After 11 years, Allen Schellack is retiring from Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.

“When I worked for the city of Fort Scott I saw a lot of people needed assistance,” he said. “I was part of the local ministerial alliance at the time and felt the Lord leading me to ministry.”

In 2016 the ministry became a joint effort of community leaders, and area churches and was sponsored locally by the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

The office is located on the second floor of the Senior Citizens Office at 26 N. Main.

Some of the services the outreach center provides are foster family outreach services, homeless outreach services, hygienic services, medical supplies, and fellowship.

“For about seven years we have been the designated Salvation Army Disaster Relief and Services Extension Unit for Bourbon County,” Schellack said.

Because of this partnership, Schellack could provide disaster relief assistance, prescriptions (no narcotics) temporary lodging, gasoline for work and doctor, vision help with eyeglasses, and other needs on a case-by-case basis.

Through a relationship with the Fort Scott Ministerial Alliance, physical assistance is provided to individuals or families traveling through Fort Scott who have no other resources and need help to reach their destination. The assistance is distributed by the Fort Scott Police Department.

Some of Fort Scott Compassionate Care Ministries’ outreaches are free box fans in the summer; heaters, blankets, bedding, and towels in the winter, fire disaster packs, homeless/transient assist packs, Christmas presents for teens and families, and school supplies for middle and high school students.

The ministry is a 501 C(3) not-for-profit volunteer organization with no paid staff.

This is Schellack’s last week at the ministry.

“A minister never truly retires until God calls him home,” he said. “There will always be some kind of ministry wherever I go. I am retiring from Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries.”

He said Anglea Handly is transitioning to take care of the Compassionate Care office and the Salvation Army duties for Bourbon County.

To contact the ministry: 620.223.2212 or [email protected]