|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Category Archives: Food
If Federal Government Shut Down Continues, SNAP Benefits For November Are In Question
Kansas Department for Children and Families Shares Update on Status of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Amid Ongoing Federal Government Shutdown
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has received a letter from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. That letter to all states says that if a lapse in funding, caused by the shutdown, continues, there will not be enough money to pay full SNAP benefits for November.
The letter directs agencies to hold off on processing November benefits until further notice. Until a budget agreement or continuing resolution is reached at the federal level, or the federal government identifies a funding pathway, November SNAP benefits may be delayed or interrupted entirely. If no federal action is taken by October 28, 2025, November SNAP benefits will not be disbursed until the federal government reaches a resolution.
SNAP provides benefits for approximately 42 million people across the country. That includes a total distribution of more than $34.4 million to more than 93,000 Kansas households – nearly 188,000 Kansans – who depend on SNAP each month to help put food on their tables.
Impact on Kansans
This potential interruption in benefits comes at the start of the holiday season – an already busy time for food banks and food pantries helping people in need and when many children have days off from school without access to school meals.
DCF is monitoring the situation closely and is exploring what this may mean for Kansans. November benefits for current SNAP recipients are set to begin processing on October 28 and appearing on Kansas Benefits Cards beginning November 1-10 on an established staggered schedule based on last names. If an agreement is not reached by October 28, benefits could be delayed or suspended until the shutdown has ended.
“As soon as an agreement is reached or the federal government finds an alternative funding source, and DCF receives approval from FNS, we are prepared to act quickly with contracting partners to get benefits out to Kansans,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “Depending on the timing of the approval, DCF and its partners could have benefits available on cards within 72 hours.”
October SNAP benefits were distributed as planned. At this time, SNAP recipients should continue using their October benefits as normal. SNAP recipients should continue meeting program requirements, including reporting required changes and completing recertifications.
DCF is continuing to process SNAP applications as usual. Applications can be accessed online at dcf.ks.gov or by visiting a local DCF service center. A map with service center locations can be found on dcf.ks.gov.
What happens next?
DCF is closely monitoring the impact the federal government shutdown is having on programs and services the agency delivers and will provide updates through its various communication channels as this situation evolves. Information about federal shutdown impacts on DCF programs and services is available at dcf.ks.gov.
Help for Kansans
For Kansans in need of additional support, Kansas Food Source, kansasfoodsource.org, and Harvesters.org provide locations of food banks and food pantries across the state. The United Way’s 211 hotline or website, 211.org, and 1-800-CHILDREN, 1800childrenks.com, also connects Kansans to resources in their communities.
The loss of federal funding places additional stress on Kansas food banks, pantries and meals programs, which are already strained to meet the needs of those who utilize them. Kansans wishing to help their local food resources can find those locations on the Kansas Food Source website, kansasfoodsource.org.
###
WIC Food Benefit Disruptions Are Possible Because of Federal Shut-Down
The U.S. Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding the government beginning on October 1, 2025.
WIC is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and it is affected by the shutdown. The local health agency is advising WIC users to stock up on food and other items to prepare for this lack of federal funding.
WIC is available for income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding moms, and children under five (up to their fifth birthday). Dads, grandparents, foster parents, and anyone raising kids under five can apply for support for the kids in their care.
The local WIC Clinic is part of the SEK Multi-County Health Department, and is located at 6th and Lowman Streets in Fort Scott.
From a press release from the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department:
WIC may operate short-term in Kansas by using limited prior-year federal funding.
There is a risk that WIC benefits will be paused, reduced, or ceased.
WIC Food benefits are estimated to last until the end of October, but that can’t be assured.
Users are encouraged to buy shelf-ready healthy food and/or items the family uses at this time, balancing food safety and storage areas available.
Local food banks, pantries, and non-profit groups may be of assistance if WIC benefits are temporarily disrupted.
WIC users are encouraged to continue using their benefits and attending appointments, but call 24 hours before, to verify the office is open, 620.223.4464.
If the WIC clinic closes due to lack of funding, contact the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment at 785-296-2683 for assistance.
The press release asks that users consider letting their elected U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt, and Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran know how important WIC is to their family and urge them to restore funding.
To reach elected representatives:
President Donald Trump has no phone number to leave comments on; however, the address is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Schmidt can be reached at 202.225.6601 or 1223 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20515.
Marshal: 202.224.4774 or PO Box 1588, Great Bend, KS 67530
Moran: 620.232.2286 or PO Box 1372, Pittsburg, KS 66762
The maximum income to qualify for WIC:
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Family of 2 | $39,128 | $3,261 |
| Family of 3 | $49,303 | $4,109 |
| Family of 4 | $59,478 | $4,957 |
| Family of 5 | $69,653 | $5,805 |
•
May 5, 2025
Heartland awards $30,000 through Concern for Community grant program
The Beacon Food Pantry, Fort Scott, receives $5,000 grant.
The Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has selected six projects throughout the co-op’s service area for funding through the Concern for Community grant program. A total of $30,000 will be awarded.
“We look forward to working with some outstanding partners to put these funds to work for the good of Heartland members and their communities,” said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO.
This year, six applications out of 68 received were approved for funding by the Heartland board. Projects selected are as follows:
- Kansas State Historical Society – $5,000 for restoration work at the Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site, including electricity and water infrastructure upgrades and interactive interpretive signage.
- Linn County Fair Association – $5,000 to install an intercom system across the fairgrounds to improve communication and safety for visitors during the county fair and other events.
- Moran Youth Recreation – $5,000 to help build a 9-hole disc golf course and install permanent cornhole boards at the Moran City Park.
- Beacon Food Pantry (Fort Scott) – $5,000 for critical lighting system upgrades to improve safety and visibility for volunteers and families served.
- Cherokee County 4-H Council – $5,000 to replace original 1991 windows in the 4-H Building, improving energy efficiency for this important community hub.
- Walnut Community Service Organization – $5,000 for upgrades to Walnut Softball Fields, including infield improvements, dugout repairs, batting cage enclosure, and restroom accessibility upgrades.
As a non-profit, member-owned cooperative, Heartland issues capital credits to members each year, but sometimes those credits go unclaimed. Because those monies were intended to be returned to the communities from which they came, Heartland’s Board of Directors decided to use unclaimed funds for community grants and started the Concern for Community program in 2019.
The Concern for Community program provides grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects throughout the Heartland service area, which covers parts of 12 counties in eastern Kansas. Capital improvement projects are those that involve investment in structures or equipment that will last for many years.
Applications were accepted from June 1–July 31 and selected by the Heartland Board of Directors at their September 22 meeting. Heartland plans to reopen applications in summer 2026 for the next round of funding.
About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes members in 12 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.
Annual Blues Festival is Sept. 26-27 in Fort Scott
Blues Music weekend is here.
The weekend of Sept. 26-27, the Care to Share Fortfest25 will be at Riverfront Park on North National Avenue in Fort Scott.
The event is free, but donations are accepted for Care to Share, a local helping organization for cancer survivors and their families.
“The kids’ fair will be bigger than ever with bouncy houses and more games,” said an organizer, Cory Bryers. “It’s all new bands with the same format as previous years. New this year is that the bike show and car show are the same day, Saturday, Sept. 27.”
A transplant from the Kansas City area, Bryers started this event in September 2022 on his property. Blues Festival Coming to Fort Scott Sept. 24. He and his wife, Cecelia, are Blues Music fans and moved to the area in 2021.
Friday evening, there will be performances starting at 6 p.m. by Bridget and Her Bandoliers from the K.C. area, followed by The Spooklights from Southwest Missouri.
On Saturday, there will be performances starting at 1 p.m.by Meaza Joy from Washington, MO; Martin and the Dead Guys from Florida and Independence, KS; Amanda Fish, Nashville; and Randy McAllister, Texas.
Saturday morning will be a car show, followed by a bike show. Saturday afternoon will be the kids’ fair, arts and crafts fair, food and drink, and of course, Blues Music.
Riverside Park is located by the Marmaton River and has lots of shade trees, so bring your family and friends, along with chairs/blankets/bug spray, AND a donation to Care to Share. Small coolers are welcome.
Care to Share is a well-known and respected organization that helps local cancer survivors and their families with needs they may have in their battle with the disease.
FortFest 25 Is September 26-27 at Riverfront Park
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Admission is FREE, and all donations go directly to support the Care to Share Cancer Support Group. Help us celebrate community, music, and giving back at this special 25th anniversary event.
Friday Night – Sept 26
Saturday – Sept 27: Packed with Events!
Please note: No pets are allowed at the event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Fall Music Series Starts Sept. 27 at Common Ground Coffee Shop
The Sept. 13 Concert listed on this flyer is cancelled due to the illness of the performers.
Fall Music at Common Ground Coffee Shop, 12 E. Wall, is back.
“Bring a friend, grab your favorite latte, and enjoy the sound of fall at Common Ground,” said shop owner Stacy Racy. “We decided a couple of months ago to bring back the Fall Concert Series. We’ve done it in the past and it’s been well received, so we’re excited to do it again.”
“Join us this fall for evenings filled with live music, cozy drinks, and community vibes,” she said.
The live music shows are from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday evenings, and all ages are welcome.
Upcoming Shows:
The September 13 – Jesse Jack & The Electric String Band was cancelled due to illness.
September 27 – Vinyl Revival
October 11-Jerico Jones
October 25- Serenade
“We’ll have drinks, cookies, and food available for people to enjoy while they listen,’ she said. “We have some amazing local and regional musicians we love listening to, and we thought this would be a great way to give the community something to do on Saturday evenings through the fall.”
Music lovers might want to try some of the new menu items offered by the coffee shop staff as they listen to the music in the large stage area in a room adjacent to the public seating area.
“Our new menu items are going really well – that’s the biggest new thing right now, and we’re excited about the community response.”
For the live music nights, they will have their flatbreads, paninis, and chicken salad sandwiches along with cookies and drinks available for purchase, she said.
Mapleton Cafe Reopens With New Owner
The Mapleton Cafe, located in rural northern Bourbon County, is under a new manager.
“This cafe had been shut down for eight years,” Adam Clay, the new owner/manager,” said. “Joe Bisogno owns the building.”
It opened at the end of July.
“I was given an opportunity to open my own business in the country, where I want to be,” Clay said. “I have always been drawn to the country. I lived in DeSoto. Panasonic moved into the area, and lots of people have moved in.”
“You need to seize an opportunity.”
He moved a fifth-wheel recreation vehicle to the site of the building in Mapleton, population 99, in January and started renovating the building.
“I had to fix it up. I moved here, living in the fifth-wheeler.”
Clay has 35 years in the hospitality business with a focus on kitchen, menu, costing, and trends in the food business.
“I come from the K.C. area, Desoto, and worked as a chef for a corporation in their test kitchen. I left my position with Goodsents in K.C. at the end of June to do this full-time. Up to then, I only worked on weekends.”
The restaurant passed the Kansas Department of Agriculture inspection in mid-July.
“Even though a lot of work needs to be done, with the help of the Mapleton City Council, the local residents, and Joe Bisogno, we’ll make it successful,” he said.
“I’m the only cook; there are two local people as employees, Shawn Mierkey and Zoe Charley, and other local people pitch in to help.”
About the cafe
“It’s a country cafe with a modest breakfast and lunch menu,” he said. “It’s a starter menu. I’m still trying to figure out what works in this marketplace.”
“We are open to suggestions. A new dish for me is chili with a cinnamon roll and a pickle,” he said.
He said he is trying to keep the prices that fit this rural area.
The restaurant is located at 423 N. Bourbon Street in Mapleton. Contact info: 785-813-6051. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Traditions Continue At the 120th Old Settlers Picnic Aug. 29-Sept.1
The 120th Old Settlers Picnic in Uniontown has traditionally been a day for the community to view a parade and enjoy a community picnic, with fun activities for all ages throughout the whole weekend.
A street dance, 5K Run/Walk, fishing derby, co-ed ranch rodeo, community church service, bingo, family fun night, youth rodeo, food and craft vendors, car show, baby contest, a children’s parade separate from the bigger parade, and drawings for the raffles and bicycles will make up the weekend’s festivities.
The theme this year is Remembering the Past, Planning the Future.
Aligning with the theme, not only the recognition of the Old Settlers, but “recognizing the future generation throughout the Monday activities, including the youngest attendee,” said Mike Ramsey, planning committee vice president.
The parade grand marshals are the family of Bill and Doris George.
This year, the West Bourbon Elementary School will be the new location for the Dale Jackson Memorial Car Show.
“We’ve brought back the baby contest,” Ramsey said. “Registration at 9 a.m. with the contest at 9:30 a.m.” The location is at the gazebo in Uniontown’s City Park.
” We’ve brought back the kids’ races on Monday at 1 p.m. on the streets” surrounding the downtown park, he said.
“Personally, I’m excited about having Dustin Treiber playing for the Street Dance Friday night.” On August 29, there will be a street dance with a food truck available for refreshments.
The planning committee is comprised of Rhonda Dewitt, president; Ramsey, vice president; Mary Pillion, treasurer; and Carissa Jones, secretary.
Old Settlers Picnic Celebration is Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 In Uniontown
Trivia Fundraiser is Sept. 6
SEKAAA Awarded Grant For 60+ Nutrition Program
Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging announces they have been awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas for its 60+ Nutrition Program.
“In the last year, we have added two meal sites where people can get a tasty, healthy meal and visit with friends. Since 2022, the attendance at meal sites has doubled”, says Stacy Dickerhoof, Associate Director, “this is giving us the good problem of needing more utensils, glasses, and bowls to serve the food. We appreciate the Community Foundation supporting our seniors.”
Sometimes called Meals on Wheels, 60+ Nutrition serves a 9-county area and is a combination of home delivery, congregate meals sites, and restaurants.
The purpose of the program is to promote the general health and well-being of older Kansans. Participants are asked to provide a donation, but inability to donate does not prevent anyone from receiving a meal.
“Our seniors really enjoy having a place to go have a meal and see friends.”, says Tabitha Torres, Nutrition Coordinator. Sixty-three percent of SEKAAA 60+ Nutrition program participants report they eat alone most of the time. The National Institute on Aging has identified that social isolation increases health risk, such as high blood pressure, depression, and cognitive decline. “The meal is important, but we have found that participants find getting together with friends is just as important,” reports Torres.
For more information on SEKAAA 60+ Nutrition Program, please visit www.sekaaa.com or call 620-431-2980 for more information.