On a chilly November morning, hundreds of KC families are lined up outside the Urban Youth Academy near 18th and Vine, drinking coffee and hot chocolate.
There’s no baseball practice or youth program to attend – they were there because a local barber decided nearly two decades ago that his community deserved better.
They were there to become one of the nearly 1,000 families to receive – for free – a turkey and all of the fixing for their Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of Joey Thomas and his Know Joey? Foundation’s network of volunteers and collaborators.
“Seventeen years ago, our goal was that we just wanted to feed people,” said Thomas. “Give them some hope. Let them know that there’s somebody who cares.”
The event has grown from a grassroots effort to feed 25 families, with Thomas informally selling hot dogs on the side of the road to raise the funds to cover the costs.
Now, the event is a major collaboration with partners including the Kansas City Royals, Harvesters, C&C Produce, Barham Family Farms, and even Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, who donated 50 turkeys.
In 17 years, Thomas’ goal is still the same, “but we’ve been able to build on it, and we want to keep building on that by helping the whole household for more than just one day.”
The giveaway is now a two-day event, held the week before Thanksgiving — with the Turkey Tuesday food drive and Win Wednesday giveaway in KCK and KCMO.
The two-city giveaway has turned into a friendly competition between the two cross-state teams, competing to see which location can collect and distribute the most turkeys and supplies.
This year, the Missouri side won with 510 turkeys to the Kansas side’s 430.
Those who registered received free turkeys, fresh produce, eggs, and all the traditional Thanksgiving sides. As a result, nearly 1,000 families received a free Thanksgiving meal, feeding up to 10,000 to 20,000 people. The Win Wednesday event also connected families with community support services like the Black Mental Health Initiative.
Getting to Know Joey Thomas
The story of how a barber from 42nd and Bellefontaine became a community leader starts long before any turkey giveaways or charitable foundations.
Growing up on KC’s east side in the 1980s, Thomas learned early lessons about survival and community. Raised by a single mother after losing his father, he watched his neighborhood struggle with violence and drugs.
Rather than being defeated by circumstance, Thomas drew motivation from them, learning what paths to avoid and developing an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age.
“Man, if you go broke, you get creative,” says Thomas. “Growing up, my brothers and I had an excellent mother who taught us how to survive, how to hustle, and how to do everything.”
His first business venture started at 12, working in his mom’s hair salon. Young Joey would act as a concierge for clients, even selling umbrellas on rainy days to protect fresh hairstyles. These early experiences laid the groundwork for his future as both a businessman and community leader.
In 2007, Thomas opened Joey Cuts Barber Salon near 39th and Indiana, in what was then considered one of KC’s most dangerous areas. Some questioned investing in the neighborhood, but Thomas saw beyond the statistics to a community rich in love and support, even if not in financial resources.
“Bloom where you are planted,” says Thomas.
Thomas later expanded into a larger shop in the Lincoln building, which is today the 180V Barber Salon. He’s won the People’s Choice Award for Best Barber and Best Barber Shop in addition to honoring his Know Joey? Foundation.
Thomas is a serial entrepreneur beyond his foundation and barbershop. His family operates Frosty Frogs Water Ice, which provides a fat-free, dairy-free ice cream alternative. They’ve secured status as Gates Bar-B-Q’s official dessert provider and are preparing to open a new storefront next to the Gates 12th and Brooklyn location.
Fresh Cut Fresh Start
The same year he opened his first barbershop, Thomas launched what would become one of his foundation’s flagship programs: Fresh Cut Fresh Start (FCFS). The program offers free haircuts to students the week before Kansas City Public Schools begin.
“We started Fresh Cut Fresh Start to introduce the business to the neighborhood and show our commitment to helping the community, and they really responded,” says Thomas.
The initiative began with a modest goal of providing 25 students free haircuts. That first year, they provided 27 hair cuts and surpassed their mark. Today, FCFS serves hundreds each year and offers comprehensive support, including free backpacks, educational resources, health screenings, and mentorship opportunities.
The program’s impact became clear when Thomas encountered a student who relied on Fresh Cut Fresh Start for their only haircut of the year. Experiences like that strengthened Thomas’ resolve to continually expand the foundation’s work.
Thomas is working toward a “Fresh Cut Fresh Start 3.0” program that will be implemented inside schools. The idea is to incentivize academic achievement by providing free haircuts each quarter — when report cards come out — to students maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better. It will also include mentorship opportunities and scholarships for graduating seniors, creating a sustainable cycle of community investment in its youth.
Through all his ventures, Thomas maintains a focus on uplifting the community that shaped him.
From the first barbershop on 39th Street to today’s multifaceted foundation serving thousands, Thomas has shown that transformation starts with seeing possibilities where others see problems.
Through his foundation’s work, he’s proving that when you bloom where you’re planted, you can help others grow too.
“It’s a very small piece of what it takes when it comes to community development,” Thomas says. “It’s a small taste of what we can truly do when we all just work together for a common goal.”
