2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of SOS Inc. and current leadership continues to pay homage to the leadership and volunteers who laid the foundation for the local agency.
Wednesday, SOS held a founders’ celebration inside the Lyon County History Center, welcoming many of the women who were instrumental in shaping the organization back in 1976. In attendance for the event were founders Linda Wood, Melissa Ness and Margi Grimwood, Inaugural SOS Director Susan Moran, and legacy volunteers Robbie Hill, Sandy Kramer, Kay Lingenfelter, Carolyn Turney and Margaret White.
In reflecting on the event during an interview with KVOE News Thursday, current SOS Director Mickey Edwards stated: “What an honor it was to be in that room.”
The event provided a time for each of the individuals to reconnect and reminisce before a premiere screening of the Derek Sellens film SOS: A Diamond in the Flint Hills. The documentary provides an oral history of the agency’s founding through the memories of those involved in progressing the sexual assault advocacy movement in Emporia and the surrounding community over the last half-century.
Grimwood, who also spoke with KVOE News Thursday, stated that seeing the rise of the once small agency she had a hand in starting depicted on the screen was emotional, rewarding and validating.
Grimwood noted the establishment of SOS was not an easy task, saying there “was no support” for the idea of rape and crisis center due to social stigma and “myths” surrounding the topic of rape and assault at the time. Despite this, she says the “founding mothers” and core volunteers’ tireless efforts made a major difference one day at a time.
A public screening of the film will be held during the annual Hope-A-Palooza event inside the Emporia Granada Theatre on Friday, September 11th. Besides Hope-A-Palooza, KVOE News asked Edwards what other plans the agency has in store to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
She says there are many things in the work, but the best way to honor the history of SOS is to continue working towards a stronger future.
For more information on SOS and its services, visit SOSKansas.com or call 800-825-1295.
