Abundant Harvest will continue serving the area next year. As expected for months, the structure will have major changes.
Operated by the Emporia Rescue Mission for years, Abundant Harvest will now have several partners involved in emergency food assistance. Grace United Methodist will partner with the United Way of the Flint Hills and financial support from the city of Emporia to continue the work under a new name: Abundant Grace. Help and support is also coming from First United Methodist Church and the Lyon County Ministerial Alliance.
United Way of the Flint Hills Executive Director Daphne Mertens says there have been a lot of discussions behind the scenes for months before Tuesday’s announcement.
Mertens credits Emporia city administrators, including City Manager Trey Cocking, Assistant City Manager Tayler Wash and Deputy City Manager Mark Detter for their work and support.
Mertens credits City Commissioner Tyler Curtis for bringing both Grace United Methodist and First United Methodist into the picture.
Grace United Methodist will be the host site going forward. Emergency hot meals will maintain the current schedule of 4 pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays once things begin. There will not be emergency hot meals Friday, but Abundant Grace is tentatively set to begin operations Monday.
Signage will direct traffic in an effort to reduce traffic issues.
When it comes to other food items long held at Abundant Harvest like meat, milk, snacks and fresh vegetables, Mertens says these will not be part of the Abundant Grace effort.
The Rescue Mission is giving the new food kitchen some of its equipment and supplies. The United Way, meanwhile, will use funds from its Emergency Food Relief line item to both raise money and keep the program viable once city funds are used. Mertens says the current goal is to have Abundant Grace financially sustainable by June. Mertens says the goal is to connect with programming under the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for additional funding and support.
Residents wanting to volunteer or donate funds can call the United Way at 620-342-7564 or go online to unitedwayoftheflinthills.org, click “Donate” at the top of the page and select “Emergency Food Relief.”
The Rescue Mission’s Board of Directors decided this past summer to divest itself of Abundant Harvest after years of operation and maintenance at the current facility, 1028 Whittier, in order to concentrate on the men’s mission at 1236 East 12th. Mertens says there were almost 1,100 meals served per month at Abundant Harvest this year.
The Rescue Mission still owns the property, according to Lyon County records. Board Chair Peter Deblonk has not responded to repeated requests for information or updates the last several months.
By: Chuck Samples | December 30th, 2025
