By Dr. Ferrell Miller
Junction City Breakfast Optimist Club
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club met at the Hampton Inn on Wednesday with Jodi Mason, Director of The Magdalene Project, explaining the work she and others are doing in the community. This project provides essential services to the underemployed, families, homeless individuals, domestic violence survivors, veterans, teens with mental health challenges and those struggling with addiction.
Jodi stated that “1,814 meals have been served to individuals and families in need since the beginning of their work in July of 2024. Sunday Community Dinners are served at the Knights of Columbus on Seventh Street in Junction City beginning at 1:00 PM. One hundred plates are prepared each week. Case Management and free clothing and shoes, hygiene items, and food items are also available to guests.
A mobile outreach trailer provides clothing, shoes, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, food and hugs in the Junction City, Ogden and Grandview Plaza area.
Daily assistance for the homeless, Veterans and youth, which is person specific beginning with their most urgent needs and then build a plan with short- and long-term goals for budgeting and collaborative resourcing with partner agencies.
Other ways The Magdalene Project helps others is with free quarterly veterinary clinics provided by Kansas State University Veterinary Medicine; holiday celebrations, hydration stations, voter registration drives; a 24/7 warming shelter at the Knights of Columbus and an annual health fair.
Thousands of donor hours have been dedicated to helping The Magdalene Project from individuals, Scouts, 4-H, FFA, JROTC, Optimists, sororities, work-place teams and high school youth groups.” For more information about the Magdalene Project visit their Facebook page.
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club donated $200.00 cash. Through a grant with Wal-Mart, the Optimists also presented The Magdalene Project with $100.00 in Wal-Mart gift cards.