New Roots for Refugees is a four-year training program that empowers families from the refugee community to start farm businesses. Since 2018, New Roots has been partnering with churches in the Kansas City area to support local farmers and provide parishioners with fresh produce. One farmer from the New Roots for Refugees program is paired with a church and each week the farmer sets up a market table at the church. Parishioners can stop by after services and conveniently purchase local, organically grown produce for the week.

With the Covid-19 pandemic hitting right as markets were planning to open, farmers and churches had to find creative solutions to safely continue church markets. “It has been incredible to see the ways that the community has adapted to all of the changes during this time,” says Kristin Selby, New Roots for Refugees Program Specialist.

Each existing church market partnership has continued and an additional church market was even added this season. While church services have been suspended or adjusted to accommodate social distancing, farmers have set up drive-through or walk-up market stands in church parking lots or tables where parishioners can pick up a pre-ordered bag of vegetables with minimal contact.

Consider stopping by a church market on a Sunday morning and purchasing fresh vegetables grown following sustainable agricultural practices by a New Roots farmer. All are welcome to shop at these markets—find locations and times below:

Church of the Nativity

Sundays 8:00-12:00

3700 W 119th Street, Leawood, KS

Prince of Peace Olathe

Sundays 7:45-12:00

16000 W 143rd Street, Olathe, KS

Jacob’s Well

Sundays 8:00-12:00

1617 W 42nd Street, Kansas City, MO

Good Shepherd Shawnee

Sundays from 8:00-12:00

12800 W 75th Street, Shawnee, KS

St Ann Catholic Church

(Maria’s Natural Farm – New Roots graduate)

Sundays 8:00-11:00

7231 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS

For a complete list of all markets where you can shop New Roots for Refugees produce visit newrootsforrefugees.org. Email [email protected] with any questions.