Food insecurity refers to a situation where individuals or households lack access to enough food to meet their basic needs for an active and healthy life. Food insecurity can manifest in different ways, such as skipping meals, reducing portion sizes, relying on low-quality or nutrient-poor foods, or even going without food for entire days.
If you’re experiencing food insecurity and need assistance, there are several options for help. Remember, it’s important to be proactive in seeking help when you’re facing food insecurity. Don’t hesitate to reach out to multiple organizations and explore various avenues to maximize your chances of receiving assistance.
Where to seek help
There are many resources to help if you are experiencing food insecurity.
Lunch Programs
- Olathe Public Library offers free lunches during the summer for ages 18 and under. Meals are available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11AM to 12:30PM at First Christian Church Fellowship Hall (200 E. Loula St).
- Starfish Project offers free lunches on the second Saturday of every month from 10AM to 2PM at The Beach (134 S. Clairborne Rd, Suite B). But Starfish also has a food pantry to help you during the week; call or stop by.
Community Dinners
- Center of Grace offers free dinners on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Wednesday is dine-in from 5:30 to 6:30PM
- Thursday is to-go only starting at 5PM
Food Pantries
- First Christian Church Olathe (200 E Loula St) offers a food pantry on Thursdays only from 9 to 11AM.
- Harvesters offers a variety of Olathe locations for their partnered pantry and mobile (drive-thru) options.
- New Hope Food Pantry inside the New Hope Presbyterian Church (13310 S. Black Bob Rd) is open Monday to Friday from 1 to 6PM. There are requirements, so please visit their website to be in the know before you go.
- Olathe Family YMCA offers a Mobile Pantry food distribution program in partnership with Harvesters on the first Wednesday of every month from 2 to 3:30PM.
- Open Arms (12480 S Black Bod Rd) offers a walk-in and mobile pantries.
- Walk-in: Second and fourth Tuesdays from 12 to 2PM
- Mobile: First Saturday of the month starting at 7:30AM until all food is distributed
- College Church of the Nazarene (2020 E. Sheridan St) offers a Salvation Army Outpost Food Pantry open Tuesday to Thursday from 9AM to 3PM.
- Westside Church of the Nazarene (1700 W. Santa Fe St) will feed your body and soul each Sunday after the 11AM service. Registration is required.
How you can help
- Participate in or start a food drive to donate to a local resource.
Don’t be afraid to discuss your situation with trusted individuals. Reach out to friends, family, or neighbors and share your situation with them. They may be able to provide temporary assistance, guidance, or connect you with local resources they are aware of. Sometimes, informal networks can be a valuable source of support.
