We talk with Gary Lloyd and Gene Clausen about a practical way to remove a major barrier to music education: getting real instruments into kids’ hands. We also hear how the Manhattan Optimist Club funds youth programs, builds community partnerships, and keeps the work fun and welcoming.

• the story behind the Manhattan Optimist Instrument Recovery Program and why it started as a pilot project
• how donated band and orchestra instruments can help students who cannot afford rentals or purchases
• where to drop off gently used instruments across Manhattan through local bank partners
• the partnership with the Kansas State University Instrumental Repair Program to help restore instruments
• how GMCF grant funding helps cover repair parts and outreach costs
• what Optimist Club membership looks like, including meetings, service projects, and fundraisers like the Chili Crawl
• a quick thank you to the community for support during Grow Green Match and how that strengthens youth programs

You can go online to ManhattanOptimistClub.com

GMCF

CFAs

We sit down with Dr. Alaya Mestrovich C. from UFM to break down what’s new in their summer catalog and why community education still matters in Manhattan. We also dig into inclusive ceramics, practical AI training, and a new after-school option designed for working families.
• what UFM is and how it serves Manhattan, the region, and Kansas
• new ceramics classes and how the studio supports neurodiverse learners, veterans, and people with disabilities
• summer catalog highlights across art, sports, life skills, history, cooking, and beekeeping
• professional development options including how to use AI in the workplace
• how UFM gathers class ideas and fills community gaps without competing with partners
• the updated partnership work with Kansas State University
• Lou Douglas Lecture details featuring Dr. Kerry Magro and a focus on autism resources
• Project Excel and customized Saturday programming for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities
• how to find or request a catalog and where to sign up online
Go online to tryUFM.org. We hope people will sign up early because space will be limited.

GMCF

CFAs

We talk with Vicky James and Andrea De Jesus about how Nourish Together connects local farms, health partners, donors, and volunteers to fight food insecurity and reduce food waste in Manhattan, Kansas. We dig into produce prescriptions, blessing boxes, and food recovery wins that show how small actions can drive real systems change.
• rebranding to Nourish Together to unite programs under one clear umbrella
• Healthy Food Rx and the Food Is Medicine approach to chronic disease prevention
• $25 produce vouchers plus a $10 match and where vouchers can be redeemed
• AH Farms as a hands-on place to learn agriculture and practical produce skills
• making food education fun for kids through simple, memorable experiences
• Grow Green Match Day results, building an endowment, and why matching matters
• 29 blessing boxes and the easiest way families can stock them together
• Flint Hills Food Recovery milestones: 95,000 pounds recovered and 3,500 runs
• how the recovery app matches donors, agencies, and volunteers
We invite people to get involved, whether you have dollars to share or want to volunteer

GMCF

CFAs

We talk with Morningstar executive director and co-founder Donja McDonald about building a peer-run mental health community where safety and dignity come first. We dig into why a sober environment matters, how funding works for a consumer-run organization in Kansas, and what real acceptance looks like when stigma starts to loosen.
• relocating to a bigger space without increasing rent
• defining Morningstar as peer support led by people with lived experience of severe mental illness
• reducing power imbalance so members can focus on strengths
• prioritizing safety as the first requirement for healing trauma
• maintaining a clean and sober space to protect people in recovery
• supporting dual recovery through a 12-step group
• funding through Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services and writing grants that tell an emotional story with data
• noticing improved community acceptance while naming ongoing stigma for schizophrenia spectrum conditions
• describing the Recovery Conference as a shame-free, energizing space for people with mental illness
morningstar.mentalhealth.org is the website.

GMCF

CFAs

We catch up with Michelle Sink from Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters on how the organization is rebuilding after the January fire while keeping mentorship at the center. We talk fundraising wins, a plan for a new community-minded space, and the urgent need for more Bigs so kids are not left waiting.
• progress toward a roughly $700,000 rebuild goal in the same neighborhood
• plans for a historically fitting exterior and open concept interior
• using the space for match events and offering free room to other nonprofits
• demolition and historical board steps shaping a year-plus timeline
• a potential $100,000 matching gift to help finish the capital campaign
• community generosity through Grow Green Match Day and civic groups
• the ongoing shortage of Bigs and what that means for the waiting list
• Tessa’s story and why stable matches matter
• upcoming fundraisers including golf events and a Studio 54 themed gala
• temporary office moves, relocation strain, and staying adaptable
you can reach out to me anytime and through our website at kansasbigs.org

GMCF

CFAs

We talk with Diane Hinrichs of Pawnee Mental Health about making support easier to find, easier to accept, and more connected to everyday life. We share what Pawnee offers across 10 counties, why 24/7 mobile crisis matters, and how art can help people move toward more good days.
• mental health as physical health and why asking for help matters
• youth and adult community services as wraparound support in real-world settings
• serving nearly 7,000 people a year with a large regional team
• critical stabilization support and coordination with local law enforcement
• 24/7 mobile crisis response and how it meets people anywhere
• Pancakes for Pawnee as accessible, community-driven fundraising
• Grow Green Match Day support for expanding art therapy
• More Good Days art shows and local display partners in multiple towns
• client pride, recovery, and the ongoing nature of mental health care

GMCF

CFAs

We talk with Katie Seal from Wonder Workshop Children’s Museum about how hands-on play builds real community ties in Manhattan and why Grow Green Match Day feels like a town-wide reunion. Student guest Zake brings soul food history to the table and helps us see the museum’s signature fundraiser as culture, connection, and learning not just a meal.
• gratitude for Grow Green Match Day and donors
• Wonder Workshop’s 30+ year mission of hands-on learning and play
• Richard Pitts’ legacy of inclusion and community connection
• the Soul Food Dinner tradition and its 25-year history
• the new Soul Food Summer Bash and what families can expect
• Zake on soul food as heritage tied to the Great Migration
• favorite dishes from mac and cheese to collard greens plus the mystery of hog cheese
• why the fundraiser supports the museum’s long-term survival
• museum updates including rising attendance and summer camp prep
Tickets will go on sale in a couple of weeks. Just go to our website, it’ll be on there. Wonderworkshop.org is the website.

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We talk with Beach Museum of Art curator Liz Seaton about “Rural America” and how the show connects past images to the realities people live right now. We share the themes artists capture and the stories visitors are leaving in the comment book about what rural communities lose, protect, and still love.
• framing historic and contemporary works to reflect rural life today
• themes of isolation, hard work, weather, drought, and too much rain
• rural strengths like calm, nature, extended family, church, clubs, and preservation
• John Steuart Curry’s storm-focused Kansas imagery and tornado aftermath
• Jeremiah Arias documenting local Kansas newspapers and what happens when they disappear
• Gordon Parks church imagery as a center of belonging
• visitor reactions highlighting population loss, aging towns, and everyday resilience
I hope you’ll see the exhibition and the rest of what we have going on at the museum.

GMCF

CFAs