In a year marked by rising need and system strain, community groups in and around Kansas City showed how collaboration and coordination can strengthen food access during challenging moments. 

From delivering boxes curated with physician-recommended fresh foods to coordinating large-scale food rescues with local nonprofits, Food Connect Kansas City is honored to collaborate with partners committed to strengthening food access for families across the region.

As we close out the year, we’re sharing a few stories and highlights that reflect what our community accomplished together. Thank you for following and supporting Food Connect Kansas City!

How Food Connect Kansas City Bridges the Gap  

Cross-Lines Community Outreach has long been a trusted anchor for families in Kansas City, offering food assistance, housing support, and essential services with dignity and care. Earlier this year, their team found themselves with nine pallets of food - roughly 18,000 pounds, the same weight of a school bus - that needed to be moved quickly so it could reach households relying on their programs. Cross Lines called on Food Connect Kansas City to help quickly transport that large volume of food.

Our team stepped in to coordinate the pickup, manage routing, and ensure the food reached the organizations and families who needed it. This immediate transportation assistance is at the core of what Food Connect Kansas City offers. When partners need logistical support, we help close the gap so more fresh food moves efficiently through the system and less goes to waste. 

“Food Connect has made an incredible difference for the families we serve at Cross-Lines. Their support helps us rescue and distribute fresh, nutritious food for our community, and we are so grateful for the continued partnership.” - Marione Rangel, Community Market Manager of Cross-Lines Community Outreach

We’re grateful to be celebrating the impact of each and every food rescue, distribution and delivery in and around Kansas City in 2025, made possible by the collaboration between so many community partners. 

More Highlights from 2025

Delivering Nutritious Food for Diabetes Patients with Vibrant Health

‍Food Connect Kansas City supports Vibrant Health’s Food 4 Life Food as Medicine program by delivering weekly fresh food boxes directly to patients’ homes. These boxes of fresh food are delivered primarily to Spanish-speaking families, alongside culturally relevant nutrition education, cooking classes and community connections. In addition to the food boxes, Food Connect Kansas City provides materials for monthly group sessions hosted by Vibrant Health, including water bottles, healthy plate guides, measuring cups and ingredients for heart-healthy cooking demonstrations. This partnership helps patients manage their health with reliable access to nutritious food and supportive programming.

Supporting Rural Families in Ottawa, KS During a Crisis‍

In November, Food Connect Kansas City joined Westminster Presbyterian Church’s community food drive in Ottawa to help fill the gap for rural households facing extra uncertainty when SNAP benefits were delayed. Our team transported and distributed donated food so more families in the region could receive fresh items and pantry staples during a time of heightened need. Read more about our approach to this crisis.

Forming Connections with Partners Across the Food System

‍Throughout 2025, we focused on connecting more deeply with community groups to better understand how we can collectively strengthen our local food system. Our team connected with Community Engagement Specialists for Clay County Public Health Center, convened with The Kansas City Food Hub and joined community events including the 2025 Empower Missouri Anti-Poverty Summit and the Sunflower Foundation’s Advancing Food is Medicine Learning Collaborative.

Overall, 2025 was an important time for Food Connect Kansas City to focus on learning from community leaders, identify gaps in access and begin working alongside organizations committed to improving food and nutrition security for community members.

Looking Ahead and Staying Connected

Together with partners and community members across the region, Food Connect Kansas City will continue building a food system that is more reliable, more compassionate and more accessible in the year ahead.

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Thank you for being part of the Food Connect Kansas City community. Your support will help us build a future where every meal nourishes not just a person, but a sustainable food system.