Lee’s Summit group has a simple and uplifting mission: Spread happiness

Jennifer Hunsinger, a self-described “block party mom,” became concerned in 2016 about the growing political divide and the possibility of this discord harming her tight-knit Lee’s Summit neighborhood.

“At the time, I felt people really couldn’t talk civilly about politics,” she said, “and it’s just gotten worse.”

Even a political yard sign could divide neighbors.

“I had the idea that we put fun signs in people’s yards that say things like ‘keep smiling’ or ‘have the best day ever’ to get people to just smile and change their attitude or just have a great day,” Hunsinger added. “We went to all the neighbors’ homes, and they all said yes in our little block. And it was pretty extraordinary the reaction we got from the people in our community.”

What began with around 36 handmade signs on one city block has grown to a community-wide nonprofit focused on spreading messages of kindness, encouragement and hope through yard signs. Project Happiness LSMO now distributes approximately 550 signs each year while also assisting others through charitable donations and related projects.

Hunsinger is the president and founder of Project Happiness LSMO with daughters Georgia Hunsinger and Charlotte Hunsinger involved in sign-making. Georgia is the nonprofit’s vice president.

The Project Happiness LSMO signs

Initially, the signs were made from posterboard. Project Happiness LSMO sign makers later switched to 18-inch-by-24-inch Coroplast, a more weatherproof and durable option, placed on H-frame wire holders.

The messages vary depending on each sign’s creator with some of the Hunsinger’s favorites including “have the best day ever,” “just keep swimming,” “keep being awesome” or “there are a lot of good people out there.”

The signs are available spring, summer and fall in a box in Hunsinger’s front yard at 1020 NE Bristol Drive in eastern Lee’s Summit. In addition to Hunsinger and her daughters, a core group of around a dozen volunteers create the signs using waterproof sharpies. Senior-citizen communities and organizations such as Girl Scouts also assist in making signs.

“They’re all handmade, and the messages are different on the front and back, so no two are alike,” she said. “The coolest thing about our program is that the signs don’t cost anything. They are accessible to anyone. If you don’t have money, take a sign. If you have $100 to leave in there to help us out, you can do that.”

It wasn’t until Project Happiness LSMO’s third year that community members began donating money to help with the sign materials.

“People started paying us for the signs, and they were paying us more than what the materials actually cost,” Hunsinger said, “and I didn’t feel comfortable with our family profiting from it. So we had this big idea that we turn it into a 501(c)(3). We’ve done quite a few amazing projects to help the community.”

Bake sale raises money for scholarships

Project Happiness LSMO hosts an annual bake sale that helps fund a $500 scholarship at all three Lee’s Summit R-7 high schools.

“It’s for kids who are service-driven and who have created their own projects that make a difference in the community,” she said.

Examples of other community efforts include purchasing children’s gifts for Lee’s Summit Social Services to distribute to families in need, supplying Hope House with essential items, helping Coldwater of Lee’s Summit provide Thanksgiving meals, sponsoring rescues for dogs and working with Foster Adopt to purchase new shoes for foster children.

To further spread its message, Project Happiness LSMO volunteers work at Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street events such as the Fourth Friday Art Walk or the Farmer’s Market.

The organization launched an additional outreach project in 2025 with its positivity pod machine.

“It’s like a gumball machine that we put pods in that have unique messages in them,” Hunsinger said. “It’s a free spin mechanism. They get messages, and we say they get their daily dose of awesome.”

The positivity pod machine has been placed at various downtown Lee’s Summit businesses and has distributed thousands of free pods. Hunsinger prints out the messages with volunteers cutting them into pod-size strips.

Valentine’s Day boxes for kids

During February, Project Happiness LSMO encourages volunteers to create Valentine boxes for elementary children who arrive at school on Valentine’s Day without a box. An administrative assistant at Greenwood Elementary, Hunsinger works with all 18 Lee’s Summit R-7 elementary schools and delivers boxes to schools based on anticipated needs.

“People think it’s fun to make Valentine’s Day boxes,” she added, with volunteers creating them at home and placing the completed boxes on Hunsinger’s doorstep.

Last year, Project Happiness LSMO provided 127 Valentine’s Day boxes to elementary students.

Anyone interested in helping the nonprofit is encouraged to visit the website. Volunteers are needed for sign making and other projects, and donations will help with sign materials and the charitable activities. For a donation of $5 each month, individuals become a part of Friends of Project Happiness LSMO.

With spring around the corner, the organization will soon enter its busy months for sign-making. For Hunsinger, each sign provides an opportunity to spread Project Happiness LSMO’s mission.

“They’re really messages that I need,” she said. “I sit down in the evening and figure out a message that’s going to encourage me because it’s kind of like therapy. Some are humorous, some are serious, but they’re all uplifting.”