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FHBB Blog

Harvesters

5/15/2023

 
When our community thinks about food insecurity, it is natural for us to think of the Flint Hills Breadbasket. The Breadbasket was created in 1982 and many residents do not know Manhattan without our building at 905 Yuma. The Breadbasket and our partners at local churches provide critical support to the Riley County area. Our mission is to provide reliable access to healthy food, build connections with community partners, and empower neighbors to meet their basic needs.
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FHBB & B...Flint hills breadbasket & businesses

4/19/2023

 
​Spring is the time for renewal, change and growth! Flint Hills Breadbasket has been growing and changing over this last year when we’ve expanded our services, increased our staff, and developed a community of support at 905 Yuma. Karla Hagemeister became the Executive Director in March of 2022. Since then, Ryan Likes (Operations Manager), Yareni Martinez (Market Manager) and Jennie Jordan (Community Connections Manager) have joined the team.
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Karla, Ryan, Jennie and Yareni

With leadership from Yareni and Ryan, The Market will continue carrying a variety of food options for our community. The Market has been able to offer more items for many diets like vegan and gluten free along with culturally relevant ingredients for many cuisines. Jennie will coordinate community engagement volunteers, fundraisers, and events like the upcoming end of summer open house and transforming Project Manhattan from an annual event to a continuing program for business involvement. 

​Project Manhattan has been an important connection to the business community and your support has brought in thousands of dollars and pounds of food before we entered the summer months when kids are home from school. Thank you for all each of you have done to support our mission. We could not meet the needs of our guests without your help.
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​We are in the process of reimagining Project Manhattan with the goal of providing opportunities for you to engage with the Breadbasket year-round. We know you share our mission of providing reliable access to healthy food, building connections with community partners, and empowering neighbors to meet their basic needs. We love all kinds of involvement from our businesses ranging from sponsoring programs and FHBB ​gear to supporting us through group volunteer opportunities.
We haven't set all our plans quite yet, but here are a few things we're planning and what you can look forward to with engagement with Flint Hills Breadbasket.
  • Teen Volunteer Program
  • Kid/Family Volunteer Events
  • Large Group Volunteer Opportunities
  • Community Events
  • Community Drives
  • Sponsor Shirts and FHBB Gear
  • Grow a Row in the FHBB Garden
 
Keep an eye out for updates on our website and social media on different ways to get involved and support FHBB. If you’re looking for a quick way for your business to get involved, we would love to support you in a food or dignity (hygiene) drive. We need staple items such as sugar, vegetable oil, flour, white rice, and coffee. We can accommodate fresh food donations as well, whether you want to do the shopping or simply tell us what you want your financial donation to purchase. And we will always need toilet paper, full sized toothpaste, and shampoo/conditioner.
 
We are excited to create deeper and more meaningful relationships with our business partners. You are equally committed to making Manhattan and the surrounding area a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Thank you for all you do for us and other service providers- and be ready for new things ahead!
 
Thanks Friends!
Karla

Volunteer Spotlight

3/21/2023

 
​Ken Fowler of Manhattan, Kansas, knows firsthand how beneficial the Flint Hills Breadbasket is to Riley County residents. He first sought out the Breadbasket as a guest needing food assistance, then decided to stay as a volunteer. From offering him support to allowing him a chance to spread compassion and kindness to others, the Breadbasket has a special place in Ken’s heart.
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One year later...

3/7/2023

 
Today marks one year since I joined the Flint Hills Breadbasket as the Executive Director. To say that it has been a full and rewarding year would be a huge understatement. In that time, I have been continuously touched by our community's generous spirit. It's hard to encompass a full year in one post, but I will give it a shot. 

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Gleaning and the Breadbasket

2/17/2023

 
​The Breadbasket  is rooted in the principle of reducing food waste by matching surplus food with people who need that support. One way to accomplish this is through a practice called “gleaning.” Gleaning refers to gathering things that have been left behind and is a natural fit in Kansas with our agricultural foundations. In the traditional sense, we think of leftover grain or other produce being gleaned from the fields after a harvest. This concept translates easily to fresh and shelf-stable foods being gathered from local grocers, then evaluated and sorted, and ultimately being offered to people who could use those resources.
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SOUPER BOWL

2/6/2023

 
On February 12, 2023, the Super Bowl will be held in Glendale, AZ. Many people around our community will gather with family to enjoy the game. Many will celebrate with food and drink, yet in our own community, need will remain.
 
People struggle to meet their basic needs in many communities and as you well know, Manhattan is not exempt.  In December 2022, the Flint Hills Breadbasket served 596 unduplicated households, with 158 families visiting for the first time. More than 25% of our community lives at, or below, the poverty level. The frequency and intensity of need have increased as the price of food and other essential items have risen.   
 
Recognizing that donations to the Flint Hills Breadbasket tend to decline after the holiday season and need remains in our own community, Souper Bowl Weekend was created to help raise awareness of those who are experiencing food insecurity and to raise food and funds for the Breadbasket. In 2022, we raised over 13,240 lbs of food, and in 2023 we are hoping to collect 15,000 pounds- the amount we collected in 2020 before the pandemic shut down much of the country. 
 
This year, we would again like to invite all local churches and faith communities in the Manhattan area to raise food and funds in their own church over the weekend of the Super Bowl. No matter the size of your church, all are welcome to participate – every little bit helps to reach the goal!  Participation of our churches is critical to the success of this effort. If you are interested in including your church in the collection, please let us know (SouperBowlMHK@gmail.com). Upon request, we will also work with the Breadbasket staff to deliver boxes to collect your donations and can schedule a pick-up during the week following the collection to make it easy to handle for you and your staff. 
  
Cordially,

Kevin R. Roberts                                                                   William Kennedy III
St. Thomas More Knights of Columbus                         St. Thomas More Knights of Columbus 
Co-Chair                                                                                  Co-Chair

Dave Ekart                                                                             Karla Hagemeister
St. Thomas More Knights of Columbus                         Executive Director
Co-Chair                                                                                  Flint Hills Breadbasket

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

1/6/2023

 
Manhattan is a special community. We are a population that is always changing, but also with deep roots. The Breadbasket has the honor of being rooted in our community for the past 40 years, being founded in 1982 as a means to reduce food waste and address hunger.

This has been a busy year, with a change in directors and staff. Our continued success is a testament to the deep commitment of our volunteers and supporters. They have allowed space and support for new services and policies that we know are allowing us to have a wider reach.

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MANHATTAN SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS LIGHTED PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

12/2/2022

 
Friday, December 2nd at 5:30  
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Join Manhattan and the surrounding communities as we welcome the holiday season at the Spirit of the Holidays Lighted Parade.  The parade will travel down Poyntz in Downtown Manhattan to Aggieville.   Cash awards will be given for Best Youth Entry, Best Use of Lights, Best Bicycle Entry, and the Mayor’s Trophy!

THE MANHATTAN COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER

11/24/2022

 
Returning to Manhattan in 2023...discussions are underway to revive the Manhattan Community Thanksgiving Dinner. With changes in several of the key organizations, it will take a little more time to regroup and plan this community event.

MAYOR’S HOLIDAY FOOD AND FUND DRIVE

11/1/2022

 
The Mayor’s Holiday Food and Fund Drive is a community wide fundraiser that brings Manhattan together to help families in need. Hunger exists year round. The need for food assistance is most intense in November and December because of the demand for additional necessities. During the holidays, the Breadbasket will offer the special favorites for guests to select from our pantries. Every family has different preferences and traditions, so we want to make those foods available.

It costs approximately $40 to provide holiday food for a family of four. If you would like to make a donation, please make checks payable to:

The Mayor's Holiday Food and Fund Drive
905 Yuma
Manhattan, KS 66502

Your gift qualifies as a charitable contribution per the IRS code.
Food donations are always welcome at the Flint Hills Breadbasket, especially during the Holidays! Some suggestions for donations:

Perishable Items​
  • Ham
  • Fresh Vegetables
  • Dairy (yogurt, cheese)
Non-perishable Foods
  • Instant Mashed Potatoes
  • Stuffing
  • Mixed Vegetables
  • Please call for current needs 537-0730
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​​Flint Hills Breadbasket
905 Yuma Street
​​Manhattan, KS 66502​
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
8:00 am-4:00 pm
Phone (785) 537-0730

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