Consistency is the key to building trust and resilience

By Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

Music, visual arts, theater … fine arts are usually far from the mind of a young person in foster care or juvenile detention. 

Executive Director of Juniper Arts Academy, Lisa Paine, completed a community needs assessment as part of her masters program at Tabor University in Hillsboro. Her study found that the lack of fine arts knowledge and participation was a large gap in services for these children.

Out of that assessment and her personal passions working with nonprofits and art education, Juniper Arts Academy was formed.

“These kids are experiencing a very traumatic moment being removed from their home and are trying to adjust to what is happening in their lives,” Lisa said. “Some of their behaviors might just be a reaction to a hurt and understanding the realities of that.”

A Juniper Arts music club member celebrating her successes with her piano teacher.

Seeing the need, Lisa decided to launch her own program which began two years ago in Wichita and has recently expanded to the Newton EmberHope facility, a residential program for young women that encourages mental, physical and creative growth through trauma-informed interventions focused on resilience and recovery.

“We have worked with the EmberHope girls with our program in Wichita for quite a while,” Lisa said. “We wanted to bring the programming to them, so we expanded to the Newton site where we typically meet every Tuesday and Thursday.”

Lisa and her volunteers started the Juniper Music club at EmberHope as part of the fine arts programming. The club has served 32 students since the summer of 2022.

“The music club is an instrumental music education program held at the Newton facility,” stated Lisa. “We’re very fortunate to partner with the Damn Music Center in Wichita. They sell us instruments at cost which is a huge gift as it makes our dollars go farther.”

In the music club, girls choose which instrument they would like to learn – piano, guitar or ukulele.  Each receives individual lessons on their chosen instrument by Cyndi Kuemmerle, a Wichita resident who drives to Newton for instruction.

Participant numbers are fluid, according to Lisa. Classes are designed so that if a student is only there for a week, they still learn something.

“If we’ve had them for a year, oh, my gosh, look at that growth,” Lisa said.

EmberHope provides the program with a classroom for learning, a calming corner to gather their thoughts and a rec room to use when they are finished with lessons.

“We have a hallway outside the classroom called the calming corner,” Lisa explained. “It’s a space where the girls who’ve had a very hard day or are feeling overwhelmed can come to decompress either before or after their 20-to-25-minute individual lessons.”

Lisa emphasizes that consistency and a safe environment to learn, even if there is failure, is imperative for the girls to learn coping skills and build trust.

Learning to play the ukulele is one activity in the Juniper Arts Academy music club featured at Newton’s Ember Hope.

“The ownership, responsibility and personal investment creates an opportunity for the kids to steer their creativity and their passion into a really healthy environment,” she said. “So many of these kids have no control at all about what’s going on in their lives right now so that’s why consistency is so important in our program.”

After a participant completes her lesson, she may choose to hang out at the calming corner or play in the rec room. However, Lisa is seeing more of the girls practicing outside lesson time.

“We’ve added an incentive wish list for the girls to encourage practice. They get a punch card and a punch for every 10 minutes of practice time,” Lisa explained. “When their card is full, they can choose from a number of music-related prizes such as tote bags, practice notebooks, things that enhance their learning experience.”

The big question she is asked is ‘where does music and art make any difference in their lives while they’re trying to adapt in the world they are in by no choice of their own’?

Most available programs are looking forward – like how to get a job after graduation; where to find housing, etc.

But what about the “now” child? What about the child who is 12 years old and doesn’t know when they’re going to see their mom next and is really frustrated and alone.

“With Juniper, we’re making sure these kids are experiencing a childhood still,” Lisa said. “Many are having to grow up so quickly.”

Music and art are naturally connected with interpersonal and emotional regulation. They may never touch a piano again after leaving her classroom. That’s not a mark of success for her.

“The mark of success for me is that they know how to talk to their teacher. Do they know how to say they are frustrated? Do they know how to fail and try again?” Lisa said.

Lisa shared that it’s such a gift to work with the kids this way and be able to watch them thrive. The name “Juniper Arts” was chosen because the symbolism of a Juniper tree is so powerful.

“The Juniper tree is one of the most resilient trees and will grow in places where you wouldn’t think a plant would grow,” Lisa said with a smile.

Celebrate diversity this month

by Dalton Black, executive director

Harvey County United Way serves a diverse population within our community. Things like poverty, hunger, and mental health concerns know no race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation. We help folks in our community because they have a need.

June is the month where we celebrate what makes us different. We raise a flag to show our support of LGBTQ+ community members. We observe Juneteenth in recognition of the emancipation of African American slaves in the U.S. 

Our nation’s first Pride celebration was a riot. The Stonewall Riots began on June 28, 1969 as New York City police raided a gay club, the Stonewall Inn. The raid sparked a riot and consisted of six days of protest. Trans women stood at the forefront of the protest. The Stonewall Riots served as the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States. Because of the brave individuals at Stonewall, LGBTQ+ folks have more rights today than they did just 50 years ago.

Today we celebrate Pride as a way of commemorating these past struggles and a recognition of the continued fight for equality. 

Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Major General Gordon Granger issued the order, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas.This date became known as Juneteenth and became recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

Enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation relied upon the advance of Union troops. As Texas was one of the most remote states of the former Confederacy, enforcement had been slow and inconsistent due to lack of Union troops after the American Civil War. Over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in Texas were finally free following Granger’s order.

We celebrate these things because there are individuals in our community that fit within these groups. They are our neighbors, our friends and our family. It’s important that we recognize our past and the struggles of these individuals so we can build a stronger community for us all.

To understand one another is to help one another. 

Mental health just as important as physical health

by Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

Since 1949, May has been Mental Health Awareness month. It’s a time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlighting the ways how mental illness and addiction can affect all of us – patients, families and society at large.

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. There is no single cause for mental illness as a number of factors have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control. Two common mental health issues in the United States are suicidal thoughts and depression. The CDC reports that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US and has increased by more than 30% since 1999.

A 2020 community health needs assessment for Harvey County showed adolescents aged 12-17 who have had a depressive episode (2015-16) being at 13% in Kansas, which is the same number in the U.S.

Those in the Medicare population have seen a growth in being diagnosed with depression each year since 2013 and percentages for Kansas are slightly higher than the U.S. numbers.

High school students who reported they seriously considered attempting suicide show very close numbers between the U.S. and Kansas youth. Kansas females (20%) in both cases far outnumber their male counterparts (11%).

So how does one go about finding resources for mental health concerns? One course of action would be to utilize the United Way 211 referral service.

United Way 211 is a free, confidential service that can connect you to a wide range of resources and services across Kansas (not just United Way funded partners). You won’t just be “patched through” to agencies. Staff dig deep to understand what’s happening and connect you with the resources that best meet those needs, not just the one that prompted your call or text.

The 211 service can be accessed through telephone, text, online and live chat from their website.

So a person is diagnosed with a mental illness and the medical professional has prescribed medications and medications can be quite expensive. It can be daunting to have a diagnosis but not able to afford the medications.

Harvey County United Way has partnered with SingleCare to offer a free coupon card to help people get up to 80% off their prescriptions – all medicines, not just those for mental health.

The free card is not insurance but can be used for savings at most pharmacies for all family members for all medications.. Access to the card includes a download, text or email from their website as well as being able to pick one up at our office at 500 N. Main St., Ste. 206 in Newton.

Mental health challenges can make a person feel helpless and alone. But with a strong support system, professional referrals and access to discounted medication, Harvey County residents have a better chance at managing their mental state and overcoming the stigma of mental illness.

Moments of respite provide much-needed support for caregivers

By Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

Sometimes a parent or guardian of a special needs child just needs a little time to themselves – to renew, regenerate and relax – and Trinity Heights Respite Care (THRC) enables them to have that much-needed time.

“We provide respite care for families that have all different kinds of levels of disability,” said Connie Rickard, executive director. “Mom may want to go to the grocery store without the child, a doctors’ appointment, just to take a break, paint a room – our scope is all types of disabilities.”

The program, which turns 30 this year, started in 1991 as a babysitting co-op with three to four families that had children with special needs.

In 1993, Trinity Heights United Methodist Church in Newton, began providing office space and facilities for their Parents Day Out program.

“We also provide care for siblings of the special needs child,” Connie said. “But only if the special needs child is also involved.”

THRC is not a licensed daycare facility as many people believe. Staff members are able to take the child and/or siblings out of the home to the park, YMCA, bowling alley, the library and other activities.

A special needs child is covered by the program from birth to age 16. Connie said they match the family with two to three caregivers so at least one of them could attend to the family.

Her staff of 12-15 are paid employees – part-time of about 10 hours a week – and must go through background checks; shadowing qualified, experienced staff; CPR training and additional resources that THRC provides.

“There is no set schedule, so staff are on-call,” Connie explained. “The family must let our scheduler know 24 hours in advance and we sometimes have to tell parents we might not always be able to fill their request.”

Usually on the third Saturday of the month, THRC facilitates a “Parents Day Out” at the church when available. Participants bring their lunch to the event that is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The day together with other families helps them become friends and gives the children a chance to make friends with those who have special needs and those that don’t.

“A number of families have really connected through their children,” Connie said. “Parents Day Out helps participants develop a community of friends who will have their back, especially when the children get to middle school.”

This program is exclusive to Harvey and Marion Counties. They receive referrals from teachers, Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability organization, doctors, Parents as Teachers, Cooper Early Education Center and word of mouth.

For their 30-year anniversary, they are hosting a fundraising dinner and program on April 29. Following the dinner, Emily Meador from Hillsboro, who is a therapist from Four Branches Therapy & Wellness, will share her journey with autism.

Because of her long-time support of the program, Bev Gering will be honored at the dinner.

Carry-out meals will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a silent auction at 5:30 p.m. and then dinner and program start at 6 p.m. Cost of the meal is by donation and includes pulled pork, potato salad, baked beans, dinner roll and chocolate sheet cake.

Connie said, “My job is really cool. I get to do hiring, see families to set up their account, fundraising, grant writing, public relations and representing THRC on numerous community boards dealing with children and families.”

Volunteerism is an essential part of community

By Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

Helping others in their time of need is a wonderful way to connect with our communities. Volunteering impacts everyone involved and is a rewarding endeavor with numerous benefits!

Volunteering is good for you both physically and mentally. It helps reduce stress and makes you feel healthier by strengthening the immune system.

Volunteering saves resources. Many charities and non-profit organizations may solely depend upon volunteers to provide their programs and services. In 2021, the estimated value of a volunteer’s time in Kansas is $26.87 per hour.

People who volunteer gain professional experience which can help make decisions on career paths to follow or not.

As a volunteer, you help unite people with diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal; building camaraderie and teamwork.

Volunteering strengthens your communities by supporting families (daycare and eldercare); improving schools (tutoring, literacy); supporting youth (mentoring and after-school programs); and beautifying the community (park cleanups.)

By stepping up to the needs of the community, volunteers learn a lot about themselves and their communities. It gives you a chance to give back, supporting needed community resources. Giving of your time and efforts also encourages civic responsibility. The practice is an investment in communities and the people who call it home.

If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities in Harvey County, please give us a call and we can connect you with opportunities that interest you and match your skills. 

Thank you to our board of directors who work on a volunteer basis. We couldn’t do what we do without your guidance.

Tax preparation doesn’t have to be daunting or expensive

By Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

It’s tax season and, for much of us, preparing a tax return is outside our scope of knowledge. According to a survey by NerdWallet and Harris Poll, Americans are failing at basic tax knowledge, and a significant number of taxpayers could be needlessly paying for tax software and services that they might be able to get for free. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimated in 2021 that about 70% of Americans — or about 100 million people — qualify to file their taxes for free.

The IRS has three tax assistance programs that offer tax help for taxpayers who qualify.

IRS Free File lets you prepare and file your federal income tax online using guided tax preparation. It’s safe, easy and no cost to you for a federal return.

Free File itself has two options for taxpayers. The first is guided tax preparation which provides free tax preparation and filing at an IRS partner site. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is $73,000 or less qualify for a free federal tax return.

The second, Free File Fillable Forms, is an electronic federal program of tax forms, equivalent to a paper 1040 form. It also provides a free option to taxpayers whose income is greater than $73,000.

Another tax program offered by the IRS for free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals are the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).

The VITA program has operated for over 50 years. Trained site volunteers offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including people who generally make $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers.

In Harvey County, the VITA site is located at the Newton Public Library, 720 Oak. Those wishing to utilize this service should contact the library directly. Additional sites in the area are available in Marion and Sedgwick County. If unable to get services in Newton, just dial 2-1-1 to be connected to another site.

Don’t let expensive software or lack of tax knowledge turn into a costly mistake. Utilize the free services available and make the most of your tax return. With a solid, maximized tax return, you can implement financial strategies to reach more stability.

Remember, Tax Day is Tuesday, April 18, 2023!

Third generation business embraces technological revolutions in the field

By Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

In 1954, the number of tractors on farms exceeded the number of horses and mules for the first time ever. Farming technology was getting ready to explode into the scientific systems used today. Agriculture is one of the best examples of industries that have gone through a technological revolution in recent years.

Recognizing an opportunity to own a small business in agriculture, Ben Jost and Victor Hiebert purchased an existing farm equipment business in 1956, changing the name to J & H Farm Equipment.

“The original building site was located right behind Anderson Book Store and now is a parking lot,” Victor’s son Wayne reminisced.

In 1964, J & H purchased the parcel of land in Harvey County where it sits now. The site was outside Newton city limits on the “growing side of town” at that time.

“<The location was a good one because> there were other businesses being built in the area,” Wayne said. “Plus, the street out front was Highway 50 which was a well-traveled road.”

The term “farm equipment” covers various types of machines that are used in agriculture for carrying out various tasks which help farmers  save time and labor, and they can be used for a wide range of tasks such as planting, harvesting, ploughing, irrigation, and so on.

Wayne grew up in the business and took over the management in 1995. Continuing to keep it in the family, his son, Cody, works at J & H too, making it the third generation of Hiebert’s in the business. Cody and two other full-time service technicians make up the current staff along with Wayne.

The Massey-Harris model 21 combine ( left) was introduced in 1940. Technology has advanced productivity and reduced time and expenses for today’s farmers and ranchers with the AGCO Gleaner combine (right).

They sell small compact tractors up to the bigger ones with several hundred horsepower as well as combines, and planting and tillage equipment.

“We offer other lines of farm equipment but our main vendor is AGCO in Hesston and we carry the full AGCO lineup of Ag machines and equipment,” Wayne said. “Our service technicians offer service and repairs, parts and support.”

Another line they carry is Stihl brand outdoor equipment which includes chainsaws, trimmers and brush cutters, blowers, edgers, pressure washer, hedge trimmers, wet/dry vacuums, gardening and forest tools.

J & H wasn’t hit nearly as hard as a lot of other businesses during the 2020 pandemic. Because people were practicing social distancing, lots more of them were at home and looking for things to keep themselves busy.

“We were actually busier in some aspects of our business,” Wayne explained. “The Stihl equipment was busy as more people were at home actively doing projects they might not have had time to do before the pandemic.”

They do offer on-site repair, but most of the repair work is done on site. They work on smaller units in a workshop at the back of the main building. Since farming equipment and machinery have become larger, a new repair shop was built to the east of the main building to accommodate the ever changing equipment.

Stepping into J & H’s building is like taking a walk back in time and, at the same time, looking to the future.

Large metal sectioned display units hold bolts, screws and washers of all sizes like what I remember seeing in the farm store of my childhood.

What I didn’t see back then, though, were the many innovations technology has provided for today’s farmers and ranchers – sensors that detect weeds to prevent excess herbicide use, computer screens which provide the driver with information on driving distances, harvesting per hour, grain water content and unloading in tons per acre.

“Our family opened J & H Farm Equipment in 1956 and we continue to offer honest and dependable service to our community today,” Wayne said. “We enjoy meeting the needs of current and new customers every day and look forward to serving customer needs for many years to come.”

WHAT IS SMALL BUSINESS UNITED?

Small Business United is a group of Harvey County small businesses who have joined together to make a huge impact! Often we see small businesses who would love to get involved and help the Harvey County community, but don’t have the resources to make a large gift. By becoming Small Business United members, these businesses contribute to improve lives and strengthen our community. To become a SBU member, click here and select “Small Business United” on the donation page.

United Way lending a Helping Hand to those in need

by Dalton Black, executive director

Imagine having to decide between paying your electricity bill or paying to feed your family. Imagine having to decide between getting your child corrective lenses or paying your water bill for the month. Imagine having to decide between paying your rent or paying for a life-saving medical procedure. All these situations seem silly. Of course, you would feed your family, get your child corrective lenses and have your life-saving procedure. But what happens when you can’t pay for those other things?

As a society, we are led to believe that financial instability is the fault of the individual. We are told that a person must have made bad decisions or simply isn’t trying to help themselves. In reality, the majority of working-class families don’t have enough excess money to keep paying their regular bills after an unexpected medical emergency. A heart attack, or simply a broken leg, could be enough to put these families in a difficult situation on deciding which bills get paid first. 

Throughout 2021 and 2022, the most requested assistance we received from residents of Harvey County was for rent and/or utility assistance. People would call for a variety of reasons. Some had been laid off. Some had been in car accidents that made employment difficult. Others had jobs at our community’s largest employer but still were having difficulty making ends meet with their current wages. 

At the time, we didn’t have funds to help these families so we would work to connect them with other organizations in our community that could help. Sometimes this was helpful, but many times, families had reached out to those organizations and funds were already exhausted at that time. This would leave our residents without many options to help through their difficult time. 

This year, Harvey County United Way has opened a fund to help bridge the gap for families struggling to make ends meet. The Helping Hands Fund is intended for short-term assistance and will supplement other available resources in our community. When residents call, they go through a screening process which helps determine need and assistance to be provided. Additionally, we send resources to families who might need help finding a job or who would benefit from a financial education program. The Helping Hands Fund is about more than handing out free money. It’s about lending a helping hand to those in our community who need it most.

The Helping Hands Fund was made possible by a generous grant from the Graef Family Foundation, ONEOK Foundation, and individual donors.

It’s My Pleasure to Introduce…

Scott Metzler, Harvey County United Way board member

By Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator

Question:  Where did you grow up and what was your family life like?

Answer: I was born and raised right here in Newton, except for a few years my parents and I spent in Colorado Springs when I was a little tyke. I’m an only child, but my parents both came from large families, so I grew up around lots of aunts and uncles and tons of cousins, who were enough like brothers and sisters that I didn’t feel like I was missing out. I really had the best of both worlds: a small close-knit family along with this wide-ranging extended family that made every gathering seem like an adventure.

I grew up in the middle of a family business: my dad and grandfather operated Metzler’s Service Center, an iconic Newton landmark on the corner of 1st & Main since the 1960s. It was a full-service automotive center back in the days when fuel attendants filled your car with gas, cleaned the windshield, and checked your tires and under the hood. 

My first job as a 12-year-old was washing windows and sweeping the drive on Saturdays for a bottle of strawberry soda and a candy bar. As I got older, I happily graduated to work as a fuel attendant, then repairing tires and changing oil. I had a fantastic childhood!

Question: Who has been your strongest influence in life?

Answer: My parents shaped me throughout my childhood, teaching me all the things: right from wrong, instilling an entrepreneurial work ethic, and providing both boundaries and “learning opportunities” when I strayed outside them. I’m grateful for those childhood lessons, as well as their adult examples, like how to face success and challenge with grace. I’m also thankful for my wife, Robin, and our three adult children, Zach, Tim and Emily, who’ve helped me learn how to see with an open mind and how to live with an open heart.

Question: What led you to your career?

Answer: I remember my grandmother when she decided I was responsible enough to learn how to run the cash register at Metzler’s Service Center, teaching me about customer service and how to tend to the little details, like counting change back correctly and making sure people felt glad they’d stopped in. The lesson was that being in business wasn’t only about making money, it was about serving people in need, even if their only need was for a tank of gas or a tire that wasn’t flat. Somehow, when I’d forgotten most of the other things adults had told me, that lesson stuck.

My uncle, Mike, was a Newton firefighter and I wound up following him into the department at the tender age of 21. I went there because it seemed like a cool job, and I couldn’t believe they’d let me be part of such an honorable tradition. Luckily, and inexplicably, they let me stay and I wound up maturing into a life of service.

At some point during my career at Newton Fire/EMS, I developed a passion for helping emerging leaders hone the skills and mindset that would help them succeed. I became a student of leadership, and since my retirement from the department a few years ago, I’ve been busy as a leadership coach and trainer, helping people discover and develop their leadership capacity, which, I think, still qualifies as a life of service, and I’m pretty sure my grandmother would approve.

Question: How would friends and acquaintances describe you?

Answer: Oh, man… that’s a tough one. I would hope they’d say I’m a solid guy; someone they could count on in a pinch. And that I have a wicked sense of humor.

Question: With so many volunteer opportunities in the community, why did you choose to be involved with Harvey County United Way?

Answer: I was attracted to Harvey County United Way for a number of reasons. First, I’m drawn by the mission: the idea of mobilizing people to create lasting change that improves people’s lives resonates with me on so many levels, and I’m happy to serve an organization that meets people where they are and invites folks to pitch in however they can strengthen our community and make life better for lots of people.

I’m also excited to work with such talented and generous board members and staff. The order of the day is for the board and staff to roll up their sleeves and get to work, making life better for people in our community and to make it easy for people to help create lasting change. These tangible acts of service and the work of creating opportunities for leadership to emerge check a lot of boxes for me. I love it!

Question: What’s the one thing you want people to know about HCUW?

Answer: I’d love for folks to know that the Harvey County United Way is good people serving good people. The money raised in Harvey County stays in Harvey County to help our friends and neighbors, and I’m super proud of that. I’d also love for them to know that there are tons of ways to pitch in and help out, and that, like my grandmother’s customer service lesson, their help will touch an amazing number of lives.

State of the Campaign

by Dalton Black, executive director

The start of a new year at United Way means it’s time to start building our budget. We put pen to paper to evaluate our programs and fundraising efforts to see how best we can invest in Harvey County. What we decide is based upon results from our annual fundraising campaign, current commitments, and investment goals for the year. 

Unfortunately, we did not meet our Annual Campaign fundraising goal in 2022. There are several factors in this but one of the biggest is that we’ve had some of our locally owned businesses bought by larger companies that have different philanthropic priorities and strategies. We had a shortfall of $40,000 at the end of our campaign despite our best efforts to gain new philanthropic partners. 

What does not hitting our goal mean? Well, it means we have to take a hard look at how we spend money this coming year. Our Community Investment grants will not be as large. We won’t be able to fund as many special project requests. We won’t be able to start any new Community Impact projects. At United Way, we pride ourselves on our ability to stretch $1, and we strive to do so every year when we develop our budget, but there is only so much stretching we can do before we have to make adjustments.

We’re proud of what we accomplished in 2022. For a refresher on our investments last year, you can read our Year in Review here. We will continue to be proud of our work in 2023, even if it looks a bit different than in past years. 

Staff, board members and I will continue to find solutions in our community, and we will continue to try to find financial support for those solutions. I encourage you to donate if you haven’t already. Become a first time donor or a donor again. Maybe your company used to do a workplace campaign but haven’t been able to restart these efforts since COVID. We need you and our business community to step up to continue making progress in Harvey County. Change doesn’t happen alone. 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Harvey County United Way for our 2022 Annual Campaign. We couldn’t do what we do without you.