The Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE) Project took time Friday to celebrate the impact it’s had in Barton County over the past two years. This is the group that worked with existing entities to provide free laundry services and hair cuts, and dozens of Thanksgiving meals, among other things.
In 2022, with support of a grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a local group of community leaders banded together to ensure all residents have access to the health resources they need, and know how to seek out those resources. COPE was established through a grant written by the University of Kansas Health System. It is a targeted program in 20 Kansas counties, including Barton. COPE helped establish Local Health Equity Action Teams (LHEATs) to address health inequities by engaging under-served individuals.
Regional project leader Nadine Long recapped some of the Barton County highlights at a celebration on Friday in the Bedford Place Apartments Community Room in Great Bend. In Barton County, over the past two years, 128 partnerships were established, 49 community events were scheduled and 9,641 Kansas were reached.
“Kudos to Barton County,” Long said.
A video of projects throughout the state noted part of the philosophy of the project: “Each person has gifts and they are experts in their own lived experiences.” With that in mind, local agencies that deal with local needs were enlisted. Callie Miller from Housing Opportunities Inc. was the Barton County lead and Flor Sanchez with Heart of Kansas was the health worker. Other organizations that work with people in need – and individuals with those “lived experiences” – were also part of the team.
Miller said one of the project’s greatest successes was Laundry Love. On the third Saturday of each month, people can come to Discount Laundry at 924 Jefferson St. in Great Bend and wash up to five loads of laundry for free. Larned has its own Laundry Love on the last Wednesday of each month at Santa Fe Laundry, 1309 Broadway. United Way of Central Kansas sponsors Laundry Love but Miller said Vicki Richardson with the Kansas Children’s Service League should get the credit for bringing the project to Barton County.
The haircuts were another project. The LHEAT worked with volunteer hair stylists at three salons – two in Great Bend and one in Ellinwood – to offer free back-to-school haircuts for children 17 and under. And at Thanksgiving time, LHEAT worked together with community volunteers to provide traditional foods for families. The team also put together special bags for individuals who are unhoused, which included food that didn’t require cooking. They even included a can opener.
“We were able to do so many amazing things in our community,” Miller said, adding grant funding has been extended for another year. The goal is to nourish relationships and find a way to make the projects sustainable.
The Barton County LHEAT has also participated in projects that:
• Supported the Birthright infant feeding pantry.
• Sponsored the Victory Garden.
• Provided supplies for first aid kits, hygiene kits for foster care youth, and stocked nonperishable pantries for a number of local nonprofits.
• Organized the Life Planning Event.
• Partnered with Kansas Legal Services to offer a driver’s license reinstatement and record expungement event.
• Provided new playground and park equipment.
• Helped people maintain their cars.
• Improved resource awareness.
