Lincoln Center Fund (PEPC)

Goal: $25,000.00

Specific Need

Funds raised through Match Day will be used for general operating funds.  In 2023, PEPC had contact with 367 households (708 people) via walk-in: completing an intake, providing a basic assessment of the families' needs, and referring families to which of PEPC's programs or those within the community that could best serve their most pressing needs.  In addition to those 367 households, PEPC served 42 homeless families with children through our Family Support Program.  This program provides long-term rental assistance on a step-down scale over the course of 12 months while PEPC provides intensive in-home case management services to help families maintain safe and stable housing moving forward. 

PEPC also maintains resources for families in need including a pantry for diapers, household items, and toiletries; a Kitchen ReStore for items families may need to prepare and serve meals; and a storage unit filled with furniture, household items, clothing, etc.

In 2022, we filled a community need by opening PEPC Bright Beginnings, a 12 slot child care facility on the Lincoln Center campus.  Our facility accepts DCF child care assistance, making it an option for all families, despite income level.  

2023 included the expansion of our Family Support Program for homeless families and those at high risk from 20 slots, to 30 and also returning to in-person parenting classes that were put on hold with Covid-19.

Mission

Pony Express Partnership for Children focuses on the betterment of children and families' lives through a collaborative effort of multiple agencies.  Through education, support, resource and referral, and health education, partnering agencies work together to best serve families' needs from birth throughout adulthood.  

Profile

PEPC was established in 2014 and has since served more than 5000 people in Marshall County and the surrounding areas.  In September 2018 through grants, we expanded west to include Washington County in our immediate service area. Our organization is located in the old Lincoln School, now known as Lincoln Center.  Other service agencies within our building include Parents as Teachers, Marshall County Lifelong Learning (GED Program), Pony Express Infant Toddler Services (Tiny K), KVC, NEK-CAP, Inc. Early Head Start and Community Services, and Salvation Army. Also located on our campus are the NEK-CAP, Inc. Head Start preschool, the Department for Children and Families (formerly SRS), Pawnee Mental Health Services, PEPC Bright Beginnings Child Care, and the Marshall County Helping Hands Food Pantry.  

The largest program operated by PEPC is the Family Support Program.  This program serves families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness by providing rental assistance on a step-down scale and case management over a 12-month period.  This program has helped provide safe and stable housing for 162 families in Marshall and Washington Counties over the past seven years, including 403 children and 231 adults.  Within case management, all areas are touched upon that may be barriers to the family's ability to maintain stable housing: employment, education, transportation, health, social-emotional wellbeing, finances, parenting, etc.  In addition, all children ages 0-5 are screened using common measure tools provided by the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund for early intervention.  Any concerns are noted and referred to partner agencies for further evaluation and services.  PEPC is able to utilize the other resouces in our building and on our campus to help families in the Family Support Program to be successful.  Sometimes, people just need to have someone in their corner who believes in them.

Additional services provided by PEPC include:

• PEPC Household/Toiletry Pantry (hygiene items, diapers, cleaning items, etc)
• Kitchen ReStore (kitchen and cooking items to help families prepare healthy meals)
• GED Program
• Salvation Army (Red Kettle Campaign and distribution of those funds for emergency assistance)
• School Supplies (in 2021, PEPC provided supplies to more than 280 students in MS and WS Counties!)
• The Good Witch (Halloween costumes, Christmas toys, furniture, appliances, bedding, and other family needs)

These additional programs run strictly on donations and your donation is so appreciated in an effort to continue providing these services to families in need!