Volunteers are a huge part of MLM efforts to serve the homeless and needy of metro Kansas City. With a staff of only 14, volunteers make possible the services to tens of thousands each year. The photographs at left from a food distribution event tell much of the story. Equally important are home repair projects and dozens of other important jobs performed by our tireless volunteers.

One of MLM’s programs is distribution of U.S. Department of Agriculture senior food commodities on the second and third Tuesday each month.

The “ministry” part of effort involves four to six volunteers who carry the 30-pound boxes to the cars of grandmothers and grandfathers who rely on the program to help them keep their cupboards stocked. 

The volunteers are a faithful group who enjoy the client contact and fellowship with each other.

The attached poem describing a typical day was written by Arlin Buyert. It says great deal about all of MLM’s food distribution programs.

Metro To Holmes Street

Mostly older women come

Hungry.

How are you Ms. Walker?

May I see your ID?

Here is your number.

Can you carry the cheese?

I will follow you.

We carry boxes of food

To their dented cars parked

Slightly askew up and down Holmes.

Spring seems slow to come.

Just put it in the trunk.

Thank you so much.

God bless you.

“We gonna eat good tonight,”

says her six-year-old grandson

with a big smile.

Let it be so.