02 Feb Goppert Foundation Awards $25,000 Grant to Metro Lutheran Ministries (MLM)

Metro Lutheran Ministries (MLM) recently received a grant for $25,000 from the Goppert Foundation to support the development of a new Northland Service Center.

A new 4,300 square foot Service Center will be created through a renovation of the former sanctuary of St. James Lutheran Church.  Over 3,460 square feet of the former sanctuary will be renovated for the new Service Center and an additional 840 square feet will be added through construction to the existing space.  This Service Center will have locations for food storage, three offices for case management, a reception and waiting room for clients, a bathroom, additional storage space, and room to grow.  A dock and ramp will be added to aid food deliveries.

MLM anticipates this project that will result in a new space to provide services would increase the efficiency of services, allow staff to provide more privacy to clients receiving services, and would allow MLM to expand the services it provides to the community in the future.

For over 30 years, the program has been providing emergency assistance to poor and needy families and their children in Clay and Platte counties in Missouri who are facing financial crisis. This assistance includes food and commodities to help feed children and families as well as emergency payments to landlords or service providers for families facing eviction or who are in imminent danger of losing their utility services.  Through these payments, issued directly to landlords and utility service providers, families are able to stay in their homes, keep their utilities on and keep their children safe.  MLM Northland also offers additional comprehensive services to promote self-sufficiency including intensive case management for homeless clients and families facing eviction, emergency medication assistance to North Kansas City School District students, budget and resume assistance, housing placement, and job agency referrals.

Metro Lutheran Ministry (MLM) has provided emergency assistance for over 42 years to people in economic crisis.  Programs help people with food, homeless services, job searches as well as rent and utility assistance. Like most nonprofits that serve the poor and homeless of our community, the economic downturn resulted in MLM experiencing a dramatic increase in the demand from people who found themselves in crisis.  Unemployment, loss of housing, utility shut off, and lack of food have all brought people to MLM’s doors hoping we could say “yes.”  MLM’s dedicated staff and faithful volunteers have been outstanding during this time of great need.