Eight more organizations were highlighted as part of Match Day during KVOE’s Talk of Emporia Friday.
With Match Day taking place this year on the official observance of Veteran’s Day on Nov. 12, the event will be seeing a few changes. Emporia Community Foundation Director Becky Jeppesen says this includes an additional opportunity to donate.
A first-time participant for this year’s Match Day is Camp Alexander. Donations will help to benefit summer camp activities which run for 10 weeks and include 10 different program options. Camp coordinator Carla Fessler believes the camp’s longstanding presence in Emporia encourages community support.
A returning organization to the Match Day lineup is the North Lyon County Youth Association located in Allen. The Association oversees services for families with children from infants to 12 years old. The Association is also responsible for the upkeep and operations of the North Lyon County Community Center, also known as the Historic Allen School. Spokesperson Kylie Dedonder says Match Day has assisted their organization tremendously for the past three years.
Kristen Lawrence of the C4 Food Pantry also joined the conversation. The non-income based food pantry is responsible for providing for all of Chase County. Lawrence says they would not be able to fulfill their mission if it wasn’t for opportunities like Match Day.
The Emporia Senior Center has been participating in Match Day since the beginning, and this year is no different. With many seniors looking to take trips to different events and a plethora of activities hosted by the center, Board President Karen Hartenbower says donations are a major assistance.
Kathie Buckman with the William Allen White Community Partnership says thanks to Match Day the organization is able to maintain the Red Rocks state historic site, and provide scholarships for schools to tour the site.
Historic preservation is a common theme amongst many of the Match Day beneficiaries including the Arvonia Historic Preservation Society. Spokesperson Susan Evans says donations allow the society to maintain their mission of restoring the historic buildings within Arvonia.
Emporia Celebrates the Flint Hills is an organization dedicated to education on the Flint Hills and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. According to member Sarah Wyrick, thanks to Match Day, the organization is able to take part in several local projects including being involved in the creation of educational maps for students and teachers which detail the facts and history of the Flint Hills.
Another returner for this year’s event is Phil Taunton with What’s in Outdoors. Taunton praised the event for helping him create multiple partnerships which continuously provide area youth with outdoor experiences.
Match Day 2018 will take place at Flinthills Mall on Monday, Nov. 12. Another new component for this year will be the ability for community members to donate online from 12 a.m. to midnight.
Related: Emporia Community Foundation Match Day participants
