As grocery prices soar and more Kansas City families struggle to put food on the table, a local nonprofit is stepping up with an ambitious plan.
Bishop Sullivan Center has launched its annual Food Fight campaign, aiming to raise $40,000 to combat rising hunger in the urban core – where their community kitchen has already served 26% more meals this year than last.
Food insecurity touches one in 10 residents in Jackson County, including numerous homebound and elderly community members.
Through October 2024, Bishop Sullivan Center’s response has been significant, providing over 73,000 free meals through their One City Café and supplemental groceries to nearly 8,000 families – an 18% increase from the previous year.
Operating from two strategic locations – one in historic Northeast at 6435 Truman Road and another in Midtown at 3936 Troost Avenue – Bishop Sullivan Center has grown from humble beginnings as a parish-sponsored food pantry in 1972 to become a community resource vital to many.
Today, BSC is a support hub serving thousands of KC residents in need through its deep community roots. Many nonprofits heavily depend on institutional funding, but Bishop Sullivan Center receives 95% of its support directly from individual donors. The grassroots funding model has sustained their mission for over five decades, allowing them to adapt and expand services based on community needs.
The center’s impact extends beyond addressing immediate hunger. In 2023, their employment program helped 97 individuals secure jobs, while their household assistance program supported 1,245 families facing utility shutoffs or potential homelessness. These comprehensive services reflect the organization’s understanding that food security is just one piece of the stability puzzle.
The Food Fight campaign, which launched on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3), continues through December 31. Community members interested in supporting this initiative can make donations at bishopsullivan.org/foodfight, where contributions of any size can help reach the $40,000 goal. If you’d like to learn more or volunteer, visit bishopsullivan.org.
