Edna food pantry plans expansion
OSWEGO — Jennifer Mathes visited with Labette County commissioners on Monday about an expansion of the Crosstimbers Food Pantry in Edna. Ground will be broken at 6 p.m. Monday, March 31, at 213 S. Labette for the new pantry and outreach center two blocks south of the current facility.
Pantry director Mathes told commissioners that the Crosstimbers Church opened its food pantry around 2012, helping about 30 families a month. The pantry now helps nearly 200 families a month.
“Our area has expanded, and we now serve all of Labette County rural areas and cities” outside of the Parsons city limits, Mathes said. The territory extends into Oklahoma as well.
She said that 41% of the pantry’s guests do not receive any government assistance. This 41% includes a mom with four children and a business. The business had a hard year, but she didn’t qualify for assistance because of the business’ gross income. She came to the pantry and received the assistance needed.
“And guess what, we don’t see that mom anymore because they’re back up on their feet, and so we’ve filled that gap of citizens that are coming in for food and other education, items and things that we do have,” Mathes said.
The non-profit pantry’s mission is to offer nutritious food and promote
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the health and well being of families in the community. As needs increased, the non-profit worked to expand its services and space. The organization purchased 2.5 blocks in Edna for the new facility, which will house the food pantry, warehouse and storage spaces, a fellowship hall and seating for 130 in the outreach center and a meeting room that could hold 69 people and double as a tornado shelter. Other space in the facility includes offices, a freezer, cooler and a commercial kitchen. The second story offers more storage options as well.
The outreach center will offer an integrated approach to wellness, through health care access for underserved populations, education on food preparation and healthy eating instruction, social determinants of health, employment resources and skill development, economic stability initiatives and youth development programs.
“To say the least, it’s going to be absolutely amazing, and we are very, very excited about this,” Mathes said.
She said she is looking for ways to partner with the county and other organizations. The outreach center would be a good place to have a meeting. The commercial kitchen could open entrepreneurial options for someone looking to start a business by serving as an incubator kitchen. The property will also have a walking trail and exercise station eventually, as well as a butterfly garden. Crochet groups could meet there and perhaps teach classes, augmenting a sense of community.
She said a grassroots effort has been used to collect funds for the building construction. Grants have strings attached, and the future of grants is unknown.
“We’re here to help our community, and community helps community. …. If funding is cut, it’s OK, because we have that base that we can bring people in,” Mathes said.
She thanked commissioners for the American Rescue Plan Act funding that allowed the non-profit to purchase a box truck that made easier the transport of pallets of fresh fruit and vegetables.
She said the sheriff’s office provides law enforcement protection to Edna on contract, and deputies could use the new facility anytime for office space or to heat food in a microwave.
The facility could be used as a staging area as well if a disaster happened in the southern part of the county.
She asked commissioners if they would consider helping the city to repave Labette Street on the west border of the new property and perhaps widening another intersection to allow a semi truck to make easier turns there for deliveries. In the past, the county has offered the use of county equipment for this kind of work. The cities hire county workers to run the machines on days off and the city provides the fuel and rock and other materials for the improvements.
Commissioners were pleased with the expansion plan.
“Great plan,” Commissioner Terry Weidert said.
“I commend you for all you’ve done, you and your group,” Commission Chairman Vince Schibi said.
In a release, Mathes wrote that the expansion comes at a critical time for the county, where about 3,000 individuals struggle with food insecurity, according to Feeding America. The food pantry operates through partnerships with Parsons Area Community Foundation, SEK Community Foundation, Frontier Farm Credit, Community National Bank-Edna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas-Pathways to a Healthier Kansas and several area churches and community members.
The food pantry relies on grants, donations and volunteers to serve the community.
In other business, the commission: — Agreed to remove the countywide burn ban effective immediately.
— Approved a parcel search agreement with Labette Bank at a cost of $225. The agreement allows the bank to review non-public information from the appraiser’s office for property-related research.
— Approved adding Ryan Darnell and Myles Adams to the Labette County solid waste committee. The committee next meets at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 2.
— Approved a Neighborhood Revitalization Agreement with Isaac Bussinger for a new home to be built at 16053 Ness Road. The agreement allows Bussinger a 100% property tax abatement for the county for 10 years on improvements to the land, which includes the value of the house once it’s complete. Under the agreement, Bussinger will still pay taxes on the land going forward; the abatement period starts once the house is completed, according to County Appraiser Melody Kikkert. Bussinger will receive a rebate on taxes paid each year of the agreement for the county portion of the taxes. He will still have to pay the school district and community college portion of the taxes for now, although Kikkert said she plans on speaking to governing boards for schools and the college about participating in the abatement program for the benefit of economic development.
