Zumba.

Chappelow-Lee explains how the availability of afterschool care can be scarce for lower income families and lower income neighborhoods, and that she aims to help bridge this gap by requesting more afterschool programs in areas that are currently lacking them.

“Kids need to be supervised in a safe environment. Research shows that kids get involved in risky behaviors when not supervised. It’s just the responsible thing for us to do,” says Chappelow-Lee.

A record-breaking winter chill hit Kansas City earlier this month, with temperatures reaching the single digits.

The National Weather Service said that a bout of cold air, combined with the city’s first flood of snow caused several accidents last week.

The National Weather Service warned locals that although there would not be any more precipitation, the winter chill could drop temperatures below zero degrees.

Pamela Murray from the National Weather Service station in Pleasant Hill said that a “stubborn ridge” of high pressure was created by Typhoon Nuri pushing across the Pacific. The typhoon pushed artic air across the middle of the United States and the winter chill reached as far as the Gulf of Mexico.

The lowest recorded temperature for Kansas City in the month of November was 14 degrees back in 1903; last week’s temperatures broke that record.

With roads getting increasingly slick, your local movers would like to remind you that if you are moving to Kansas City this month, drive with caution and dress warm!

With student loan interest rates rising and more college students not being able to find jobs after graduation, students are figuring out that if they can cram four years of school into three, they can save thousands!

If you are moving to Kansas City and are a senior in high school, or are the guardian to a high school senior, consider Johnson County’s Degree in Three program.

Degree in Three allows high-achieving high school students to apply to take college-level courses in high school, in order to earn one year towards an associate’s degree from Johnson County Community College. Then, after one year at JCCC, they will have an associate’s degree and can transition to the University of Kansas’ Edwards campus to complete their bachelor’s degree.

Students at Blue Valley were already taking college-level coursework but wanted to see it geared more towards what would make them more employable. Working together, Blue Valley, KU, and JCCC launched Degree in Three.

Also implementing similar programs are the Olathe School District.

Degree in Three is estimated to save students $9,548 a year; the in-state tuition rate at KU.

If you are moving to Kansas City and have high school students, consider moving to a district that will help your teen excel and preserve their future in the job market.

The Postal Service will be closing another 82 processing centers throughout the country.

Living up to its name of snail mail, delivery times are expected to increase.

Even though Kansas City is home to a Postal Service plant, it too will see a rise in delivery times.

According to Chris Bentley, president of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 297 in Kansas City, “Slowing down the mail is the last thing to do to help the Postal Service. It’s like a business that isn’t making the profits it used to, but instead of providing better service it starts cutting services and hours. You’re not going to attract business that way.”

The recent announcement of more post office closures has angered not only workers, but even the public. Three of Kansas City’s post offices located in the old Northeast area are now only open for a couple hours a day.

The closure of the 82 centers is estimated to save The Postal Service over $1.6 billion a year.

The Postal Service has also been proposing to Congress that they end Saturday deliveries, but so far, Congress disagrees.

With increasing closures and limited office hours, residents may soon not be able to go to the post office, or they will have to take off of work in order to get there in time.

Your local movers want to remind you to research where there is a Kansas City post office near your new neighborhood and what times they are open so you do not drive to a closed location once you move.

This weekend is Halloween, so if you are new to the area, let your Kansas City movers give you some hot hints to creating the most amazing costumes suited for 2014!

1. Go as a bride…but not just any bride…Angelina Jolie of course! Mrs. Pitt’s wedding gown was distinct, it may take a couple guesses from your friends but this costume is sure to get you a ton of compliments. Buy a white dress, grab a ton of markers and get this celebrity look…without all the kids.
2. This Ice Bucket Challenge. It may seem strange but you’ll get a lot of laughs for dressing as the most popular trending video from 2014 AND you don’t have to make a donation.
3. Play “All About That Bass” or “Anaconda” and stuff your butt to be like Iggy Azalea or Nicki Minaj. Then, let your junk in the trunk jiggle to the beat.
4. For $79.99 you can be the most viral costume of the year…EBOLA. Too soon? You can also be a health care worker in a hazmat suit by wrapping up in trash bags, goggles, a face mask, and rain boots.
5. Wear orange scrubs and be an “Orange Is the New Black” character. Viola!
6. Commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the “Wizard of Oz” and go as your favorite character, or use as a group theme.
7. Anything “Frozen”. Although this is probably one of the most popular costumes you will see on little girls this year, you can add a creative twist and literally go as frozen. Fasten some ice packs to a string and wear them accordingly and you will be “frozen”.

If you are new to Kansas City and are looking for more information for the holiday season, keep up with your local movers blog for current events.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City has announced its first set of candidates to be inducted into the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame to be featured on campus.

The seven selected women represent the fields of philanthropy, politics, ethics, education, business, and civic leadership.

The women’s names should also be of familiarity to Kansas City locals; the seven selected honorees are: Marjorie Powell Allen, Kay Barnes, Myra J. Christopher, Adele Hall, Shirley Bush Helzberg, Dorothy H. Johnson, and Martha Jane Phillips Starr.

About the inductees:

Marjorie Powell Allen is known for her generous donation of land for Powell Gardens and was the first woman to lead the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

Kay Barnes was the mayor of Kansas City from 1999-2007.

Myra J. Christopher was the director of the Center for Practical Bioethics.

Adele Hall and Shirley Bush Helzberg were civic leaders, philanthropists, and educators.

Dorothy H. Johnson was a journalist, researcher, and social scientist.

Martha Jane Phillips Starr was a philanthropist and community activist for whom the hall is named after.

Vice President of External Relations for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Amy McAnarney, mentioned that, “These seven extraordinary women have made a dramatic impact on our community, an impact that will be felt for generations to come.”

If you are looking to move to Kansas City for college, check out the University of Missouri-Kansas City and be a part of a university that educates the men and women leaders of tomorrow.

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you are new to Kansas City you may be wondering what you are going to do next weekend. Look no further, your local Kansas City movers have all the details on the city’s top four epic haunted houses you have to check out!

Kansas City’s West Bottoms is home to four of the scariest haunted houses in the entire U.S. and they are open NOW!

1) Chambers of Poe houses more paranormal activity than most people can handle. Featured in the movie Horror Filmed, join Poe and his tale of madness while witnessing a four-story window leap.

2) Edge of Hell is the oldest running manufactured haunted house in the nation. Established in 1975, this haunted house sits 666 feet above sea level…a number that I am sure most people are familiar with as being associated with the Devil. Focusing on phobias, this house will release all of your worst fears and make you come face-to-face with them, literally.

3) The Beast is on unlucky number 13^th Street and is known for being the first haunted attraction to use in-your-face entertainment such as zombie dancers modeled after Thriller and a live alligator.

4) Macabre Cinema brings you back to a 1930s horror film with era appropriate sets and actual collection of horror movie props. The four-story bat pole takes guests from set-to-set and scream-to-scream.

The West Bottom Haunted Houses have been featured on the Travel Channel’s “America’s Scariest Attractions” and are open year-round. If you are new to Kansas City this Halloween, help make your skin crawl and check out some of the most intense Halloween attractions in the nation by visiting Kansas City haunted houses. Open every weekend and starting at 7:30 p.m., tickets for individual haunted house showings for the 2014 season start at $27 for regular admission and $37 for VIP admission.

This year’s heated election between Brownback and Democratic opponent Paul Davis has given the city a good show, but Brownback is concerned for the first time in his over two-decade career. Brownback admits that he has never had to fight so hard for his political life.

Despite criticism from Davis, Brownback brought many accomplishments to Kansas City since he won the governor’s job in 2010.

– Brownback signed the largest income tax cut in state history, reducing individual levies and eliminating some small-business income taxes entirely. At the same time, he signed a bill re-instating and making permanent part of an expiring sales tax.

– He increased funding for the state’s public pensions.

– He rebuilt the state’s bank account. His tax cuts, critics claim, will soon eliminate that surplus.

– He started a program to lure residents back to rural communities. He engaged in a fierce, unresolved debate with the courts and the Legislature over the adequacy and fairness of public school funding.

Debates surround Brownback’s previous accomplishments; saying that although the state added more private sector jobs and that the unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country, job growth is still lagging behind. Voters also question the state’s budget surplus growth, saying that it is a result of increased sales tax and cuts in education spending.

Brownback defends his previous decisions by saying that he is focused on expanding the state’s population and economy, and that the tax cuts will help rejuvenate the state.

The republican candidate also says that the biggest job field that is suffering is the aviation industry in the state, which holds over 25,000 jobs. Brownback says that if they could sell some small planes this problem could be fixed, and he sees nothing but strong growth in the future.

Brownback supporters agree that his agenda keeps the people in mind, and they look forward to his efforts in business creation and neighborhood improvements during his second term.

After being diagnosed with melanoma in 1995, Brownback has strong focus on his personal life and career life, explaining that, “I want to make it to heaven and be as good an influence to others as I can.”

If you are new to Missouri and are moving to Kansas City, research the candidates and be sure to make it to the polls November 4, 2014.

Preparing to move to a new home can be a stressful time for you and your family. We here at Kansas City movers All My Sons want to help make the days leading up to your move as effortless and easy as possible. Try implementing these helpful tips in the weeks leading up to your move in order to make the big day run more smoothly.

Get Rid of Old Items

Throw out or donate old items you no longer use. With a few exceptions, if you have not used a particular item in the past 12 months, it is probably safe to get rid of it.

Limit Your Grocery Shopping

Moving food can be a hassle, so try to use up the food you have on hand without buying a lot of new items. Some items like baking goods and spices are relatively easy to transport, but others you might want to consider throwing out.

Start Packing Early

Invest in a variety of boxes in different sizes and styles and start packing up little-used items as soon as possible. Books and movies, out of season clothing, and extra household items are some items that can often be packed up early.

Get a Variety of Boxes

Invest in different types of boxes for all your packing needs. Wardrobe boxes, padded boxes, and mirror boxes can all be useful during a move.

Be ready to meet your Kansas City movers in moving day by getting ready days or even weeks in advance.