ONGOING PROGRAMS AT BETHEL
SENIORS
Residents of Bethel's service area who are at least 60 years young are invited to attend lunch every Monday through Friday. Lunches are accompanied by programs which allow seniors important time to socialize, participate in games, music, arts and crafts, exercise, health education, bingo and field trips. Most of our seniors are bi-lingual, speaking both Spanish and English.
FOOD PANTRY
Our food pantry is open on Wednesdays from 9:00AM to 1:00 PM, and Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, to any Wyandotte County resident. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
We offer a variety of canned goods, rice and other culturally appropriate food items. We also provide diapers, baby food, and baby wipes to needy mothers in our community. In 2023 over 11,412 individuals benefited from our pantry. Most items are donated from Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, US Postal Service, local residents and church groups.
COMMUNITY MEAL AND WORSHIP
Bethel Center Baptist Church aims to share the Gospel by helping residents build a Christ-centered life. A free meal is offered to the community followed by a worship service. Come join us on the second and fourth Wednesday evening at 5:30 pm .
Meals are prepared and served by volunteers from local churches. Some churches and youth groups have taken up providing the meal and worship as a mission project. If you are interested in having your church lead or provide a meal for one of our services please call or email us.
SEWING TRAINING
AFTER SCHOOL
Our After school program for youth is offered in a safe and nurturing environment for youth to learn and grow as well as have a chance to just be a kid. Programs are available to youth from 1st to 12th grade. Children from any school or area are welcome and transportation is available for schools/homes within our service area. We provide healthy snacks during the after school program.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Our registered nurse provides a prevention and early intervention health program called "Healthy Lifestyles". This program focuses on increasing access to primary health care, preventing diabetes and chronic disease, and learning how to self-manage health issues as they arise.
Participants take responsibility for their own health and learn to prepare nutritious foods, become more physically active, and advocate for their own health in the community. The nurse is also available for individual coaching and health education sessions.
REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
We work with immigrants and refugees to help them through the transition into an unfamiliar culture. Our staff is able to speak over five languages and our resources enable us to help to help many others as well. Currently, we work frequently with Burmese, Nepali, Bhutanese and Hispanic families.
Services that we provide:
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Interpretation and translation service
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Notary
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Advocacy
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English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
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Clothes (as available)
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As always, our food pantry is available to any Wyandotte County resident
In response to one of our community need assessments, we started the sewing training program in January, 2020. Beginner students learn the basics of sewing and graduated in 9-10 weeks. At the end of the program, students receive a Certificate of Accomplishment, the machine they learned on, a new pair of scissors, a new iron, ironing board, thread, and fabric for them to continue to sew at home.
Students who graduated from the beginner class can come back in the advanced class. They make several items and Bethel helps them sell the things they made.