10 Things to know about the MSC Food Pantries
Food pantries play a vital role in addressing food insecurity. Johnson County Aging and Human Services oversees four Multi-Service Centers in the community, three of these centers house food pantries. Approximately 9.2% of Johnson County residents, including a significant number of children, face food insecurity, totaling around 56,400 individuals. Economic factors such as living expenses and income disparities have exacerbated the situation.
One key indicator of economic challenges for families in Johnson County is eligibility for free and reduced-price school lunches. In 2022, 27.32% of students in Johnson County schools qualified for these meals.
1. Tradition — The Johnson County MSCs have a rich history, established nearly fifty years ago in 1975. Their long-standing tradition is a testament to their commitment and reliability.
2. Convenient locations — The MSC food pantries are strategically located in Gardner, Lenexa and Mission, making them accessible to those in need.
3. Variety of items — In addition to food, the MSC food pantries supply various hygiene products (when available), such as toilet paper, deodorant, soap, toothpaste and more.
4. Amount of items — Depending on donations, the MSC food pantries provide 5-7 days worth of meals, which eases financial burdens for other household necessities such as transportation, childcare, medication and housing.
5. Access frequency — Once certified for services, individuals can visit the MSC food pantries every 30 days.
6. Hours of operation — The MSC food pantries are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by appointment only.
7. Respect and dignity — Client information is handled with utmost confidentiality at the MSC food pantries, ensuring services are provided without judgment and fostering respect and value for everyone.
8. Additional services — Beyond the food pantry, the MSCs provide utility assistance, light case management with goal setting and information about additional community resources.
9. Volunteer engagement — Volunteers play a crucial role at the MSC food pantries, assisting with sorting donations, restocking food orders, collecting and delivering donations, and more.
10. Support through donations — The MSC food pantries rely heavily on donations. During the fall and winter months, household bills can become overwhelming. You can contribute by organizing a holiday food drive or purchasing items from our Amazon holiday wish list. a.co/69BNYp9.
Eliezer Ntongo and Chancy Kukangimisa recently required additional support. A social worker at the University of Kansas Hospital provided them with a list of resources during a prenatal visit, which included details about the Johnson County Multi-Service Centers. Parents to four children, ranging from newborn to six years old, Eliezer, who works full-time installing garage doors, and Chancy, who stays at home with the children, found themselves in need. During this challenging time, Eliezer’s family has visited the food pantry twice, receiving essential items.
“All the items we have received are very helpful. We receive a lot of food, beans, rice, fruit, also some hygiene stuff, also diapers for the babies. Also we got our electric bill paid off because we got a disconnect notice from Evergy,” Eliezer shared.
The support from the food pantry has significantly eased the financial strain in their household, enabling them to allocate funds to other essential bills like car insurance.
“My wife is not working, it’s really hard paying rent, car insurance and providing food to feed my family,” Eliezer shared. “Getting help has shown me that you help a lot of families that need help right now. I didn’t know that. You are very helpful with the bills and my kids love the food.”