HumanKind Ministries

The presenting sponsor for this year's Humanitarian Awards Benefit is Davis-Moore Auto Group.

A long-time supporter of HumanKind, Davis-Moore dedicates their time to supporting and volunteering with over 40 nonprofit organizations each year. Sponsors like Davis-Moore are essential to the success of HumanKind's critical work of helping those experiencing poverty and housing insecurities.

Once a month, HumanKind picks up hygiene products from the Simply Hygiene warehouse for our clients staying at The Inn, HumanKind's year-round shelter for individuals and families.

"Simply Hygiene's partnership provides us with much-needed basic needs items for our clients, allowing our staff to be able to help them move beyond basic needs and into housing," says Brie Ireton, Program Manager for Homeless Services.

Simply Hygiene is a nonprofit working to fill the hygiene gap in the community by distributing products such as soap, feminine products, toothbrushes and more to organizations in the Wichita area.

Thank you, Simply Hygiene, for all that you do for those in need in the Wichita community.

Last week, The Converse Team spent their their lunch volunteering at The Inn, HumanKind's year-round shelter for individuals and families. The team provided and served lunch, organized the clothing closet and wiped down walls. Thank you!

If you or your organization would like to provide lunch at The Inn during the weekend, please reach out to [email protected].

We are so grateful to have Rikki on the HumanKind team!

At 15, Rikki became pregnant, scared, and unsure of what the future held. After having her son, she decided to return to high school. However, balancing a full-time job and the challenges of motherhood became overwhelming, and she ultimately had to drop out of high school to care for him.

Before finding NexStep Alliance Re-Entry, Rikki had been on six different probations. She learned about the program through the Sedgwick County Drug Court. That’s where she met Ms. Judy Reusser, the NexStep Re-Entry Coordinator. Judy has been the foundation of the Re-Entry program. She has helped build the NexStep program into what it is today and maintains relationships with her students even after they complete their classes.

“There are not enough words to express how much Judy has helped me. Where do I start? She has saved my life. I remember when I was about to start school; that morning, I found my son had passed away at 19 from an overdose. She talked to me when I needed it most. I ended up being able to start school in the next class. The support she gave me through it all truly saved my life and has given me back hope.”

It was all about a second chance.

Rikki completed the NexStep Re-Entry program in May of 2022, graduating with her high school diploma, and earned her CNC certificate from WSU Tech. She now works full-time for a local agency as a Case Manager. Rikki also advocates for others in the program and has shared her success story at NexStep celebrations.

Since finishing the program, she has continued her education at WSU Tech. In the fall Rikki plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in social work, with a minor in drug and alcohol counseling.

Through it all, she has not let her past define her. She was offered a second chance and took it seriously. “I can be better than what I have shown in the past. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Read More: goodwillks.org/success-stories/

We had a great time hearing stories about the Tour Divide from Tyler Branine of Bicycle Pedaler, Cassidy Cheray from VantagePointe Financial and Johnson's Garden Centers' Marty Johnson at the Ride the Divide Finale last night. We want to give a huge shout-out to the Ride the Divide team and everyone who donated to the fundraiser that raised $40,000 for HumanKind's Capital Campaign. You are helping continue HumanKind's essential mission of providing outreach, shelter, affordable housing and supportive services to those experiencing housing insecurities or poverty in the Wichita area. Thank you!

HumanKind's President and CEO Dawn Shepler enjoyed giving Mayor Lily Wu and City Council Member Maggie Ballard a tour of our campus today. The group visited The Studios, part of HumanKind's affordable housing units, and The Inn, HumanKind's year-round shelter.

If you are interested in learning more about HumanKind and want to tour our campus, visit bit.ly/HKTours and schedule your visit today.

Each year at the Humanitarian Awards Benefit HumanKind hosts an auction where attendees can bid on exclusive experiences and luxury trips. All proceeds directly support HumanKind’s mission of serving our region’s most vulnerable through shelter, affordable housing, street outreach and more. See below for a sneak peek of this year's auction items.

Finding it difficult to keep a job due to his epilepsy, Aaron, left, has moved around the country most of his adult life in search of a home. In the winter of 2022-23, while Aaron was staying at HumanKind’s Emergency Winter Shelter, he met Tina and they hit it off.

Tina was living with her daughter in the winter of 2022 when the landlord asked her to leave and she became homeless. Tina found refuge at HumanKind’s Emergency Winter Shelter, where she and Aaron were introduced to Jerry Wills, HumanKind Outreach Case Manager. Even when the shelters closed for the season, Jerry continued to support the couple.

While surviving under bridges and at city parks, Jerry helped the couple fill out their Section 8 Housing application. This July, Tina and Aaron moved into their very own apartment.

“Look at us,” says Aaron. “We went from living under a bridge to being in an apartment. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without Jerry and HumanKind.”

Make a gift today to help people like Aaron and Tina find hope and housing.

Congratulations to HumanKind Board of Directors Member Tom Borrego and past Board Member Erik Schiminger for recieving the 2024 Terry Brewster Community Volunteer Award at the NBC World Series!

Tom was recognized for his work with HumanKind, Empower, Rotary, Hispanic Leadership and Catholic Schools of Wichita while Erik was honored for his work with HumanKind, League 42 and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Well done, Tom and Erik!

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland used their profits from selling cookies to buy school supplies for kids at The Inn, our year-round shelter for individuals and families. Having the right school supplies can help students be prepared and confident for their first day of school. Thank you, Troop 42423, for thinking of kids in need!

“My favorite part of working at HumanKind is seeing our clients meet their goals and move into their own homes,” says Brandi Ingram.

Brandi started working for HumanKind at the Emergency Winter Shelter in January. After the season ended, Brandi joined the team at The Inn as a client experience associate.

Fun fact about Brandi: She collects purses and coffee cups. 👛☕

Thanks to the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine students who spent their morning volunteering at HumanKind for their Second Annual Community Service Day! Students helped sort donations, prep for the Humanitarian Awards and more.

If you or your organization are interested in volunteering, please reach out to [email protected].

The 2024 Humanitarian Awards Benefit is a month away and would not be possible without our amazing sponsors. Thank you for your support!

This year's theme, "In Their Shoes", invites us to step into the lives of HumanKind clients and recognize the shared humanity that unites us. To learn more about the Humanitarian Awards Benefit, visit humanitarian-awards.org

Check out this edition of the Wichita Business Journal's 'Ten Minutes With,' featuring our President and CEO, Dawn Shepler. "It's such a privilege being a part of this team," Dawn tells the WBJ. Click the link to read more.

Ten Minutes With ... Dawn Shepler, HumanKind Ministries - Wichita Business Journal HumanKind's CEO has been at this work for more than three decades.

HumanKind partnered with Scheels for a donation of 230 tennis shoes, including brands like Nike and On Cloud, for our 2024 Humanitarian Awards Benefit. After the event, each pair of brand new shoes will go directly to HumanKind clients. Thank you!

The Humanitarian Awards Benefit Committee is proud to announce our 2024 Humanitarian Award Winners. We will celebrate these incredible award winners at the 2024 Humanitarian Awards Benefit on Saturday, August 24. For more information, please visit Humanitarian-Awards.org.

It's Amazon Prime Day! While you are browsing discounts, be sure to check out HumanKind's Amazon wish list at bit.ly/HKWishList to help families in need in the Wichita area.

During this historic heat wave, HumanKind is doing everything we can to care for Wichita's unhoused residents. If you would like to help, we are currently accepting donations of individually packaged snacks, drink mixes (lemonade, koolaid, iced tea) and new men's and women's underwear. Donations can be delivered to HumanKind's Admin Office at 829 N Market St.

We are so happy to partner with Family Promise of Greater Wichita to support families in need in the Wichita area!

🌟 We love collaboration in the mission to end Family Homelessness! 🌟

At Family Promise of Greater Wichita, we love to partner with other organizations like HumanKind Ministries. Their incredible work in our community aligns well with our mission, and together, we're stronger in supporting families in need.

A special shout-out to HumanKind Ministries' new Executive Director, Dawn Shepler, for her warm welcome and insightful discussion and tour this morning. FPGW team members, Dawn Epp and Beth Schafers, are excited for our teams to work together even more as our community tackles big issues and collaborates on exciting initiatives.

Family Promise is proud to bring our experience in addressing the unique challenges of family homelessness to our community partnerships, and deeply value HumanKind's commitment and efforts and Dawn's leadership for the HK team. Together, we are making strides toward a brighter future for all families in Wichita. 💙🤝

“Building trust with my clients gives me purpose,” says Rikki Cafferty, Case Manager at The Villas. “I am excited to be part of a team that is supportive and gives me the opportunity to have a positive impact.”

Rikki has worked two seasons with HumanKind at the Emergency Winter Shelter and was hired as a case manager at The Villas this spring.

In her free time, Rikki enjoys spending time with her four kids, going on walks and having family BBQs.

We are so proud of the Ride the Divide for HumanKind team! The fundraiser will continue until the end of July. Donate today at bit.ly/ridethedivideforHK.

In honor of Independence Day, HumanKind's Admin and Leasing Offices will be closed this Thursday and Friday.

The Inn, HumanKind's year-round shelter for individuals and families, will remain open. If you or someone you know needs immediate shelter, please call 316-264-8051 to check bed availability.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

The HumanKind Golf Tournament was a huge success! We had so much fun cheering for the teams and celebrating our contest and tournament winners. Congratulations to our winning team, Doug Claxton, Braden Lebeda, Austin Jones and Mike Morley from Claxton Fence, LLC, our Putting Contest winner, Clark Armor, and the Longest Drive winners, Cindy Witte and Adam Chesser.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the tournament and to our sponsors who helped make the day possible. We hope to see you again next year!

Huge thanks to the sponsors of the Golf Tournament powered by HumanKind! Without our generous sponsors, today would not have been possible.

HumanKind celebrated its 2023/24 Board Members at the Board of Directors Reception last night. We are thankful for all that our board does for HumanKind and are excited to announce that we have two new members joining us, Pravin Kulkarni and Boyd Johnson. Welcome!

Dawn Shepler, HumanKind President and CEO, and Deann Smith, OpenDoor Executive Director, were proud to support Union Rescue Mission of Wichita yesterday at the groundbreaking of their $2M remodeling project. The renovations will help Union Rescue Mission further its work of helping those who are homeless in the Wichita area.

Check out this update from Tyler Branine about his Ride the Divide for HumanKind trip! Visit bit.ly/ridethedivideforhk to learn more and donate today.

Basil, and chives, and peppers, oh my! The spices and herbs in these planters, provided by the Herb Society of South Central Kansas, will be used by staff members at The Inn while preparing meals for clients. Thank you, members of the Herb Society, for these planters that will benefit HumanKind clients for many seasons!