30 May Metro Lutheran Ministry Receives $100,000 Grant from the Sunderland Foundation
Metro Lutheran Ministry (MLM) recently received a grant for $100,000 from the Sunderland Foundation to the renovation of MLM’s Midtown Community Assistance Center.
Phase I of the project includes relocating the food pantry from its current location (the southwest corner of the facility) to the north side of the building adjacent to the warehouse. A new intake office will be built connecting the waiting room to the new pantry location; providing confidentiality for the pantry clients. A new ADA compliant ramp will be built allowing for safe access to the office. Phase II includes enlarging three offices allowing case managers enough room to meet with clients while providing room for the children who accompany their parents. The offices will also be adjacent to the computer lab making it more convenient for parents to perform job searches and submit applications while visiting with the case manager. Phase III includes enlarging the front desk area to create a more welcoming and useful environment for clients. Clients will be able to see out the window to wait for transportation, and an ADA compliant ramp will be installed to improve access. Picture 3 (left) shows the only window by which clients can wait for their ride, cab, or ShareFare. Many are too short to see out of the door’s window. Seating will be added to aid elderly and disabled clients who currently must stand.
By renovating and expanding the Midtown Community Assistance Center, MLM will have increased capacity to serve the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. In addition to having more physical space within which to deliver services, the proposed reconfiguration of program and administrative space will create a better experience for our clients that will maximize the impact of the agency.
In 1971, Lutheran congregations in Kansas City established Metro Lutheran Ministry (MLM) with the motivation to minister to the poor, homeless, elderly and disabled through emergency assistance. Today, our programs help poor, elderly, disabled, homeless, and disadvantaged people of all races, religions and nationalities in the urban areas of Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Wyandotte County in Kansas. Our mission: “With abiding faith in the intrinsic value of all God’s children, Metro Lutheran Ministry connects those in need with food, housing, health care, education, employment services and other resources in order to nurture greater hope, health, opportunity and peace.”