Phoenix Family Housing

Posted on January 15, 2010

From the beginning, Phoenix Family Housing has been an agency built on partnering relationships with local social service providers. So, we’re always excited and appreciative when offered a new opportunity to link our residents to an essential community resource. Such was the case when Gary Flick called with an invitation to participate in the Church of the Resurrection’s Hunger Ministry Food Bank. Gary, a church member and Phoenix Family supporter, suggested that we would be a valuable new partner in the Church’s efforts to make Kansas City the first Hunger-free city in the U.S. Four huge food donations, totaling approximately 5,000 pounds were made to Phoenix Family during 2009. With dazzling efficiency, church volunteers delivered and unloaded entire truckloads of non perishable food items, including canned soups, peanut butter, canned meats and vegetables, oatmeal, pastas, and other food stuffs. September and November shipments alone included 135 cases and nearly 3,000 pounds of food to help restock pantry shelves and ensure holiday meals with all the trimmings for needy residents. With over a 1,000 members participating in their Hunger Stopper Program, the Church of the Resurrection donated over 75,000 pounds of food to 16 pantries last year.

Recently, Phoenix Family Housing has also been able to take advantage of another valuable Church of the Resurrection service. Often lacking even basic furnishings, residents often seek our assistance locating a bed, mattress, sofa, chair, kitchen table, and other household items. Through the church sponsored furnishings ministry Phoenix Family was able to help 9 residents in need with good quality, gently used furniture, bedding, and small appliances in just the last quarter of the year. And, lacking means to get the items to residents, church member, Bruce Gaddis was instrumental in arranging two separate furniture deliveries.