Community workers addressing problems in their neighborhoods

During the agency conference I had the good fortune to share lunch with several people who coordinated food programs within their organizations. The food programs fulfill a range of public needs, like at Southside First Baptist Church on east 50th street, where a mother and daughter worked. Another woman worked for Nova Center. They discussed how the old public school nearby would be a great location for a service organization, but had become dilapidated over time, thus unable to be affordably rehabbed.

Another woman with United Services in Independence noted how they partner with a variety of organizations such as Community Services League, Catholic Charities, and St. Mary's to share resources to meet clients' utility assistance needs. Agencies seem to be all about cooperation, not competition, when serving working poor people in their communities.
Location: Topeka, KS, USA

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