Our Community, Our Mission
Our Community, Our Mission
Ep #296 – More Than Presents: Feeling Seen During the Holidays
The holidays can feel magical—but not for some choosing between rent and a gift to their child. We pull back the curtain on how our community makes Christmas possible for 1,100 to 1,200 neighbors, puts on shelter parties, and delivers gifts to homes, all while continuing to provide food bags that turn a quiet kitchen into a holiday table. Along the way, we talk candidly about spending money the right way, the impact of possible funding cuts, and the practical steps that keep people housed, fed, and seen. You’ll hear the heart behind simple requests like compression socks and the joy of a gift addressed by name, as volunteers wrap, sort, deliver, and then pivot to stock shelves for a food line serving hundreds by mid-afternoon. Trust matters, too: monthly board oversight, independent accounting, and strong ratings from Charity Navigator and Ministry Watch ensure every donation is stewarded well. This isn’t about checking a box—it’s about lowering barriers, restoring dignity, and widening the circle so no one misses the season’s light because a system felt too heavy to climb.
If you’ve wondered where a small act fits in a big need, this conversation gives you clear on-ramps. Teenager gifts like spa kits, wallets, body care sets, sports gear, watches, belts, gloves, beard kits, tool kits, and kids’ clothing sets are in short supply. You can drop donations at 401 NW Norris between 8 am and 3:45 pm, shop our Amazon wish list, volunteer to deliver or wrap, or give at trmonline.org so we can start 2026 strong. Join us, share this with someone who cares, and help spread real hope.
To learn more about TRM, Click Here!
To support TRM, Click Here!
Father, um, thank you. Thank you for the beautiful day, for the beautiful sunshine that we get to enjoy in the midst of what is usually very cold weather. So we we are grateful. Uh Father, at this time of year when we're anticipating your coming. Um help us to remember all of the blessings that we receive from so many, from people who bring us things, from people who give money, for people who are constantly in prayer for us. Lord, we are grateful. We are so thankful for all of the staff that are working really, really hard here at TRM right now. Um serving people that often feel less than. And Lord, we know that we are each called by you to do that. So we thank you. Um Father, we would just ask that whoever is listening today hears the things that they that you need them to hear, and that they are blessed by the understanding that we do everything, everything every day to honor you. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.
SPEAKER_05:And hello, everybody. Thank you for joining us for our community, our mission, a podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission here on December the 9th of 2025. This is episode 296, drum roll. We're getting there.
SPEAKER_02:We are almost at 300, Barry.
SPEAKER_05:We are 300, yes.
SPEAKER_02:300.
SPEAKER_05:I know. It's been a long time, Mary. Yes, it is. I used to have hair, I used to sleep, I used to I didn't even know what a podcast was 300 times ago. But anyway, I'm Barry Feeker, your host today, Marion Crable, who's Director of Supportive Services, Deputy Director of Supportive Services. John Roberts here today, Director of Community Needs and Services. Is that the right thing? Yeah, nailed it. I nailed the long thing. And uh Andrew Lucas, Director of Distribution. We're gonna talk about all things Christmas today. But uh of course it's December. It's the 9th of December. It's really moving. Yes, it is. And uh a lot of great things happening. But before we get to that, the Research and Development Department wanted us to be able to help you all to understand the value of today on some really important aspects. And we do this almost every podcast.
SPEAKER_01:Really important.
SPEAKER_05:Unless we got something really serious to talk about. Really important. So today is World Techno Day, if you all didn't know that. So Miriam.
SPEAKER_01:Don't even never mind.
SPEAKER_05:Uh see we have two younger men with us to debate. So um World Techno Day. Um uh Andrew, you're shaking your head no. No idea. You're kind of in between Miriam and John and I. I am, yes. And so John, you're the you're the pup here. So what does world techno mean?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Well, I'll just say this to peek, I'll see you on the dance floor tonight.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. So you know, it's like dancing music. Okay.
SPEAKER_05:That's what it is. We used to call it discount. We used to call it disco back in the day.
SPEAKER_01:And it had that ball in the air.
SPEAKER_05:Uh-huh. Black light up on the wall, you know. And uh yeah. Well, I I don't know why they did away with it.
SPEAKER_01:I wanted to know where John's gonna be dancing tonight because it might be worth watching.
SPEAKER_05:I bet he'll be at the distribution center packing Christmas packages. So along those lines, today is National Christmas Card Day on the 9th of December. So you better get it in the mail. Oh, good. And it'll get there when?
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Hopefully by Christmas. Good question.
SPEAKER_05:So, Miriam, this is a question for you.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. I understand that.
SPEAKER_05:When did the first Christmas cart originate?
SPEAKER_02:Well, according to our research department.
SPEAKER_05:I thought you'd already know this.
SPEAKER_01:I I d you know, I'm sure I did, but at my age you forget things. It looks like 1874.
SPEAKER_05:You were a kid on the farm by that time, weren't you? Yes. Yeah. Okay. I think so. So that's when they kind of started out. Why weren't they there before? I mean, you know, I mean I would think that they were I don't know.
SPEAKER_01:You tell me why, Barry.
SPEAKER_05:I don't know either. Uh you were there before, but maybe because we didn't have paper here. I don't know. But uh by night by 1880. 1880. That's over 100 years ago. I know. That's way over a hundred years ago. Um Prang and Meyer were producing a massive five million cards a year.
SPEAKER_02:But isn't that kind of amazing when you think about it?
SPEAKER_05:That is.
SPEAKER_02:I wonder how many are still happening that way because we've become so virtual. I wonder how many Christmas card Christmas cards actually get sent in the mail these days.
SPEAKER_05:Aaron Powell A Research and Development Department, will you research that? Just give Hallmark a call and see how that's working for them. So And I think we've adjusted a lot of things, you know? And through the Merry Christmas with a text message. Merry Christmas smiley face, and then we move on.
SPEAKER_02:And then we move on. Yeah. Which is kind of sad.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah. So uh yeah.
SPEAKER_02:But you don't have to figure out what you're gonna do with all these cards after the season.
SPEAKER_05:True. True. Yeah. You just have to know where to find your text messages. We've deleted those. So anyway, World Tech Day, Christmas Card Day, and then also for December the 9th, we have National Pastry Day. Now that's common to all of us, right? So talk about pastries. You like pastries?
SPEAKER_04:I do like pastries, but you know who likes pastries more is my wife. Oh. Is addicted to pastries, especially uh ethnic pastries from overseas. There's a bakery she really likes. Okay. So how do you get those? Well, she go to you go to what is it, 85 degrees in Kansas City is her favorite place. They have savories and all kinds of nothing here.
SPEAKER_05:I thought you guys make international trips there. Oh no. So pastries have been a thing for a long time. Yeah. I mean, I think uh do you remember the first pastry that we read about in the Bible?
SPEAKER_02:Manna.
SPEAKER_05:Manna. Very good. See? All right. She gets some score points here. All right, manna. Straight pastry for a while and then they didn't like it anymore. So anyway.
SPEAKER_01:Well, it didn't last very long. It didn't last very long.
SPEAKER_05:So anyway, well, thank you for listening to our research and development department's important things about today. So we want to talk about Christmas, uh, the events. Uh, this is what we do every time this year, this time of year. Uh, but also there's another thing that we talk about, Miriam, and that is the financial year end of giving opportunities and the importance of that. So, as director of supportive services, you see what comes in, you see what goes out. Yeah. A lot more's been going out than coming in, which is kind of normal. So, how can people help Topeka Rescue Mission not only finish well but get ready for 2026?
SPEAKER_02:You know, Barry, you're absolutely right. December is a huge giving month for us in terms of all of the different things we need. John and Andrew will talk more about the things we need, but we also need the financial support from folks at this point too. It helps us be able to do every single thing that we do here at the mission, from sheltering to feeding people to feeding the community, to providing educational programs, to just the providing support, um, as well as helping people find housing as they're ready to kind of get back on their feet and take on life again in a different kind of way than they have been. So financial gifts are incredibly important. And so between now and the end of the year, we would just ask that people are really prayerful about giving to TRM. We know that so many people plan their giving for the end of the year, and we are grateful for that. Um, we would also ask that people pray that if there is an opportunity that they give just a little bit more so that we can start 2026 really strong. We continue to see the needs go up. Um, and as we look to the future in terms of how many people may uh not have stable housing, um, it can be a bit uh daunting, to say the least, as we kind of consider so how will we do this? How will we be able to help everyone? And if people can help us financially, that's wonderful. We are so grateful that every uh for every single person that has given to us throughout the year. And we have so many recurring donors that are so faithful. Um and it is just awe-inspiring to see how faithful people are. And so we are grateful for that. We are grateful for their prayers, and we are grateful for all of the ways that people support us.
SPEAKER_05:You know, over the years people have been very faithful to support TRM. It's uh I think TRM is going into its 73rd year. 73rd or 74th yeah. Okay. And so there's always been a need. Yeah. Um, every single day of the year. Christmas time is that time where year end of giving and also Christmas giving. We've got some extra special concerns right now as a nation. Um there's probably a greater need to be thinking about could I do something to help, because there are quite a number of different programs, social service programs that have been uh challenged and or um eliminated. Put on pause, like the SNAP program was there for a bit, and now we're still situations there that we're looking at. We're also looking at some potential federal cuts that could affect a significant number of people in our community as well as throughout the nation in our community who would lose their housing. What do we do about that? And can we get prepared for that ahead of time? And that's where it's like we don't know all the details, but we know enough that we really should be prepared better than we are right now.
SPEAKER_02:Right, right. Uh I I think so too. And well, and what does prepared look like? You know, I think that's part of our challenge as well, and why prayer is so important as well. Um that people are praying for us, that we are praying for discernment in how to best face the future and how best to help the folks that are facing things that many of them have not faced before. You know, we think of we think of those people who are living on the street, but there are also people living just one paycheck away from living on the street and have never been homeless. And what that must feel like for them, you know, the chaos and terror they must feel that they could lose their housing, especially when you're thinking of families. Um and how will they be able to be supportive? So TRM wants to be able to be there for people. Um, and we will be, because we know that everything we do here is not about us. Um, it's about what we've been called by the Lord to do. This is all his. And he will make sure that provision comes, and very often that comes through other people. Right.
SPEAKER_05:Former mayor of Topeka once said uh helping others in our community is our rent payment to God, for getting to live here.
SPEAKER_01:It's sort of true, isn't it?
SPEAKER_05:It is to some degree out there. That's sort of true. It's our rent payment. So well, the more to come on that. And again, you're in giving as an opportunity right now, give it Christmas time. You can go to trmonline.org. That's trmonline.org. And you'll find a way to um find out what the needs are Christmas needs, giving needs, financially, and get electronically, know how to send a check, whatever you want to do. Um, the door is open for people to be able to participate. And uh so speaking of participation in regards to what people can do, you guys uh really ramping up now for big distribution. Um and so talk about Christmas, not only needs, but the different events and activities and how many people and just what's a good looking like this year?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, we uh are kind of full steam ahead with our Christmas uh season right now. And so we are looking to in total uh be providing between 11 to 1200 individuals with Christmas guests. Christmas gifts this holiday season. Big family. So, yeah, very much. Um, and so we are getting gifts for all of our shelter guests um who stay at our men's shelter and our hope center. We're getting Christmas gifts for our unsheltered neighbors who receive services uh through the Moving Ahead Partnership uh at MAP. Uh we're gonna be doing uh or we are helping families through the United Way Christmas Bureau uh and then just have some other needs that pop up as well that our community reaches out and try to help out our community and make sure that um like you said, uh of of just families having to um potentially be that one paycheck away. We don't want any family to have to worry about do I um get my six-year-old a Christmas present to open on Christmas morning or do I pay this rent bill or the car bill so that I can get to work. Um we want to help take some of that pressure off. And so um that's why we need the generosity of the community to help us to get all those gifts and um holiday foods so we can give give people food bags to make a Christmas meal at home just so that they can focus their funds on um the things that they need to do and we can help bring that Christmas cheer to them.
SPEAKER_05:So, you know, um Andrew, we uh John just talked about what we're doing right now for Christmas and and and a lot of different things happening. This happens all year long, though. It's not uh you know, some organizations do a one-year, one day a year deal, which is nice. It's important. And uh if they weren't doing their one day a year help, we wouldn't be able to do what we're doing at Topeka Rescue Mission. But why, Andrew, why uh as as you're um over the distribution services here, what is it that's special about Christmas? Why is it any different than any other day of the year?
SPEAKER_04:Well, it's just the season. Having um seeing the selflessness of people who call in and have asked for help, and they're not looking for themselves, they're looking to provide for their family. Or just to get enough to be comfortable and live where they need to live. Um we see all kinds of um needs coming out of people who need I just need compression socks. Or I I want to be able to cook for my family, and that kind of thing. And so seeing individuals who are are willing to ask for help and the community around us standing up and saying, I'm I'm willing to help. I'm willing to help wrap gifts, to provide, to shop, do whatever it is that we need to do to provide for these people really really speaks not only to the generosity of our community, but the the stewardship of God's people.
SPEAKER_05:So, you know, again, it goes back to that. Uh somebody's gonna need compression socks the day after Christmas and the day before Christmas and so many other things. What is it special and why do we emphasize so much more around Christmas time? Why does the whole country do that? I mean, this is obviously it's um been going on for a long time. Sure. Uh but what is it that you see about Christmas that makes it special, a special season, not just a day, but a season that makes this so special? And why do we have more people want to help? Right. Why do we help more people?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I think obviously Christmas holds a very uh special place in our culture, you know, and it's just part of um I mean you just drive around town, right? Going up and down Kansas Avenue and the all the Christmas lights are out. You see, I think it's a good thing.
SPEAKER_05:Big parade last weekend. Right.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that was that was a lot of fun. And people hanging Christmas lights on their houses and having decorations, and there's uh Christmas carols playing in all the shops you go to. It just holds a really significant part. And um we don't want anyone to be excluded from being able to fully participate in the joy that the Christmas season can bring just because sorry, you know, you don't make enough money, or you've had a really hard year, or a lot of unexpected bills have come up. So now, you know, too bad the rest of us are gonna go have our fun, and you can um not be able to to enjoy in that. Um, you know, I th I think it just holds a special cultural place. But um, you know, here at the at the rescue mission also just thinking of um the Christmas story, right, that we see in the Bible. And I think that is the ultimate um gift, excuse me, that is for everybody, right? That that was actually the the surprise twist of Christmas is that um you know, that Jesus didn't just come and the the wealthy or the elites or those that had the the cultural cachet got to enjoy um in this gift coming from God, but um that there were shepherds, you know, who were the first ones to get to see him. And um that it was a poor girl and a you know working class man who were his parents. And uh that that that gift and that joy um came for all of humanity. And so I think just kind of following that um that essence is is what makes us say that we want to bring um that same joy, the the the hope that can come in the Christmas season. We want to make sure that gets to everybody, um not just those who um are able to afford it.
SPEAKER_05:It's probably the most feel-good time of the year in our nation. Um when we need a time to feel good. And so people can come together around this. You know, there's so many messages about Christmas time, and and John, you just unpacked that. It's it's um cultural, but it's also a message. I think when we look at those major scenes that uh don't necessarily accurately depict exactly what was going on with the wise men involved being there at the same time. But we're looking into a family who was experiencing homelessness. And so when we look at this good news in this celebration time, it began with a pronouncement that also reflected a reality that in spite of the good news, there is struggle, there is challenge, there is loss, there is poverty, there is homelessness. And so when we really have this opportunity to not only celebrate and be with family and just coming off of a Thanksgiving time and then looking forward to a new year, but we have this in-between place of celebrating who we are, who God is, and looking at how he brought his message here. Miriam, I know that those are in your church, it's very important this time of year, and so and here at the Topeka Rescue Mission. W when you think about that, when you look at that manger scene, you're looking into a picture of homelessness, but yet with a bigger message.
SPEAKER_02:Right, because it's surrounded by hope.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Right? It's uh surrounded by something that can be different than current circumstances alone. Um we all know that this is only a temporary home for us. Sometimes we forget that, don't we? We do. Yeah, we do forever. It's it's very easy to forget, right? Because we get caught up in all of the stuff, whether it's good stuff or bad stuff. We get caught up in it. And we forget that there is just a much, much bigger purpose in in all of this. And that's why Christ came and why he will come again, right? So Advent isn't just about expecting what happened in the past. Advent is about expecting what's coming in the future as well. And that gives us hope. If it was only something in the past, I think it could be pretty easy to feel hopeless, right? Because if this is it, if this is what's so great, I'm not sure I'm thinking it's so great. So so why?
SPEAKER_05:We try to improve this place a lot absolutely just so far with the improvements, and then they just don't last here.
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely. So putting our hope in a baby that came in a way that was homeless, and yet he is our king, right? Yeah. It's his kingdom that we're striving for.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah. He didn't come from corporate board power. No, he did not. He came from a different kind of power.
SPEAKER_02:An upside w what I hear often as an upside down kingdom.
SPEAKER_05:Upside down kingdom, love that term. So people who come to receive help, whether it's the meals or whether it is the place to sleep, or whether it's at the Moving Ahead Partnership, which TRM is bringing Christmas gifts to, and there's an operation going on there today with the people coming in off the streets. Um we have these celebrations, we have these beautiful lights, we have these Christmas trees, we have the home, we have Hallmark, we have all of those things. What does this mean to them? Other than people are being generous and helping them. What do you think it means to somebody who is really experiencing like the uh the family in the manger was experiencing? Sorry, I don't have a place for you here. You can go in this cave over here, or this stable or cave stable, or whatever it really was. What does it mean to them that might be different than um what they normally face?
SPEAKER_04:Well, I think sometimes we we all need to be seen and heard. And in this season, it's we we we as God's people tend to focus on hearing and seeing. We want to be a giver like Christ was a giver, right? And God was a giver. And so we have the opportunity as we're reaching out to people to really connect and to see. Um like we mentioned earlier, the compression socks is a real story. A gentleman we called to see what we could do to help him for Christmas, and he just wanted a pair of compression socks. But my assistant was able to talk to him for a half an hour on the phone. And so that human connection, in addition to just the tangible gift, really hopefully spoke to his soul. It spoke to my assistant and the volunteers as they come through and they can read the stories and what little information we have on people, you know, it really can touch them, they get excited, and you know, the people that go deliver, they get to interact with these, uh, the people receiving the gift, and it really touches them. And so not only is it a recipi a gift received by those who are getting the tangible gift, but those who are participating with us in the giving uh it speaks to their lives and so on.
SPEAKER_05:So it's a it's a tool for relationship for build. Not necessarily to get people to go do a certain thing, like join a church or whatever. It's just um an opportunity to get to know each other, whether it's over the phone or whether they come by, or you deliver to their homes. And so, John, this is a delivery system that's happening outside of Topeka Rescue Mission, right? Correct. So talk about that.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. So uh with all the families that we adopt through the United Way Christmas Bureau, um, one of the really neat volunteer opportunities that we have is being able to go and deliver those gifts right to the folks' houses, uh, to knock on their door, to hand the gifts to them and to wish them a Merry Christmas. And really we're doing the same thing um with our guests who are in services with us as well. Um, you know, we have uh parties in our in both of our shelters um that week of Christmas where we get to go into their house, right, where they're living right now, and um and give gifts to them, you know, and and everything like that that they can go and and open up and take back to their room. And it's just this really special time of of bringing these gifts to folks. Um and you know, I think the main thing is just there's so much going on, and I think there are so many barriers um that face um the people that we're trying to serve here at the rescue mission. And um, you know, the system is not easy to navigate, especially with some of those barriers in place. And I think at times it can feel um like the system's almost set up against them, right? Or they can feel um like it's just an uphill climb or that that people are working against them because of of just the a different amount of challenges. Um they might feel cast aside kind of and and just left to struggle. And so I think when when a gift is given, it's a reminder that they're not they have not been cast aside, but that there is a community um who cares about them. And there are people who who do see them and who do support them and who are rooting them on. Um you know, and it can just be that reminder. It's it's symbolic of that that fact that um though they may be facing these barriers, they may be facing these difficulties, that they aren't alone in it. Um and look at how people have rallied around to include them in a Christmas celebration and to remember them at the holiday season, them specifically. That's kind of the neat part about having gifts with someone's name on it, right? That it's addressed to them, that they've been remembered um and and and have not been forgotten. Um and so I think that that just helps provide that sense of hope. And hopefully that you know it can be an encouragement. Not just, I mean, we want these gifts to be practical, fill a practical need. We want them um to to be useful to the guest, maybe to even just bring enjoyment, right? It'll be something fun. But but more than that, we do want it to to be a reminder and an encouragement for them moving forward to know that they're not alone.
SPEAKER_02:And I think, Barry, in some ways too, the shelter, the things that we do in the shelters bring some normalcy to the season, right? Where we all get to get together with people, whether it's friends or family or whatever, we get to get we get together, we eat food, we have fun, we hear music.
SPEAKER_05:We take naps.
SPEAKER_02:We take naps. Exactly.
SPEAKER_05:There's more naps.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Sometimes more napping for others. Uh-huh. For you than for others. That's what I look forward to. I know. Um but I think so. I think in some ways too, for very abnormal situations for people, um, when what we do in the shelters really brings back a sense of normal.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah. Yeah. No, that's that's really good. You know, John, you mentioned the system, and that's kind of a generic term for everything system, right? Right, right. I mean uh streets are a system, uh grocery store is a system. We're talking about system as people who are not uh doing so well, then there is this safety net, quote unquote, social service system, whatever, that oftentimes it's very complicated to navigate through. And if they're not able, for whatever reason, to get a job that pays enough to pay the rent, uh not enough food on the table, maybe the ultimate is they have no place to go, then um they look at that system and it's a mountain. It's a mountain. And so is to your point is that these are a lot of barriers in the system. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. How do we remove as many barriers as we can? But then take a little time out, you know, uh on this special time of the year to say, yeah, this may be a rough system, but we're still here. We're here with you. Um we care about you, and that can be a game changer in in in someone's life. And um just just that one moment, as you said, Andrew, everybody wants to be noticed. And so having that opportunity to slow it down a little bit and begin to notice. You know, uh right now in our nation, um, unfortunately, we're having to take a look at how we spend money at the federal level, state level, and other level. And um, what has happened is there has been some uncovering of misappropriations of a lot of dollars in different areas in the system. And so they're putting the the brakes on a lot of things. Unfortunately, what can happen on that is that we can look at that uh those misappropriations of all of our tax dollars um is the the norm. It's not. Um we look at the testimonies or the stories of fraud here, somebody was on the take here, or somebody was dead for 20 years getting social security of somebody else. Then you can begin to get a feeling or an opinion that everybody who has a need is on the take. Speak to that, Mary.
SPEAKER_02:Well that bothers me, right? That we lump everyone in that uh is struggling into a category of also being criminals. And that's not the case. There's many times fraud and people being on the take is not people who are living paycheck to paycheck, but rather people who have um means to do a lot more. And um so lumping people in um to this category of if you're poor or if you're needing assistance, that you also are willing to compromise values is shameful to think, right? It's and it's a travesty. It's not true.
SPEAKER_05:No.
SPEAKER_02:It's not true.
SPEAKER_05:Or an organization that is collecting tax dollars or utilizing tax dollars or donations are all on the take. They're not true. There are some. And they should be watched. And that's one of the reasons that you do what you do is to make sure that you can report all the financials to the board of directors of Topeka Rescue Mission as well as to the federal government through independent audits to make sure that if anybody has a question, it's squeaky clean.
SPEAKER_02:Exactly. And is there need for improvement in a lot of areas? Absolutely. You know, there can be i improvement needed without there being any fraud or anything negative involved. We all should be striving to always do better, to to look at things in different ways, not to be satisfied with status quo, we've always done it this way, kind of mentality. So I think there's incredible opportunity to improve efficiencies. And absolutely. But it isn't because the people that are being served are scandalous.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, they surely are. Uh they surely aren't. And then that's unfortunately they get lumped in. And so it's important that we bring to light the people, the the stories. Um and one of the ways that people can really understand that um is to volunteer at Topeka Rescue Mission. And so there's a need for volunteers all the time, especially at Christmas time. Um and so people can uh learn how to do that and then connect with you guys at the distribution so that they can help deliver Christmas gifts and and pack bags and and and the list goes on and on and on. Um also on the other end, if you're a financial donor or maybe you're wondering about becoming one, Topeka Rescue Mission, I want to go back to this, you're in giving everything, Miriam. Topeka Rescue Mission pretty squeaky clean in regards to its uh fiduciary accountability and not only verified by independent auditor, but organizations that are independent like Charity Navigator, who give Topeka Rescue Mission four stars out of four. Also, most recently, Ministry Watch, which you want to talk about a group that wants to find fraud. And they've given Topeka Rescue Mission one of the higher ratings there as well. Absolutely. So those are not small things.
SPEAKER_02:No. And I think, you know, to the credit of our board of directors as well, they look at our financials every single month. We have a treasurer that's on the board that monitors everything that I'm presenting. We have an external accountant that's doing our books, right? On a on to close that month out and make sure that I's are dotted and T's are crossed. So we do everything possible um to make sure that we are presenting as true a financial picture of our organization on a monthly basis as is possible.
SPEAKER_05:Well, I think you people what we're saying here is you can give to Topeka Rescue Miss with confidence that your dollar is going to be taken care of. It's gonna get to the greatest needs that are discovered, and uh it's gonna be stewarded well. And so well, guys, um anything else that people need to know at this point for here we are at the ninth. Clock is ticking towards all of these different distributions. What do you need right now? How can people participate?
SPEAKER_04:Well, we um both need items and we need people. Okay. We need volunteers to continue to to step up and be blessed by the opportunity to serve our community. They can reach out to Susie, our volunteer coordinator, who will set them up both to deliver, to wrap gifts, to make bags, to uh participate in the parties, all those kind of things.
SPEAKER_00:Aaron Powell Can I interject in that real quick, Andrew, is that also we've been really thankful for our volunteers who have come in and sometimes pivoted to just helping us with our normal DC operations. Because while we're doing all of these, you know, 12 preparing the 1200 gifts to um to wrap and to handout, um, we're still doing our normal operations of our of our food distribution.
SPEAKER_05:And that's right, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Right. Right. Uh that has to continue going on. Our clothing ministry, our food ministry. Um, and so there are times where just as you know, as things happen that we really have a need to get new food donations out on the shelves, or we really need bags built because uh, you know, actually right now, as we speak, there's a food distribution going down where we expect to see 200 to 300 households uh who will come through that food line by 2 p.m. this afternoon. Plus feeding the folks here at TRM. Exactly. Exactly. And so our volunteers have been so gracious where there are times where maybe we'll do a couple Christmas things, but then we really need to pivot because a need arises. And they've just jumped in and done that. And so um that is a huge, a huge blessing as well for us, so that we can that allows us to be able to take on the amount of Christmas things.
SPEAKER_05:What would you say to the person that's listening right now who says, hmm, I'd like to help? Man, it sounds like a big operation. I'm not sure I'm capable or I'm qualified or what. I'm kind of scared. What would you say to that person?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I would say come and see. Come and see, or or share that with Susie. Susie always, um, who's our volunteer coordinator, does a great job of plugging people in. Um, she gets to know them and wants to know their story, wants to know their interests, their skill sets, and sometimes hear those reservations. Um, she has a uh a good grasp on all the different tasks that are going around. And so if somebody shares those reservations of I want to help, but it seems like a lot, she'll she'll know some of the tasks or the opportunities that says, well, this might be a good starting place. You know, why don't we plug you in here just maybe for an hour or for 90 minutes, see how you like it, and then maybe we could look at these other things.
SPEAKER_05:So many long-term volunteers I know over the years have come saying I didn't think I would probably be able to do that, and they've stayed for decades. Yeah, exactly. And and it's actually important work, but it's fun work. It's enjoyable work. It's uh yeah, there's a lot of pressure in some situations where we've got to get this done, you know, get everybody through the line today. But there is that opportunity for people to really experience joy themselves as they're distributing joy. Okay, somebody says I'm not uh um able to take time to go to the website today, but I'm already heading to Walmart right now or wherever I'm going. What do we need right now? What are some of those more important things that they could pick up that they could drop by the distribution center even yet today?
SPEAKER_04:Well, one of the areas that we have every time I've done this, had issues filling are the tween gifts.
SPEAKER_05:Tween gifts.
SPEAKER_04:Tween gifts. Fourteen and up. Fourteen and up. They're not quite an adult, but they have adult interests and those kind of things. And so the gifts, uh, you know, everyone wants a toy, but the as they get older, they kind of transition out of that. And we we don't have a a lot of supply uh for those who are kind of in that in-between.
SPEAKER_05:So how would you, if I'm going to Walmart right now, what's a tween and gifts?
SPEAKER_04:Oh, uh spa kits. Spa hits. Um for the young ladies, nail set, things for for beauty and makeup, that kind of thing. Um full-size body care kit sets, axe body sprays, and and full-size shampoo, body wash, that kind of thing. What about for the games?
SPEAKER_05:What about the guys?
SPEAKER_04:The guys are gonna want uh some of the axe body sprays, um wallets, uh watches, uh belts, those kind of things. We need men's gloves. Uh we have a lot of things that we are looking for. Beard care kits uh for the older guys, of course. Um sports equipment. Sports equipment. Tool kits uh would be one of the things. Uh kids' clothes, sets of children's clothing. Uh we kind of have a gap there uh this year for some of those things.
SPEAKER_05:So somebody can hear that right now. They can go look for some of those things and drop them where at our distribution center, 401 Northwest Norris, and uh ring the bell there.
SPEAKER_04:Our staff will come out and time will people be there to be able to receive between eight and three forty-five.
SPEAKER_05:And you may run into a long line of cars. You are getting food there right now, too. So don't be intimidated by that. There's a parking space and somebody will come out and take your donations from you.
SPEAKER_02:You know what, Barry? If people can't make it to Walmart, right? Maybe they're at work, but they have 15 minutes. Uh we also have an Amazon wish list where they can go online, they'll see the different kinds of things that we need, they'll be able to order them, and they will just be delivered to the rescue mission. Exactly. So um that can help too if people are really struggling with finding the time to get out um and go somewhere.
SPEAKER_05:Sounds like Topeka Rescue Mission has made it completely impossible not to be able to give.
SPEAKER_02:You know, if that's the intent. And it's like, okay, if you've got if you've got a barrier, we're gonna knock it down.
SPEAKER_05:That's right. That's right. Well, guys, thank you for what you're doing in the middle of this, taking time out for the podcast today. I know you've got to get back to work here and do your do your thing. And Miriam, I know you're doing your thing, and everybody's doing their thing here. And as uh you are listening, you're doing your thing. And so if this is an opportunity for you to uh fit Topeka Rescue Mission and the many needs in, um, and you're not really familiar, you can go to the website at trmonline.org. That's TRMonline.org. You can find out a little more information about Topeka Rescue Mission there. You can also just give uh by pressing the give now button. And you also find out how to volunteer. There's a phone number for Susie on there, who's our amazing volunteer coordinator. We want you. We need you. Everybody needs you. That's why we're a part of this community, and you're a part of our community, our mission. Thanks for listening.