Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry

CONNECTING THOSE IN NEED WITH FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, AND OTHER RESOURCES IN ORDER TO NURTURE GREATER HOPE, HEALTH, OPPORTUNITY AND PEACE.

CASE MANAGEMENT: PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR CLIENTS THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS FOR FOOD, DIAPERS, HYGIENE ITEMS, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, IDENTIFICATION AND RENT/UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO STABILIZE THE FAMILY. IN ADDITION TO THIS SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE, MLM PROVIDES INTENSIVE, YEAR-LONG CASE MANAGEMENT WHICH INCLUDES HOUSING ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, HOUSEHOLD SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT. TO ENSURE THAT PERMANENT AND LASTING SOLUTIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR MLM CLIENTS, MLM CONTINUES TO FOLLOW UP WITH FAMILIES FOR FIVE YEARS. PROGRAMMING IS TARGETED TO AT-RISK AND HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDS.

CLIENT SERVICES: PROVIDE SHELF-STABLE FOOD, FRESH PRODUCE, HYGIENE ITEMS, DIAPERS, SACK LUNCHES, SENIOR COMMODITIES, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, IDENTIFICATION, RENT AND UTILITIES TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN URGENT NEED OF ASSISTANCE FROM THREE AGENCY LOCATIONS. PROGRAMMING IS TARGETED TO LOW-INCOME, IMPOVERISHED, AT-RISK AND HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDS.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: OVER TIME, MLM HAS DEVELOPED A PORTFOLIO OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR THE GENERAL BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY OPERATE IN. THE MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME, ELDERLY AND DISABLED HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE IN NEED OF REPAIRS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THEIR HOMES, ALLOWING THEM TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES.MLM ALSO HOSTS A CHRISTMAS STORE IN KANSAS CITY ALONGSIDE A VOLUNTEER CORPS OF 500 PEOPLE TO PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 900 FAMILIES WITH FOOD VOUCHERS AND A SELF-SHOP STORE WITH GIFTS FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.ADDITIONALLY, MLM HOSTS TWO UNLIMITED HOT BREAKFASTS EACH SATURDAY IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS AND KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. FINALLY, THE MLM ORCHARD AND COMMUNITY GARDENS EXIST TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH BY PROVIDING BETTER FOOD FOR PEOPLE IN THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS OF BOSTON HEIGHTS AND MOUNT HOPE. MLM MANAGES AN 80TREE ORCHARD THAT PRODUCES A WIDE VARIETY OF FRUIT, INCLUDING APPLES, PEACHES, APRICOTS, CHERRIES, PEARS AND PLUMS. MLM ALSO OFFERS AND MAINTAINS COMMUNITY GARDEN BEDS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE FRESH PRODUCE OF THEIR CHOICE IS GROWN. THE ORCHARD AND COMMUNITY GARDENS CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SEEK TO CHANGE THE HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY TOWARD HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES.