There is a clear difference in opinion as to exactly how the closure of Abundant Harvest and its announcement Friday unfolded amongst current and now former leadership of the Emporia Rescue Mission.
Shortly after the Rescue Mission Board of Directors released a statement announcing the community food kitchen’s closure come October. KVOE News was contacted by now former Rescue Mission Executive Director Josh Graves. During his conversation with us, Graves stated he learned of the board’s intentions when “everyone else did” later adding the announcement was surprising for a few reasons, namely because he claims the organization had just taken steps to try and expand the reach of Abundant Harvest.
Another surprise Graves claims to have learned without warning regarded his future with the organization.
Graves would go on to claim that he had previously given voice to some matters that “Didn’t sit well” with him to the board. He elaborated that those concerns were related to financial matters.
It was Graves’s opinion that his voicing of these concerns led to his termination as Executive Director.
Before Graves’ interview, KVOE News had spoken with Rescue Mission Board President Peter Deblonk, who stated the board had been aware of the declining finances and decreasing feasibility of continued operations. Specifically, Deblonk told KVOE News that the continued operation of the non-profit was no longer “feasible” due to the costs of salaries, which he says accounted for 70 percent of the mission’s annual budget, food transportation costs, claiming each trip cost around $100 and the cost of maintenance and upkeep of the Abundant Harvest facility.
After speaking with Graves, KVOE reached out to Deblonk for comment on his claims, which he called “shocking” to him and others before denying them. Deblonk then told KVOE News he reportedly had multiple conversations with Graves in recent months regarding the financial outlook for the organization.
Deblonk added that there is a large amount of oversight and procedure within the organization when it comes to financial matters.
In response to Graves’ claim, the board withheld its plans to close Abundant Harvest, Deblonk says Graves was well aware of the board’s decision saying Graves and the kitchen’s secretary were both supposedly in agreement with it.
Additionally, Deblonk says Graves was informed of his future with the mission, adding that all employees had been given notice that they were being let go.
When it comes to Graves’ statement regarding the hiring of a grant writer, Deblonk says that was actually one of Graves’ responsibilities as Executive Director before confirming conversations on the subject did take place between Graves and the board.
However, Deblonk says they never approved the hiring of an individual in that specific role before going on to elaborate that Graves had called an emergency meeting of the board where he was “Adamant” about hiring a grant writer. Deblonk says the board made it clear that Graves was expected to handle those duties, as his predecessor had, but he says Graves claimed he had no time to do so.
Graves was hired as the Executive Director for the Rescue Mission earlier this year, replacing former longtime director Lee Alderman. According to a post published by Graves on the Abundant Harvest Facebook page, the kitchen’s final food giveaway was held Friday night.
Abundant Harvest is set to officially close on October 1, or once all items and supplies have been exhausted. The closure of Abundant Harvest will not affect the Rescue Mission’s other causes, specifically the Emporia Men’s Shelter.
With Graves no longer serving as executive director, Deblonk says he and a fellow board member will be overseeing operations for the mission until a volunteer can be identified to take over.
