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Quarterly
Newsletter
May 2025
| | Building Connections and Providing Services in East Central Kansas | |
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I'm thrilled to share the first issue of ECKAN's newsletter with you! May is Community Action Month, a perfect time to highlight the important work happening across our agency.
This issue features updates from CSBG and Housing, a service day in Richmond, and a few "faces of ECKAN" who help us bring our mission to life.
Many of our programs and partners are facing challenging times. ECKAN continues to educate and stand up for our work and communities, and we invite you to join us. Please take a look at the call to action at the end of the newsletter; it's one impactful way to help us live out our vision: taking intentional actions to show others we care.
We appreciate your continued support,
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| | | | Why CSBG Matters: Community Strength in Action | |
ECKAN is a Community Action Agency serving 16 counties in East Central Kansas. With support from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), we offer strategic, measurable services that improve community well-being and economic mobility.
CSBG is unique. It's the only federal investment focused solely on reducing poverty by providing flexible, locally led funding. This enables ECKAN to deliver responsive services like case management, rent and utility support, job search assistance, food access, and medical vouchers. These efforts are anchored in our nine county-based community centers and our food recovery and distribution warehouse. CSBG is about delivering results. We report annually on outcomes, maintain strong organizational standards, and use data to guide decisions.
In FY2024, ECKAN connected thousands of Kansans with meaningful support. But proposed federal reductions threaten this community resource, limiting our ability to respond effectively.
Supporting CSBG means strengthening families, improving workforce readiness, and building a foundation of local resilience. This is a practical investment in systems that work and communities that matter.
Let's keep East Central Kansas moving forward with tools that open doors and solutions that last.
| | | Why ECKAN Housing Matters: | |
ECKAN Housing consists of two programs, the Housing Authority and Rental program. Our housing authority facilitates the Housing Choice Voucher Program, created by HUD, for the following 6 counties: Miami, Anderson, Franklin, Coffey, Osage and Lyon. Under this program, we utilize federal funds to help assist qualified participants with their monthly rent costs. Participants only pay between 30%-40% of their monthly income towards rent and the program pays the difference directly to the landlord. ECKAN privately owns and operates 54 rental properties which offer rent at lower and affordable rates.
Currently, the HCV program waitlist is closed due to the overwhelming need for rental assistance and our available funding. The ECKAN rentals waitlist is still accepting applications but due to the availability of units, applicants may wait years to receive an offer for a property.
Affordable housing programs are desperately in need of support from our communities and all levels of government. Without such support we cannot hope to continue to provide housing opportunities for families within our communities. Housing is where success in life starts and provides the stability for families to not only survive but thrive and create positive opportunities for personal growth. Together, we can create stronger, connected communities. Please help us continue this journey to make a difference in your communities.
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ECKAN Impacts-Stats
January to March 2025
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- Provided weatherization services to 108 households
- Used $1,355,916.10 from 5 funding resources
- Average dollar amount of energy improvements per home = $12,554.78
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- ECKAN has 8 open positions across the Head Start and CSBG teams.
- On average, roles are filled in 22 days.
- Most of ECKAN's applicants this quarter came through Indeed.
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- Nutritional meals served
- Breakfast - 7057
- Lunch - 7041
- Snack - 1371
- Early Head Start was fully enrolled.
- Head Start/Early Head Start generated $180,741 of volunteer time and donations.
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- Unduplicated Individuals Served: 1,382
- Unduplicated Households Served: 467
- Pounds of Food and Retail Recovered: 116,281
- CSBG Expenditure on Personnel Costs: $168,298.85
- CSBG Expenditure on Non-Personnel Costs: $90,237.34
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- Unduplicated Active Vouchers: 228
- Quarterly Housing Assistance Payments (HAP): $300,832
- Current Households on Waitlist: 488
- Active Housing Choice Voucher Landlords: 80
- Owned ECKAN Rentals: 54
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- 95% of ECKAN's agency expenses went directly to program services
- 4% of ECKAN's agency expenses were for general administration.
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Thank You, Lillie Okwuone
With over 15 years of dedicated service at ECKAN - and a lifetime of serving others - we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lillie Okwuone, Human Services Coordinator at the Douglas County Community Center, as she prepares to retire on May 30, 2025.
Lillie has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals and families. Through her deep commitment to community, she uplifted others with compassion, dignity, and care. She has been a joy to work with and a source of strength and kindness with the ECKAN family and the broader Community Action Network.
Whether supporting customers, encouraging her peers, sharing stories from her travels, or tending lovingly to her garden, Lillie showed us the depth of her heart and the many ways she gave back to the world around her.
To honor her, ECKAN will host a drop-in open house on Friday, May 30, from 1 PM to 3:00 PM at the Douglas County Community Center, 2518 Ridge Court, Lawrence, KS. All are welcome to stop by, share memories, and help us thank Lillie for her extraordinary services.
From all of us at ECKAN: Thank you, Lillie. Your care, commitment, and legacy will remain with us always.
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ECKAN is proud to highlight Jesse Mofle, our current President of the Board of Trustees. Jesse has been an active member of the Board since November 2022, and this marks his first year serving as President.
ECKAN's Board of Trustees is a diverse, 15-member team representing the Private, Public, and Low-Income Sectors of the communities we serve. These committed individuals guide our work as a private, non-profit corporation, ensuring accountability and connection to those we support.
Thank you, Jesse, for your service and for helping ECKAN build stronger communities across our region.
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🌟 Meet the Faces of ECKAN: Madison Adell 🌟 We're proud to spotlight one of the incredible team members who help make ECKAN's mission possible-Madison Adell, Payables Accountant! 💼 ✨ How long have... | | | |
🌟 Meet the Faces of ECKAN: Mark Carson 🌟 We're proud to spotlight one of the dedicated team members who make ECKAN's mission possible-Mark Carson, Senior Weatherization Inspector! 🏡❄️☀️ ✨ How long... | | | | |
ECKAN Head Start
Policy Council
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ECKAN is proud to highlight Casi Edgerton, our current Chair of the Head Start Policy Council. Casi has been an active member of the Council since November 2024; this is also her first year serving as Chair.
The ECKAN Head Start Policy Council is responsible for the direction of the agency’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Parents of children currently enrolled in each program option must be proportionately represented on the policy council.
Thank you, Casi, for your service and for helping ECKAN build stronger communities across our region.
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On May 5th, ECKAN staff came together in Richmond for our Give Back Day, a special time each year where we roll up our sleeves and serve one of the many communities we care so deeply about.
From delivering cheerful May Day baskets and cards to the local nursing home to sprucing up city planters and doing yard work, our team put their hearts into every project. We tackled trash pickup around town, cleaned up the lagoon, gave the fairground bleachers a fresh coat of paint, and even revitalized the watershed!
Give Back Day is more than just a service event—it's a chance for our staff to build stronger connections with each other and the communities we support. After a morning full of meaningful projects, we wrapped up the day with an energizing All Staff Meeting, celebrating the impact we made together.
| | | | Congress needs to hear from constituents about the importance of ECKAN's programs. We, at ECKAN, encourage you to ask your family and friends to take action now. | | | | |
