Laying the Groundwork

On the outskirts of Kansas City, Wyandotte County Farm Bureau is keeping its community cool in more ways than one. Through Kansas Farm Bureau’s End Hunger program, the county organization helped purchase a large produce cooler for Cross-Lines Community Outreach, expanding access to fresh food for thousands of local families who are struggling with hardships.

Founded in 1963 and based in Kansas City, Kansas, Cross‑Lines Community Outreach serves people affected by poverty by offering food assistance, housing support and more. Their mission is “to provide people in the Kansas City area affected by poverty with services and opportunities that encourage self-confidence, meet the needs of today and provide tools for future self-sufficiency.”

In 2024 alone, Cross-Lines served 53,986 hot meals, recorded 14,889 community-market visits, housed 53 individuals and logged 17,185 volunteer hours.

The organization ensures that families facing food insecurity have access to nutritious options, and it strives to break the cycle of poverty by helping people stabilize their lives today and build a more secure future.

The partnership between Wyandotte County Farm Bureau and Cross-Lines isn’t new. Over the years, the county has made small donations to support the organization’s food assistance programs. But this year, county coordinator, Sam Eckert, says the board wanted to do something bigger; they were willing to commit $10,000 toward turning a big dream into a working solution.

“We knew we wanted to do something bigger since we had some extra funds to do so,” Eckert says. “Every year we do an End Hunger project, so we reached out and asked, ‘Do you have any large needs? What would help you the most?’”

Answering the Call

The answer came quickly. Cross-Lines staff explained that while they offered fresh produce, they didn’t have cold storage to keep it fresh.

“Sometimes they even had to turn down produce donations because of that,” Eckert says.

Cross-Lines serves about 14,000 people each year, so the need was clear. Wyandotte County Farm Bureau knew this was an opportunity to make a lasting difference.

Making it Happen

After hearing about the need, Wyandotte County Farm Bureau stepped in to help make it happen. The cooler carried a price tag that exceeded the board’s $10,000 budget, but Cross-Lines said they would cover the difference.

“This is amazing! This freezer will allow us to accept more donations than ever before,” a Cross-Lines representative said about the donation. “A huge thank you to the board for granting Cross-Lines Community Market such a generous and helpful gift.”

“They were over the moon ecstatic to have that much donated,” Eckert says. “They never thought a produce cooler was in their near future.”

The addition of the cooler opens new doors for Cross-Lines. It allows them to accept more fresh produce donations from local producers and offer families healthful options throughout the year.

Powered by End Hunger

The project was made possible in part by Kansas Farm Bureau’s End Hunger grant, which helps county Farm Bureaus tackle food insecurity across the state. Wyandotte County Farm Bureau has participated in the grant program for the past few years, but this project represents one of its largest commitments to date.

“It’s enticing to help counties actually do a project,” Eckert says. “It was nice to have the grant to help soften the costs and even help pay for branding, like our logo on the cooler.”

Balancing Needs, Building Connections

As an urban county, Wyandotte faces unique challenges in addressing food insecurity and serving a large, diverse population.

“We’re always trying to ride the balance of spreading the love,” Eckert says. “We’re not opposed to expanding the partnership with Cross-Lines, but we want to make sure we’re supporting a variety of groups that serve our community.”

The project not only enhances food access but also strengthens relationships between local organizations, volunteers and residents working toward a shared goal.

Lessons in Local Impact

Eckert encourages other county Farm Bureaus to find similar ways to make an impact.

“I know sometimes it’s hard for counties to come up with something to do,” she says. “Instead of reinventing the wheel, research what’s already established in your community. Partner with an organization that’s already doing the work and ask them directly, ‘What do you need? How can we help?’ Let them guide you.”

By listening to their community and investing in local partnerships, Wyandotte County Farm Bureau is proving that even a single cooler can make a big difference, keeping produce fresh, families fed and Kansas values alive.

Learn more about the End Hunger program here.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: