Abundant Grace begins emergency food operations next week, supplanting the longstanding work of Abundant Harvest.
Grace United Methodist Church is both a partner and the location for hot meals to be served at 4 pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. One might think there would be a lot of adjustments leading into the first week of operations for the church congregation. Pastor Debbie Senters tells KVOE News that may not be the case. In fact, the church has been setting up its refrigeration and storage space.
Senters says other local churches are offering help with both volunteers and grant research, and she says the United Way of the Flint Hills has been “awesome” in organizing this next phase of emergency food relief. Senters says the congregation was willing to add the food ministry to its list of community service, including blessing boxes.
Senters says there have been two concerns. One, the volunteer help, has largely been addressed in the short term. The other is traffic, with Abundant Harvest serving roughly 90 people per service day and close to 1,100 people in 2025.
Besides Grace United Methodist, the United Way of the Flint Hills is helping to organize the effort with initial funding from the city. First United Methodist Church and Lyon County’s Ministerial Alliance are also involved. Senters says the longstanding need served at Abundant Harvest underscores the significance of the work ahead as Abundant Grace takes over.
Abundant Grace continues the work of the Emporia Rescue Mission, which operated Abundant Harvest at 1028 Whittier for close to 20 years but decided this past summer to end that work so it could concentrate on the men’s mission at 1236 East 12th. There had been some public thought the Rescue Mission had sold the property to Whittier Place for an apartment complex expansion, but Lyon County records indicate the mission still owns the property.
Residents wanting donate funds can call the United Way at 620-342-7564 or go online to unitedwayoftheflinthills.org, click “Donate” at the top of the page and select “Emergency Food Relief.” Residents wanting to volunteer should call the United Way office or email info@uwfh.org. Volunteer groups are asked to have three to four people for their assigned shifts beginning at 3:45 pm and lasting up to two hours.
