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TOPEKA NORTH OUTREACH, INC. (TNO)
2022 Annual Report Summary
Our Mission: Reaching Out To Our Neighbors In Need With The Love Of Christ.
TNO shares God’s love with people who are struggling by helping to meet some of their basic needs. Chartered in 1971 as a 501(c)3 organization, this all-volunteer group serves residents of the Oakland and North Topeka communities. The group is comprised of approximately 20 churches from these communities which have united to extend a helping hand to those in need. Below is a summary of major activities and programs for 2022:
Caring Committee
TNO provides emergency assistance to families who are facing crisis situations. We provided utility, rent and medical assistance to 267 families (total of 474 people: 280 adults and 194 children). A total of 692 calls were received and 285 transactions were processed, with TNO paying $42,708.29 for this assistance.
TNO churches also collect and donate food to Topeka Rescue Mission (TRM), to be shared in food boxes for the community.
Christmas Adoption
TNO member churches adopted 42 families (total of 135 people) from North Topeka, Silver Lake, & Oakland areas from the Christmas Bureau in 2022. The families were blessed with gifts, handmade quilts, towels & washcloths, hygiene & cleaning items, as well as food items to make a full Christmas meal. Bibles were donated by the Gideon’s. Elmont, North Fairview and Northern Hills elementary schools collected household items, and Seaman Middle School donated funds from a fundraising carnival. The distribution was held at Northland Christian Church.
Hygiene Ministry
Essentials and hygiene items were distributed to 240 families (approx. 720 people) at area schools and TNO Outreaches in 2022.
JAM (Jesus and Me)
This after-school mentoring program meets on Friday afternoons and serves up to 16 kids each week in grade K-6. Bible stories, activities, games and snacks are provided.
Operation Backpack Program (OBP)
The OBP works to alleviate childhood hunger by providing weekend food sacks filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food items to children in need. Sacks are sent home with children on Fridays and the day before holidays to ensure the children have food every day of the week. The OBP provided 38,260 weekend food sacks during 2022, at a total cost of $135,207.40.
School Supply Giveaway
Book bags and school supplies were given away to 99 families (264 students) at this event held in August at Seaman Community Church. This was a 35% increase from 2021!
Thanksgiving Meals
In partnership with Douglas Cafer Insurance team, we were able to bless 40 area families (approx. 120 people) with a food box filled with holiday meal items.
VIP Senior Ministry
A free lunch especially for those ages 55 and over is held every Wednesday at Topeka Church of the Brethren. Bible study begins at 10:30 am, and a delicious homemade meal is served at noon. TNO Member Churches and Atria Hearthstone Community take turns providing the meal. Attendance averaged about 45 people per week and the free will offering at about $65 per week. Approximately 2,400 meals were served to seniors in 2022.
All of this was accomplished with a lot of prayer, and a lot of help from many caring, cooperative and hard-working individuals, churches, and organizations; but most importantly, by the amazing grace of God!
The board of Topeka North Outreach is deeply humbled by the generosity of our member churches and all those who have helped the less fortunate in Topeka. We cannot thank you enough for bringing the light of Jesus into their lives.
