The Beacon Director Dave Gillen and Assistant Director Ashley Heathman have compiled the 2023 statistics for the local helping organization.
“In 2023 we had a total of 145 new families totaling 322 new individuals between adults and children,” Heathman said. “Our new families were a mixture of new residents and current residents facing hard times due to the rising cost of living and facing job insecurity.”
The last few years of statistics that the Beacon keeps show an increase in the number of new families needing help.
In 2020, there were 102 new clients totalling 235 individuals, in
In 2021 there were 83 new clients totaling 147 individuals, in
2022 there were 147 new clients totalling 302 individuals and in
2023 there were 145 new clients totalling 322 individuals, Heathman noted.
“The Beacon helps Bourbon Country residents facing food insecurity, along with this we offer financial assistance for prescriptions, rent, and utility payments thanks to the Hack Foundation and Bourbon County Coalition.”
The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition is a charitable organization that helps facilitate a working relationship between organizations.
“The Hack Foundation was a trust fund set up for the Presbyterian women to take care of Fort Scott citizens to help during certain financial situations,” Heathman said. “Hack comes from two sisters whose family used to own a greenhouse in Fort Scott.”
“All financial requests that come through our door are paid out by Bourbon County Coalition and the Hack Foundation,” Heathman said.
“We could not do what we do without our amazing donors and volunteers,” she said. ” David and I express sincere gratitude to everyone, all our donors and volunteers, as they continue to help us help others.”
During the 2023 calendar year, The Beacon also helped several local organizations and causes.
“The Beacon helped disperse 202 shoe vouchers for Community Christian Church to our clients for school shoes for their children,” according to the press release.
They donated food items to the Elks Club organization to help them disperse holiday meals to 103 homes; totaling 123 individuals.
They teamed up with the community to help provide Christmas presents and holiday meal boxes to 77 families; totaling 410 individuals.
“Throughout the year the Beacon donates to the Fort Scott School District food pantry, ” according to the press release. “We try to donate food items to Feeding Families In His Name (Wednesday evening community free meal) when we can.”
The organization assisted with family swim passes thanks to the Bourbon County Coalition, and helped donate hats and gloves to the Share the Warmth cause for Bourbon County.
The Beacon, which has a food bank, dispersed food for 3,241 families in 2023 serving a total of 4,305 adults and 2,955 children.
“We are looking forward to being able to assist Bourbon County residents again this year,” Heathman said. “According to Kansas Food Bank, we are the second largest food bank in Southeast Kansas. Thank You!”
“We would like to thank everyone for their generous donations whether that is monetary donations, their time, or food donations. We could not do what we do without you!” Heathman said.
Additionally, the Beacon is grateful for the donated 699 volunteer hours to the organization for 2023, she said.
“The Beacon also provides (to those who need them) hygiene necessities, formula, and diapers depending on availability as well,” according to a press release from the Beacon. “Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we receive food donations from our local Wal-Mart that set out inside for anybody in need from 10 am to close.”
“A big thank you to Fort Scott Fire Department, Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Scott FFA, and Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas for helping us unload the truck every month.”
“Last but not least we would love to thank our local churches, individuals, and civic organizations for helping us help others,” she said. “We truly reside in a very generous community, it would take us days to name every single person or group that helps our cause; please know we thank each one of you from the bottom of our hearts for blessing us with the ability to help others.”