By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Although services to feed needy individuals in Hays are abundant, a group assembled to discuss hunger in the community said people don't always know where to go.
Heartland Community Foundation executive director Sarah Meitner brought together agencies that offer food assistance in Hays on Monday.
The group identified 13 churches or non-profit groups in Hays that offered food pantries or food box programs.
Some of these organizations require proof of income. Some agencies limit how many times or how much food someone can access at one time. Some pantries serve specific populations, such as students. The times the agencies are open to distribute food also vary greatly.
One member of the group said food is available throughout the month to someone who may need it, but you have to know where to go.
Erica Berges, United Way of Ellis County executive director, said the agency already has an app and website that offers information on community resources, including food assistance.
The Ellis County Community Resource Directory is available online at https://elliscountykshelp.com/resources-and-services/. The information can also be accessed through a free app available for download for Apple and Android devices.
Not all of the food services in the community are listed on the app/website. Berges said she doesn't have time to continually track and update information about all of the food services in the community.
The website has services listed in Spanish, but those have not been updated since 2019.
Several of the meeting attendees said they didn't know the app/website existed.
Sofia Tiscareno of the Fort Hays State University Tiger Pantry said a map of where food services are located would be helpful for those needing food, especially those who may need to walk to the location.
The group members agreed there were agencies willing to provide food assistance, those agencies were willing to refer people to other services and residents are willing to donate money or goods to support the food programs.
"There's a lack of coordination," James Robben of Grow Hays said. "There's no welcome mat to everything."
Robben also suggested the creation of a calendar, so those in need could see times and dates where they can receive food.
Berges offered to lead a committee that would work to update the Ellis County Community Resource Directory and market the app/website in the community.
A second committee was created to explore a community garden. Ben Houchen of the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church offered to lead that committee.
Although residents have access to fresh food through SNAP and Double-Up Food Bucks food program for seniors through the Downtown Hays Farmers Market as well as some of the community food programs, they don't always know how to cook the food that they receive.
Jacy Buchholz of K-State Extension said she has programs she can present on how to prepare foods that people may be receiving from food banks.
Members of Women Who Lead said they would consider a project to develop recipe cards that could be offered at the food pantries.
In Hays, the group identified older residents and those with chronic mental health conditions as two groups who may be more in need.
Although the Hays Senior Center and First Call for Help offer meal delivery for seniors, the routes they can offer are limited by the number of hot boxes and volunteers that are available.
Meitner suggested those programs could be expanded through grant funds.
Troy Miller, a pastor at the First United Methodist Church, said he thought pride can be a barrier to people asking for food assistance, especially among the elderly population.
The group discussed other opportunities in the community including partnering with law enforcement, the Hays Public Library and the local health department for a food program for seniors called "Bob Boxes."
"Just Serve" at https://www.justserve.org/ connects volunteers with service opportunities across the nation. The United Way has a similar platform, nwksvolunteer.org, that has a local focus.
Some of the pantries represented at the meeting had limited storage spaces for their food. Houchen suggested a clearinghouse from where all the pantries could restock their supplies. He said the Episcopal Church has a large basement they would be willing to offer.
However, he said staffing could be an issue.