Many have brought comfort and cheer to their neighbors this holiday season. Thanks to the efforts of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas employees, area agencies, and businesses, Wesley House guests and clients received food, warmth, and supplies.
Community Health Worker Missy Jennings and Family Resource Specialist Amy Hagan decided to prepare a holiday meal on Christmas Day.
“Wesley House was the only place open this year for Christmas dinner,” Missy said. “Without us being open a lot of our guests and community members would not have had anywhere to spend the holiday. The spirit of Christmas was definitely in the air.”
This meal was made possible through generous donations from CHC/SEK employees and the community. Staff also came by on Christmas day to help cook and serve food. Sharing the gift of warmth this winter, CHC/SEK employees donated children’s and adult-sized hats, gloves, coats, sleeping bags, snow boots, and socks to distribute to clients at Wesley House.
Approximately 350 families were able to pick up a basket that provided three meals worth of food over the holiday. It also had household and hygiene products. But that didn’t come without a surprising little mishap. A component of the basket, mashed potatoes, was challenging to come by. The Family Resource Center (FRC) called on their staff and clients to collect and donate boxes of mashed potatoes. The FRC alone collected an astonishing total of over 400 boxes of dried mashed potatoes. Ron’s Supermarket also had care bags for shoppers to purchase to support the needs of the Christmas basket.
And, with winter likely to be bitter cold, Wesley House opened a warming shelter on the evening of Christmas to support the needs of guests who are unhoused.
