Laura Smith was trying to figure out how to make more people aware of the Eudora Food Pantry when she decided a mom’s perspective was needed.
Earlier this month, she launched Love in Action, a program that asks community members to shop for items that can be put into a meal kit to help families in need.
The first kit was for chicken lime tacos, with an ingredient list asking for salsa, hard shell tacos, canned chicken, beans, queso, rice, limes and ranch seasoning.
Knowing what it’s like to be a busy mom, Smith thought this would be a good way to help other families while also providing a fun way for people to volunteer to help the food pantry.
“I thought, you know, this would be something just to kind of brighten people’s ideas,” Smith said. “Here’s a 20-minute meal. Everything you need is in a kit, and then people were writing notes in it, little notes. ‘Enjoy this.’ ‘We’re thinking of you.’”
As the Eudora Community Navigator, Smith said her goal was to brainstorm how to get food to the most people in a cost effective way. Not everyone knows what the food pantry needs, so this was another way to give an idea by assembling a kit for a specific meal, she said.
“It made it kind of fun,” she said. “I thought maybe that would be, I guess, more well received than just a list of things.”
Through its regular services, Food Pantry Director Marsha Gordon said there are about 15 volunteers who help the pantry each week. Businesses and organizations can also become permanent donation centers to provide food support.
“I don’t want anyone in this community to be hungry,” Gordon said.
Forge Martial Arts became a permanent donation center after its success in its Christmas food drive. They accept donations from 4:15 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
“We became a collection spot so that anybody even outside of our school could drop off goods to donate to the food pantry,” owner Tonya Bolte said.
Holy Family Catholic Church created its Sharing Sunday program to accept donations from the community on the first weekend of every month.
They donate to food pantries in Eudora, De Soto and Basehor, said Linda Trimble, a member of Holy Family.
Smith said more information about the next Love in Action meal kit will be posted on the Eudora Food Pantry Facebook page, along with other community Facebook pages. They’re thinking about featuring chicken bacon ranch pasta, but a social media post will include what is needed when a decision is final.
Smith hopes to continue growing support for the program, which will be offered mid-month, while also increasing broader awareness of the food pantry’s ongoing needs.
“People were so excited and super positive,” she said of the first meal kit initiative.
The food pantry hopes to set up a Venmo account in the future to accept financial donations, but for now, checks can be mailed to 738 Church Street, Eudora, KS, 66025, Smith said.
Reach reporter Annie Gallup at [email protected].
