The Food Box Project

Providing Culturally Familiar Foods for Wyandotte County

The Health Equity Task Force (HETF), Wyandotte County Public Health Department (WYCO PHD), Aetna Better Health of Kansas, and Harvesters are partnering to provide free food boxes at neighborhood clinic events and other community events in Wyandotte County in November 2023.

The goal of this food box project is to provide culturally familiar foods for community members, especially people in Wyandotte County experiencing food insecurity. When providing food at previous community events, the HETF and partner organizations identified a need to include more culturally familiar foods to better serve the diverse communities in Wyandotte County.

In the spring of 2023, the WYCO PHD, HETF, Aetna Better Health of Kansas, and Harvesters did a pilot project with food boxes at community events, with the intent to provide culturally familiar foods. A total of 460 food boxes were distributed in March, April and May through nine partner organizations at more than 23 community events in Wyandotte County. People who received food boxes were asked to fill out a survey with their feedback. More than 50% of the respondents indicated that, within the last twelve months, they ran out of food before they had money to buy more.  Respondents made note of other foods they would like to see included, with fresh produce being the most requested. Using lessons learned from the pilot project, produce is being offered as a supplement to Box A and Box B for the Food Box Project this November.

What’s in the boxes?

Photo showing the contents of Food Box A

Box A (above)

Box B (below)

Photo showing the contents of Food Box B

Box A

  • Diced Tomatoes – No Salt Added (14.5oz can)

  • Whole Kernel Corn – No Salt Added (15oz can)

  • Corn Masa (4lb bag)

  • Rice (1lb bag)

  • Dry Pinto Beans (1 lb bag)

  • Sliced Jalapeños (28oz can)

  • Dry Lentils (16oz bag)

  • Garbanzo Beans (15oz can)

  • Potatoes (15oz can)

  • Cilantro, dried (0.45oz container)

  • Habanera Sauce (5oz bottle)

  • Menudo (25oz can

  • Fully Cooked Shredded Pork (8.8oz pouch)

Box B

  • Sweet Potatoes (2 cans, 15oz each)

  • Ready-to-Eat Macaroni & Cheese (2 pouches, 7oz each)

  • Cornbread Mix (2 boxes, 8.5oz each)

  • Peanut Butter (18oz jar)

  • Green Beans – No Salt Added (15oz can)

  • Carrots - No Salt Added (15oz can)

  • Fully Cooked Chicken (2 pouches, 4.5oz each)

  • Dry Lentils (16oz bag)

  • Collard Greens (2 cans, 14oz each)

  • Canned Pinto Beans – No Salt Added (2 cans, 15.5oz each)

  • Fruit Mix in Juice (2 cans, 15oz each)

Photo of heads of cabbage

Produce

Produce will include three or four of the following items:

  • Potatoes

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Onions

  • Carrots

  • Cabbage

  • Apples.

Specific items will vary based on availability.

Please note: Event hosts may provide pre-packaged produce boxes (30-pound produce box intended for a family of five), or they may let event attendees select the produce items they want.

According to Feeding America:

  • Over 21,000 people in Wyandotte County experience food insecurity

  • 25% of Black community members and 18% of Latino or Hispanic community members experience food insecurity compared to 10% of White, non-Hispanic community members.

Upcoming Events

Below are upcoming events providing free food boxes and produce, while supplies last. See event details for information about what will be provided at the event (e.g., type of food boxes and produce).

  • Wednesday, November 15, 2023 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Kimball Missionary Baptist Church, 2019 Quindaro Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66104 (Box B and produce)

  • Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Community Health Council, 803 Armstrong Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101 (Box A, Box B and produce)

  • Friday, November 17, 2023 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Grace Temple Baptist Church, 4900 Armstrong Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102 (Box A, Box B and produce) - Update 11/17, 6:40pm: There are no food boxes left at Grace Temple Baptist Church tonight.

  • Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at Guiding Star Missionary Baptist Church, 3035 N 27th Street, Kansas City, KS 66109 (Box A, Box B and produce)

  • Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Sacred Heart Church, 2646 S 34th St, Kansas City, KS 66106 (Box A and produce)

  • Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm at McNewton Center, 2100 N 13th St, Kansas City, KS 66104 (Box A, Box B and produce)

  • Sunday, November 19, 2023 from 9:30 am - 11:00am at Mason Temple Church of God in Christ, 554 Washington Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66101 (Box A, Box B and produce)

  • Monday, November 20, 2023 from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm at Central Avenue Betterment Association, 1303 Central Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102 (Box A)

  • Monday, November 20, 2023 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm at Leah’s Laundromat, 1920 Quindaro Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66104 (Box A, Box B and produce)

  • Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Salem Baptist Church, 1824 N 11th Street, Kansas City, KS 66104 (Box B and produce)

To find additional nutrition resources beyond this food box project, see the Food Locator tool from Harvesters at:

https://www.harvesters.org/get-food-assistance/food-locator.