We explore how the Center of Hope warming shelter keeps people safe, fed, and connected during winter nights while partnering across the city to build a path from crisis to stability. Stories of medical emergencies averted, and job-and-housing wins reveal the power of trust at night. • what the warming shelter offers overnight • collaboration with local agencies for wraparound care • founding story and purpose rooted in compassion • myths about homelessness and employment challenged • life-s...

Karla Johnson shares how bell ringing, tap-to-pay kettles, and local partnerships fund year-round aid for families, students, and veterans in Riley, Geary, and Pottawatomie counties. We explore clear ways to volunteer, where the money goes, and why simple systems unlock big impact. • Online auctions expanding into services • Texas Roadhouse appetizer cards are driving donations • Tap to pay kettles solving no-cash barrier • Volunteer sign-up via registertoring.com with two-hour slots • Eight...

We spotlight KCCTO, a statewide Kansas initiative that delivers clock‑hour training, mental health support, and career pathways for early childhood professionals. Bronwyn Fees shares how a 65‑member team serves all 105 counties with online, virtual, and in‑person learning plus one‑to‑one career navigation. • KCCTO’s mission and land‑grant roots • Non‑credit clock‑hour training for licensing • Scale of service across all 105 counties • Director of groups and community conversations • Mental h...

We follow a leader who connects counties, sectors, and people to turn local needs into regional action. From childcare capacity to urban renewal and Fort Riley immersion, the program shows how networks and context create durable change. • origins and scope of the regional leadership program • associate counties and why the bylaws matter • Fort Riley immersion and workforce context • alumni impact on childcare and civic boards • Discovery Center as anchor for Third Str...

We highlight how Manhattan Kiwanis turns pancakes, paint, and planning into visible community impact, from the Blue Mont Hill overlook to scholarships and a revived kids’ parade. Victor Steiner and Kent Foster share details on fundraising, accessibility, and inviting new members to carry the work forward. • 74-year pancake feed at Pottorf Hall, December 13, 7–1 • Funds maintenance for the hillside letters and the accessible overlook • Scholarships, including Senior Honors recognition and dra...

We sit down with new CEO Liz Holle to map how Big Lakes supports 175 adults with disabilities across four counties, where Medicaid ends, and community giving begins, and how smart tech expands independence without losing human touch. From vans to accessible bathrooms to a gingerbread-themed client party, we share how donors turn essentials into everyday dignity and joy. • New leadership continuity and mission focus • Medicaid funding limits and budget realities • Annual giving ca...

We share how the Sunflower Children’s Collective supports kids facing trauma, instability, and court involvement across Riley, Geary, and Pottawatomie counties, and why healing requires steady relationships and time. With grant dollars shrinking, we introduce Champions of Hope, a two-week, captain-led fundraising push that turns creative micro-events into counseling and advocacy. • mission and role of the Sunflower Children’s Collective • scale of need across the region serving 500+ ch...

We highlight two local efforts that support people through the toughest seasons: a no-barrier warming shelter that keeps neighbors safe overnight and a memorial tradition that helps families grieve together during the holidays. Practical needs are met with tender rituals, and both rely on volunteers and clear information. • Center of Hope’s nightly drop-in warming shelter hours and services • Volunteer shifts that cover overnight windows and keep doors open • Location update at the Douglas C...

We trace the rebirth of a historic downtown theater into Wareham Hall, a flexible, high-tech home for performance, learning, and community. Blade Mages lays out the $40M plan, the acoustic and rigging innovations, and how donors and partners make the vision real. • renaming the opera house to a community hall • origins of the project and early ambitions • fundraising strategy and historic tax credits • cost drivers, square footage, and value • fully motorized rigging and show control • adjus...

Dave and Vern share a tribute to C Clyde Jones, reflecting on his century of service, his love for Manhattan, Kansas, and the values he taught by example. From endowments to focus, his voice offers a clear path for nonprofits and young leaders who want to make change that lasts. • Quiet service over recognition • Endowment building as core community infrastructure • Practical advice for young professionals on choosing causes • Focused missions over scattered initiatives • Love of place and t...