Since the beginning of November, local news station KRPS has been hosting a food drive to benefit the community. Continuing until Dec. 19, community members can drop off unexpired, non-perishable food items for KRPS to distribute to local food pantries throughout southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri.
“We have two collection sites,” KRPS Feature Reporter Rachel Schnelle said. “One at our office at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, and the other one in Whitesitt 109.”
KRPS noticed the increase in food insecurity during the recent government shutdown and made it their goal to address this need during the holiday season.
“During the holidays, people are a little bit more food insecure. We found it was more necessary when SNAP benefits were up in limbo with the government shutdown,” Schnelle said. “We just wanted to help out with the people in the four states who are struggling with food insecurity.”
Covering the four corners of Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, KRPS is an NPR-member station. Initially located in Shirk Hall at Pittsburg State, KRPS was temporarily relocated to Grubbs hall, and will be making a permanent move to The Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.
“On top of the food drive, this is a very exciting time for KRPS, because this is our first big move in 36 years. We’ve been around since 1988, so it’s a big deal to move and get completely new equipment.”
To celebrate this new space, KRPS will be hosting an open house on Dec.10 from 9-10 p.m. This will be open to friends, family, and donors.
Schnelle added, “It’s definitely been a journey, and this place was built for us, so it’s brand new, and we’re very grateful for the opportunity. We’re excited for both the food drive and the open house.”
Depending on the success of this food drive, Schnelle shared KRPS’s hope to make this food drive an annual tradition to benefit the local area.
“We try to help the community as much as we can, and we’re hoping that this will be successful,” Schnelle said. “If people have any unexpired, non-perishable food items that they want to get rid of, they can stop by our office.”