The Olathe Family Support Center provides services to help meet the immediate survival needs of people of all faiths.

Nearly 65,000 people in Johnson County struggle to get enough food to eat.  At times, they’re forced to make difficult choices between feeding their families and paying their rent.

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is here to help.  Our Olathe Family Support Center is available to low-income individuals and families who need food or assistance with basic utility payments, housing, clothing or medical prescriptions.

The help goes beyond meeting immediate needs.  An on-site case manager works to identify solutions and resources that will lead to long-term change.

GIVING HELP. GIVING HOPE.

Although Catholic Charities had been serving Johnson County, it was determined that an on-site Family Support Center (FSC) in Olathe could more directly meet the community’s needs. The Olathe  FSC opened in 1981 in the city’s downtown area.   We partner with many organizations to provide extensive programs and services including the Olathe Fire Department’s Integrated Health Care Unit which offers monthly screenings; Happy Bottoms diaper program; K-State Extension for monthly nutrition classes; and weekly financial classes through Arvest Bank.  On the fourth Tuesday of every month, we team up with Harvesters to host a mobile fresh food distribution of perishable and refrigerated items in the parking lot.

This past fiscal year, demand for services continued to grow in Olathe. We served 12,246 unduplicated individuals.  We provided food assistance 30,593 times.  Household and personal items increased 147% while the distribution of gently used clothing grew by 15% and the number of financial education participants was 63% higher.

We could not assist our neighbors in need without the support and generosity of  individuals, businesses, parishes and foundations who step up to organize food drives, make gifts-in-kind, volunteer in our food pantry and make financial contributions.  We are truly blessed.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Olathe Family Support Center Address:
333 East Poplar
Olathe, KS 66061

Phone:
913.782.4077

Call for an appointment to learn what you will need to bring with you to receive services.  All services are free and based on need – not religion, race or nationality.

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday – 8:30 am- 4:30 pm

OLATHE FSC INFO SHEET

This information sheet in Adobe PDF format provides details about the Olathe Family Support Center that you can download.

DOWNLOAD INFO SHEET (PDF)

FOOD PANTRY

We value the dignity of those we serve, offering a self-shopping food pantry. Every 30 days, shoppers may pick items appropriate for their families’ dietary and cultural needs, choosing from a variety of high-quality, perishable and non-perishable foods including fresh fruits and vegetables. Every day, we offer bread to anyone who comes into our EAC in need of food.  We also carry a limited selection of personal care items in our pantry including shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers, deodorant and laundry detergent.

NUTRITION EDUCATION

We offer either a single or series of nutrition classes using ingredients available in our food pantry to assist families with meals that are nutritious and affordable.  These on-site classes are taught by K-State Extension Services, Harvesters, Just Food or our case manager. Samples may be on-hand for taste tests following a cooking demonstration.  Recipes are available to recreate the dish at home.