The City You Never See Bus Tour

Operation Breakthrough is one of the largest single-site daycare center in the state of Missouri, caring for over 600 children each day.  85% of these children come from families living below the poverty level. Co-founders, Sister Berta Sailer and Sister Corita Bussanmas established this agency in 1971 with a goal to “break through” poverty. Sadly, the need today is even greater than before. Sister Berta decided that one way to increase awareness about the hardships faced by the children at Operation Breakthrough was to offer bus tours of the neighborhoods where they live. Dubbed, “The City You Never See,” this tour will show you places– just minutes from the Country Club Plaza – where families struggle for basic necessities. Along the way, you’ll meet courageous and resilient parents and community leaders who will share their personal experiences with you.

How to schedule: We currently schedule bus tours for groups of 20 or more upon request on weekday afternoons, as our schedule allows. Each tour begins and ends at Operation Breakthrough and includes 5-6 stops at various points in the surrounding neighborhoods. The program lasts for about an hour and a half. We use a yellow "school bus" that can accommodate up to 44 adults.  We charge $375 per group to defray our direct costs for the driver, gasoline, and gift cards for the parent-speakers. Dates in spring and early fall fill quickly, so it is best to schedule as far in advance as possible.

Please Note:  The bus tour includes explicit testimony on such topics as domestic violence, substance abuse, and prostitution.  For this reason, we do not recommend it for children. For more information or to schedule a bus tour, please contact Lynette Johnston at lynnettej@operationbreakthrough.org.