Topeka, KS

Family Support Center

Serving all our neighbors in need.

All services are free and based on need—not religion, race or nationality.

Topeka

Hours of Operation

Food Pantry Hours
Office Hours
All appointments for rent and utility assistance are made by phone. To check availability, please call on Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Equity Access Shelter (785-368-9533) screens for rental assistance “Enhancing homeless services to ensure all people receive rent/mortgage assistance with a single point of contact.”
Topeka, KS

Contact Us

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234 South Kansas Ave.
Topeka, KS 66603
785-233-6300
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Send a general email

No voicemail available. Please call during business hours. Service questions must be discussed via phone, not email.

Need food or housing assistance? Get help here.

Our Family Support Centers offer food pantries, case management services, and more. Scheduling an appointment with your local Family Support Center is the starting point for many of our programs. Our case managers can offer referrals to services such as Financial Education programs, pregnancy counseling, and Workforce Development.

Topeka
Get Help Here
Nearly 11 percent, or 18,610 people living in Shawnee County are food insecure.* They lack consistent access to enough food for every person in their household to live an active, healthy life. As a result, difficult choices are often made between basic needs such as buying food for their hungry family, paying utilities for access to water and electricity or rent for safe shelter. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is here to help. Our Topeka Family Support Center (FSC) is available to low-income individuals and families who need food or assistance with basic utility payments, housing, clothing and more. Our wraparound services go beyond meeting immediate needs. On-site case managers utilize strength-based and trauma-informed strategies to meet an individual’s and family’s holistic needs. We provide innovative programs and solutions to stabilize and strengthen families including housing assistance, financial education classes and employment support. We are committed to helping move our neighbors from a place of needing help to one of having hope. *Feeding America – Map the Meal Gap 2020

Services offered at Topeka FSC

Case Management Meetings

Our on-site case managers utilize strength-based and trauma-informed strategies to meet an individual’s and family’s holistic needs. They assess, plan, evaluate and advocate for resources and services offered by Catholic Charities and community partners.

Housing & Utility Assistance

We provide housing assistance to those who may be, or who are at risk for, experiencing homelessness. We provide rapid rehousing and homeless prevention services, directing others to community partners for transitional housing. We also provide direct financial assistance for past due rent and utility payments to those eligible.

Catholic Charities employee making a difference

Nutrition Education

Good nutrition builds healthy communities. Our Food and Nutrition programming empowers families to become comfortable preparing more nutritious and affordable meals. Our focus is on how to cook, shop, grow and prepare healthy meals on a budget.

Food Assistance Programs

Kids Summer Food Program

Free summer meals for kids and teens are no hassle! No application, no sign-up—just stop by and enjoy! Stopping by a summer meal site with your family saves time and money spent grocery shopping and meal prepping, and promotes healthy access to food for all children in our community.

Hygiene Products

Our neighbors in need who visit one of our food pantries can also receive some basic hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, and more.

Food Pantry

Each of our seven Family Support Centers and our Hope Distribution Center offer a food pantry. Our client-choice food pantry gives those we serve the opportunity to select items appropriate for their families’ dietary and cultural needs. Every 30 days, shoppers choose from a variety of high-quality perishable and non-perishable foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. We offer free bread every day to those in need of food. There is also a limited selection of personal care hygiene items and diapers available.

Mobile Food Distribution

Mobile Food Distribution is an excellent way for families to supplement their household’s food and stretch their budget. The drive-up events distribute bulk food in collaboration with local food banks. Any individual or family can come; no identification is required and you can reside in any of our 21 counties or outside of our service area and still receive food. Mobile Food Distributions are held monthly at two locations in Kansas City, Kansas and Olathe.

Corita’s Corner Sandwich Ministry

Our Topeka Family Support Center hosts Corita’s Corner Sandwich Ministry, which offers free sandwiches to any neighbors in need facing hunger.

Financial Education Classes

Understanding and managing personal finances is key for regaining economic stability. Financial coaching and Asset Development classes are available to clients of our Family Support Centers.

Kansas Loan Pool Project

The Kansas Loan Pool Project (KLPP) is designed to help eliminate high-interest title or payday loans by issuing participants a new, low-interest loan in addition to financial coaching.

Family Financial Transformations

Family Financial Transformations is a one-year program that includes case management and financial coaching for the whole family, children to adult.

Job Readiness Classes

Job-seeking individuals may receive job placement assistance or sharpen their job readiness skills through our Job Seeker workshop series, part of our Employment Support Workforce program.

Employment Placement

We share job opportunities, assist with job searches and help with access to transportation. Participants in our Employment Support programs may also receive referrals and opportunities to sharpen their skills. We also offer interview tips and guidance about how to dress for success.

St. Rita Program

Our St. Rita skills training program assists individuals in overcoming barriers to education and career advancement. We provide intensive, wraparound case management, connections to resources and essential skills training. Our Workforce Specialists help program graduates land jobs in high-demand, high-earning career tracks.

Adoption

Our Adoption program works closely with birth parents and adoptive couples to match newborn babies with forever families. We provide non-judgmental support to birth parents who are actively considering adoption over parenting. We understand that it’s not an easy journey.

Pregnancy Counseling

Our Pregnancy Maintenance Initiative (PMI) helps expectant mothers through education and case management. We provide support both during pregnancy and while beginning the parenting journey.

Images of Corita’s Corner by Topeka-Capitol Journal

Corita's Corner Offers Sandwich Ministry

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ Topeka Family Support Center is home to Corita’s Corner. It is named after Sister Corita, a beloved Topeka nun and principal of Assumption parish school, who passed away in 2013.

Those seeking a free sack lunch knock on the window and a volunteer opens a sliding window, handing out a brown paper bag that contains a bologna-and-cheese sandwich, bag of chips and a few cookies.

Corita’s Corner is located on the east side of our Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas Topeka Family Support Center office at 234 S. Kansas Ave.

Volunteer With Us

Do you want to make a difference in our community? Sign up to volunteer! Many opportunities are available at our Family Support Center, as well as our other programs. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas depends on our dedicated volunteers to provide much-needed services to our neighbors in need!

Volunteer holding a box of food
Our Family Support Centers feature a food pantry and are staffed by case managers who assess, plan and advocate for services available through Catholic Charities programs. These programs include housing assistance, pregnancy counseling, financial education and employment assistance. They also make referrals to community partners. Scheduling an appointment with your local Family Support Center is the first step in getting the help you need.