Food Security Fund (Wesley House)

Specific Need

Since January 2023, Wesley House has had the privilege of serving more than 5,500 food pantry guests seeking nutrition assistance. Compared to last year, Wesley House has experienced a 40% increase in families accessing food pantry services. Corresponding with the sharp and continual rise of food prices across the nation, it is a continued challenge for Wesley House to balance the funds for food and operational costs. These costs are often restricted in grant funding. Match Day allows us to address the gap in operational funding and purchasing nutritious foods from the KS Food Bank and local vendors.

With your support and alongside countless community partners, Wesley House will ensure that all our neighbors including kids, seniors, and families have access to the nourishing food they need today to pursue brighter tomorrows.

Mission

The mission of Wesley House is to provide a safe, welcoming place for individuals and families of Crawford County to seek assistance, advocacy, education and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Profile

Wesley House is an outreach mission of Pittsburg First United Methodist Church. Established in 1982, the organization has provided 41 years of emergency assistance to low-income community members and families in Crawford County. Throughout our history, Wesley House has hosted a wide variety of programs developed to respond to urgent needs of our most at-risk community members. Today, Wesley House serves as the primary food pantry in Crawford County, facilitates the Senior Food Program, and functions as a day shelter with comprehensive services for anyone experiencing homelessness. Everyone that walks through our doors, regardless of circumstance, is entitled to dignity and access to resources that allow opportunities for self-sufficiency and growth.

Wesley House is a place for all our neighbors to access essential resources like food, shelter, and social connection. Through community partnerships and engagement, those accessing our services are connected to in-house or external programs centered on reintegration and obtaining improved health and social outcomes. Recognizing the conjunction of increased barriers to care and increased health risks of our community, we work to provide integrated health services onsite through Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) through health education and care coordination provided by Community Health Workers.

Wesley House is not only a place the community seeks to receive services but is also a place for community members to share their gifts through volunteering and organizing educational and skills-building programs.