Kansas City program helps those living in poverty become economically self-sufficient

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The start of March means a new local charity for KCTV5′s Three Degree Guarantee initiative.

This month’s recipients will be Connections to Success, a local organization putting new meaning to the phrase “give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day – teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.”

Connection to Success helps people in the community find and keep careers.

They offer resume-building classes, finance classes, mock interviews, and even a free closet to pick out interview clothes.

“Four months ago I was wearing prison garb. Today I am wearing a business suit. I feel confident, actually,” said Stan Stucker who spent 20 years in prison.

Stucker says it only took a few months for Connections to Success to change his life.

“You’re family, when you complete the program here you are family,” Stucker said. “You never feel unwelcomed.”

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The organization helps men, women, and students become financially stable.

Bianca Hampton has five children and was not working a year ago.

“I was at home, no job and was living in a rut basically,” Hampton said.

Now, she has her real estate license.

She encourages anyone who feels they are in a rut to reach out to Connections to Success.

“You can do it, you’ve just got to find the right connections and the right support to help you out.”

Connections to Success is taking monetary donations as well as business casual clothing donations.

To read more about KCTV5′s 3 Degree Guarantee initiative, click here.

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