The United Way of the Flint Hills invests in programs at the following organizations:
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Bloom House Youth Services
Mission: Bloom House Youth Services is an inclusive refuge providing a culture of acceptance to vulnerable, at risk, and homeless youth.
What We Fund
Bloom House has a 21 day shelter for runaway and homeless youth under 18 that will expand services to youth who are in DCF custody or in need of that longer stays than their current funding allows, ensuring more time working with families toward permanent safe housing.
Building Blocks Community Child Care Center
Mission: The philosophy at Building Blocks Child Care Center will create a loving, nurturing, safe environment for your child.
What We Fund
Building Blocks offers a loving, nurturing and safe environment for quality child care. They provide an age-appropriate curriculum to help prepare children academically as well as socially and emotionally.
Camp Alexander
Mission: Empowering children by providing a safe place for growth and enrichment in the great outdoors and a respect for the environment.
What We Fund
Camp Alexander provides a full-time summer day camp operating for 10 weeks from 7:30 am until 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. They provide breakfast, lunch, and a snack each day. As Lyon County's premier outdoor camp, Camp Alexander will continue bustling with activity as children and teens run off their energy, explore their creative side, and experience the wonder of nature. Children from Lyon County can have the opportunity to experience the outdoors like no other facility an offer.
CASA of the 8th Judicial District
Mission: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the 8th Judicial District's mission is to advocate for the best interests of the abused, neglected, and/or trafficked
children in the court system. They strive to help children have safe, permanent, and nurturing homes.
What We Fund
CASA Advocates speak on behalf of the local children who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and/or human trafficking and ensure that the child’s voice is heard throughout the entirety of their case. Additionally, the CASA Volunteer Advocate makes sure that the child served doesn’t “fall through the cracks”. A CASA Volunteer Advocate helps monitor if court orders are being followed, services are or are not being received. Some cases last multiple years and the CASA Volunteer Advocate is the only consistent person throughout the case. CASA of the 8th Judicial District is the only agency allowed by law to provide services as appointed by the Judge in the area they serve.
Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation
Mission: Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation provides people with disabilities of all ages the customized services, support, and technology they need in order to facilitate their chosen personal and economic independence, with an emphasis on employment and training opportunities.
What We Fund
This program serves people with all types of disabilities (not just cerebral palsy). This program provides funding for assistive technology/medical equipment and customized seating systems for people who need mobility assistance.
Corner House
Mission: The purpose of Corner House, Inc. is to assist individuals in developing an alcohol and drug free lifestyle.
What We Fund
Corner House, Inc. is an Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Substance Use Disorder treatment facility Corner House works closely with local Judicial District Courts and community corrections as well as working with individuals seeking recovery from substance use disorders. Corner House also works with local school districts to provide substance use prevention, assessments, Alcohol and Drug Information School, and treatment in group and individual sessions using the Matrix, Living in Balance, Thinking for a Change, and Relapse Prevention programs, as well as introducing and encouraging people to utilize 12-step self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous in the community, all evidence based, cognitive behavioral, and proven techniques for treating substance use disorders.
CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness
Mission: Provide dynamic, culturally sensitive, high-quality behavioral health care in the most effective, caring, and efficient manner possible. They are committed to helping improve mental wellness as a crucial aspect of overall wellness through a variety of services including counseling for adults, children, and families; medication services; emergency services; evaluations and testing; and mental health first aid courses. Our staff remains ready to respond to community needs, remove barriers, and restore lives throughout Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Morris, Osage, and Wabaunsee counties.
What We Fund
The agency’s Children’s Community Based Services (CCBS) offer programs to children who qualify as Severely Emotionally Disturbed (SED). Services focus on keeping children in their homes, communities, and schools by helping them develop necessary social-emotional and coping skills required to better manage the stresses of everyday life.
East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging
Mission: The East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging will serve as the single, highly accessible, point of entry for people of all ages, abilities, and income levels and their caregivers living in Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami, and Osage counties that are seeking help in maintaining their health, independence, and dignity.
What We Fund
The nutrition program provides meals on a daily basis through congregate sites and home delivery to those age 60 and over on a donation basis in Coffey and Osage county. All meals served meet the 1/3 Recommended Daily Intake for nutritional value. Menus are developed by certified dietitian that are designed to meet a weekly nutritional analysis. Frozen
meal packaging allows for meals to be reheated in the oven or microwave. for emergency situations shelf stable meals are provided several times throughout the year.
Emporia Child Care
Mission: Emporia Child Care, a family-focused year-round program designed to meet each child’s developmental needs, is dedicated to nurturing and educating children of parents who are working or in training.
What We Fund
Emporia Child Care provides care and education to children 2 weeks old to 6 years. The Center is open Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 6:00 pm. A hot nutritional breakfast and lunch are served daily along with an afternoon snack. Children spend their day in a classroom with trained teachers following age appropriate lesson plans. A daily routine is followed which is crucial for children to feel secure and comfortable making learning easier. They serve children 2 weeks old to age 6.
Food for Students
Mission: To provide free weekend to-go bags of food to students that come from food-insecure households in the Emporia school district K-12.
What We Fund
Food for Students provides USD 253 school district with to-go bags of food that are given free of charge to students who come from food-insecure households.
Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
Mission: The mission of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
What We Fund
Girl Scout Leadership Experience programs (including skill-building badges and curriculum) form the foundation for a lifetime of growth in every aspect of girls’ lives. Whether girls are learning how to form healthy relationships, volunteering for a community service project, or creating their first budget, they're gaining skills and inspiration to overcome obstacles
Help House of Osage County
Mission: Help House is working to help needy families and improve the health and well-being of our Osage County community through access to healthy and nutritious foods, community education, advocacy, resources, and entertaining interests.
What We Fund
To purchase nutritious food items to distribute through the Help House Food Pantry. Other funds are used to assist with utilities for families in an energy crisis to prevent disconnection of services.
Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc.
Mission: HCCI's mission is to counsel and educate all people to achieve their personal housing and financial goals.
What We Fund
HCCI’s free HUD approved housing and financial counseling gives people a hand up. The average family contacting HCCI is often getting by paycheck-to-paycheck but they are not getting ahead even if they work more than one job. HCCI helps people earning modest incomes regain the dignity of being financially self-sufficient. HCCI counsels both tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities under Fair Housing Law, Kansas Tenant and Landlord Law, and rental housing codes. HCCI counsels about budgeting, debt repayment (including bankruptcy options) and credit building. HCCI helps prospective home buyers reduce debt, build credit and be pre-approved for a mortgage loan. All HCCI counseling is free by phone and Zoom.
Jayhawk Area Boy Scouts
Mission: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
What We Fund
Comprehensive Youth Development is support for the ongoing programs they are operating. This include support existing units in recruiting new youth, providing training support for adult volunteer leaders, and hold activities to retain youth that have been recruited.
Kansas Children's Service League
Mission: To protect and promote the well-being of children.
What We Fund
Home visits are offered to program families beginning prenatally or at birth, and continuing until the identified child has reached his/her third birthday. Home visitation services may be continued in some cases where the child is not being transitioned into Head Start or another structured program, or the family needs continued case management and support. During the home visits, time is taken to discuss parent/child bonding and attachment, child development, health and safety, as well as goals for the family.
Kansas Legal Services
Mission: Kansas Legal Services is legal aid in Kansas, providing equal access to justice for the most vulnerable Kansans.
What We Fund
Domestic Advocacy Program: The services are provided to victims of domestic violence or other special needs seeking legal advocacy in the counties they serve. They work closely with other organizations to identify and contact victims of domestic violence who cannot afford to access the civil justice system any other way.
Children's Disability Project: They provide services to children with disabilities who are seeking an award from the Social Security Administration at the initial, reconsideration and hearing level. When appropriate they pursue a case to the appeals council or ultimately to the US Federal Court of Appeals.
LEAP! @ESU
Mission: The mission of the LEAP! @ ESU Program is to reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s disease and promote lifelong health by disseminating evidence-based prevention strategies to people of all ages.
What We Fund
LEAP! is a community outreach program that translates biomedical research findings into everyday strategies for Alzheimer’s prevention and brain health. Through interactive online and in-person education and exercise programs, individuals learn about the key lifestyle behaviors that impact brain health and promote ‘Smart Aging’ for people of all ages.
Little Huskies Child Care
Mission: Little Huskies Childcare, Co. offers a loving, nurturing, and safe environment. We provide early childhood care and education for children in the local community.
What We Fund
Little Huskies offer a loving, nurturing, and safe environment, while providing early childhood care and education for children in the area. Little Huskies serves children aged 6
weeks through school age in the White City area.
Sacred Heart Child Care Center
Mission: The mission of Sacred Heart Child Care Center if to provide quality child care for children 2-1/2 to 12 years of age benefiting the child, the parent and the community. Our program is designed to support and enrich the development of the whole child - socially, emotionally, physically, morally, and intellectually.
What We Fund
Sacred Heart Child Care Center supports and enriches the development of the whole child: socially, emotionally, physically, morally, and intellectually. The primary method of learning is hands-on exploration and purposeful play guided by qualified teachers. Enrollment is granted to children without discrimination regardless of sex, race, color, disabilities and religion.
Mission: The mission of SparkWheel is to remove barriers and provide those we serve with the tools and resources they need to thrive, now and into the future.
What We Fund
SparkWheel works inside schools and alongside community partners, filling unmet needs and fueling the spark to ignite students' full potential. The organization provides universal programming available to the entire student population, targeted individual and small group case management, and essential needs assistance to students and families in four partner schools in Emporia
SOS Inc.
Mission: SOS seeks to empower and advocate for those affected by sexual and domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.
What We Fund
SOS CASA of the Flint Hills: CASA of the Flint Hills provides highly trained community volunteers who advocate for services and resources to find safe, permanent, nurturing homes for children. CASA trains and supervises certified community members appointed by the court as volunteer special advocates to children in the system due to abuse, neglect and human trafficking.
Child Visitation & Exchange Center: The SOS Child Visitation & Exchange Center provides supervised visits and child exchanges in a safe, welcoming environment.
Southwick House
Mission: Southwick House empowers women and families through supportive services by developing skills to achieve and maintain independence.
What We Fund
Southwick House provides transitional housing to women/women and children in an eight-county catchment area. Supports include case-management and time limited sheltering of 280 days.
The Salvation Army
Mission: The Salvation Army is an international movement, an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on The Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
What We Fund
Emergency Assistance: The Salvation Army Emergency Assistance Program aids residents of Lyon County who are facing momentary crisis situations (rent, utilities, food, clothing, etc). Those seeking assistance are evaluated to meet the guidelines of the program