The Beacon is a nonprofit food pantry located in Fort Scott, and has been serving Bourbon County since 1985. In 2024, nearly 500 families qualified to receive two food packages each month! The Beacon provides food services and financial assistance, which could include assistance with prescriptions, travel to work or to a medical facility, rent, utilities, and much more.

Ways to Serve:

• Organize supplies.
• Clean up around the pantry.
• Help with monthly food truck unloading.
• Follow their Facebook Page to stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities.

Contact:

To find out more about volunteering at The Beacon, call their office at 620-223-6869. The Beacon’s office hours are 9 AM - 1 PM, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. There is always an open door for volunteers who want to unload food deliveries, organize shelves, or clean up around the pantry.

Core Community’s mission is to engage the community to lift families out of poverty. Core believes no one should live in poverty. Families and communities can take charge of their destinies, and economic stability can be achieved if given the right tools and support. By combining techniques with the individualized support of dedicated volunteers and the resources of organizations and communities, they create an environment that educates, empowers, and equips their members to move up and out of poverty successfully.

Core Community has several types of volunteer opportunities

1. Build a friendship with a Core family who is working hard to overcome poverty. Find out how to become a Core Friend by contacting Norman and Brenda Hunter at 620-215-1703. You’ll receive training that will give you the purpose and plan for success as a Core Friend. There is immediate need for new Core Friends.

2. Help Core families succeed on the journey out of poverty by volunteering with the childcare team while parents attend their weekly class. All childcare takes place at the same location as the class, currently Fort Scott Nazarene. Volunteers can help on a monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly rotation. Contact Angie Trim at corebbco.angie@gmail.com or 620-644-2563.

3. Take Core classes or refer someone to take the journey of breaking the cycle of poverty. You can contact Norman and Brenda Hunter at 620-215-1703 to find out how to get started.

4. Prepare and serve a meal with our Outreach Team for the weekly class on a quarterly basis. Text the Faith Church line at 620-604-9280.

Follow their Facebook Page to stay up to date on events and volunteer opportunities.

Based in Chichicastenango, El Quiche, Guatemala, Aselsi's mission is to equip saints and transform lives. Their vision is to have Bible-equipped, indigenous pastors leading healthy churches that embody in word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ to their culture, compassionately serving the practical, physical, and spiritual needs of “the least of these” in their community and beyond.

For more information on Aselsi and how you can support their mission, go to the Aselsi Website.

We send a team down to Guatemala each summer to minister and support their mission. Click the button below for more info on Mission Trips!

Our local school district includes Fort Scott Preschool Center, Winfield Scott Elementary (K-2 grades), Eugene Ware Elementary (3-5 grades), Fort Scott Middle School (6-8 grades) and Fort Scott High School (9-12 grades). Each year, we financially support our schools in some way. In the past, we have been able to purchase school supplies, classroom supplies, and items for teacher appreciation.

Their current mission, lead by Michael & Chrisi Shead, is focused on Guatemala. Their mission is to make disciples who follow Jesus Christ with their whole heart and life, develop and train local church leadership, help provide medical care and training, and connect outreach teams with local church or community needs.

To read more Reach World Mission, check out the Reach World Mission Website.

Jesse & Torrie Brinson lead the Called to Greatness Ministry at K-State in Manhattan, KS. Called to Greatness exists to help young people live better by meeting Jesus, becoming disciples, and going out to change the world. As we build the Kingdom of God together, we can show the world what it means to live as image-bearers of God.

Read more about their mission and vision on the Called to Greatness website.