When you pull into the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mission, Kansas, you may not see a grocery store, but you will see a lifeline for neighbors facing hunger. Volunteers Lynn Kring and Rhonda Synovec operate the Mission Community Food Pantry, a volunteer‑run effort that has served more than 46,000 individuals since its launch.
From a holiday program to a permanent pantry
The idea began in 2020 when Kring, the late Suzie Gibbs – a former Mission city councilmember – and Synovec were working with Mission’s Holiday Adoption Program, which distributes food and gifts during the holidays. Gibbs urged a more lasting solution. After learning about Harvesters, a regional nonprofit helping families in Kansas and Missouri, the three met in the church foyer and decided to create a year‑round pantry.
Open to all, no strings attached
Unlike many food pantries that require proof of income or limit visits, the Mission pantry has no qualifications. “Other places you may have to meet certain incomes, or you can only come once or twice a month,” Synovec said. “We have no qualifications, so you can come anytime we have a distribution.” Distributions occur twice a month, on the second and fourth Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the church’s parking lot.
From an initial 40‑45 families, the pantry quickly grew. “Then it was November, a week before Thanksgiving, and all of a sudden we had over 100 families come through,” Kring recalled. Today, typical nights see more than 100 families, and during holiday periods the number can exceed 200.
Community support and volunteer leadership
The pantry’s shelves are stocked through partnerships with Harvesters, the local Hy‑Vee, and generous donations from Mission residents. Volunteers fill bags with fresh vegetables, canned goods, snacks, and often add books and toys for children. Synovec noted that 95 % of the pantry’s dollars go directly to purchasing food, with the only paid staff member being the pantry manager.
Volunteer spirit extends beyond food. The pantry celebrates “National Superhero Day,” “National Bubble Day,” and “National Coloring Day,” dressing up volunteers and handing out small treats to brighten guests’ days.
Looking ahead
Both volunteers recognize that many hungry neighbors remain unseen—homebound seniors, people living too far to walk to the pantry, or those unaware of the service. “We know there’s a need we haven’t reached yet,” Synovec said. Their future plans include adding more distribution days and exploring mobile outreach to bring food directly to those who cannot travel.
“Until we go out of business, until hunger is solved across the nation, we do want to grow our services to meet those needs,” Synovec added, emphasizing a five‑year outlook for expanding reach.
Personal impact
For Kring, the reward is personal peace. “I go home on those Thursday evenings and sleep well,” he said. “I know someone that was hungry is not (anymore) that night, and I can sleep knowing that.” Their dedication reflects a broader Johnson County commitment to caring for neighbors, regardless of zip code or circumstance.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
