Dear Community Partners and Friends,
At SENT Topeka, listening to our community isn’t just something we say—it’s who we are. Your voices have shaped every step we take, from launching our mental health department to opening the Southside Filling Station, a low-barrier, client-choice pantry designed to meet our neighbors’ most pressing needs.
When we envisioned the Southside Filling Station, we hoped to support 50 families each month. However, 150 families walked through our doors in just our first week. Your stories highlighted the stark reality that nearly half of the families in our county are either living in poverty or teetering on its edge. In just one week, we connected with families from 18 different zip codes, many are navigating life with household incomes below $20,000. Yet, despite these challenges, only a small percentage are receiving the support they need through programs like SNAP, WIC, TANF, or TEFAP.
This overwhelming response confirms what we’ve long believed: the need for not only food but also the proactive case management that accompanies it is more significant than ever. We want to walk beside each of you as you navigate these challenges.
In response to this incredible need, we are actively pursuing additional funding to sustain and grow this vital service. On Friday morning, we immediately submitted two more grant applications to increase our capacity. While we work to gather more resources, we must make some adjustments to ensure our operations remain sustainable for our dedicated staff, volunteers, budget, and building partners.
Starting the week of September 2nd, 2024, we will limit our service to 50 families per pantry day, which still allows us to serve 600 families each month—12 times our original goal.
Please know that while we’re making these changes, our commitment to you remains unwavering. We will continue to:
- Serve without requiring proof of income.
- Welcome you as often as needed, without limiting monthly visits.
- Maintain our current hours of operation:
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- Tuesdays: 9:30am-11:30am
- Wednesdays: 12:00pm-2:00pm
- Thursdays: 3:30pm-7:30pm
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- Integrate proactive case management with pantry services.
- Offer discount massage therapy on Wednesdays (schedule here: https://calendly.com/rwhite5050).
- Provide medical services through Sunflower Wellness Solutions on Tuesdays and Thursdays (Find more information here: https://senttopeka.com/approach/communityhealthwellness/partnerships/).
- Offer trauma-informed occupational therapy through Pediatric Connections on Tuesdays (Find more information here: https://senttopeka.com/approach/communityhealthwellness/partnerships/).
As our funding, staffing, and volunteer base grow, we look forward to expanding our ability to walk alongside even more families in our community. Your resilience and trust inspire us daily, and we are committed to standing with you every step of the way.
With heartfelt gratitude,
SENT Topeka Team