Peace Connections News

  Another Fun Summer with SEAK Fueled by chicken and rice, pork burritos, and a variety of sandwiches, we had another fun summer at SEAK (Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids), where we served over 2,600 meals at two different locations, Immanuel Baptist Church and the New Creation Fellowship Church playground. Preceding each meal was a different “enrichment” activity, which this year included meeting critters like snakes and goats, having hula hoop and bubble gum blowing contests, making ice cream, participating in a drum circle and frolicking with balloon animals. Every Wednesday, as is our tradition, is “Water Wednesday,” we pull out the hoses and get wet in one way or another, capped off by the when the Fire Department brings out their pump truck and soaks everyone with the fire hose. Volunteers contributed over 300 hours this summer to help make this program a success. Designed as a no-barrier program for anyone ages 1-18, we know we are living into our mission when over 60% ...

  Volunteer Follows Her Passion By Julia Largent Kuttler  I moved to Newton with my husband at the end of December 2020. At that point we knew a few people in town, but not many. One day, I found the  Peace Connections  Facebook page and gave it a follow. I eventually worked up the nerve to submit a volunteer application and quickly met with Jennifer Rose, the director at the time, and began my involvement with this great group of folks who are passionate about building community. Since I love planning events, the natural fit was to add me to the Events Committee - on which I still serve.  As a professor at McPherson College, I have the summers off, so I also began volunteering to help serve the meals for SEAK (Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids), and I’ve been a part of that program since 2022. This year, I was encouraged to step up my responsibility with SEAK, and I applied to serve as the AmeriCorps Coordinator for the 2025 program year, a position which c...

 SNEAK PEEK AT SEAK   We're gearing up for a whirlwind of fun with Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids (SEAK) - an action-packed 8-week program for kids to mingle, explore, and chow down on some tasty treats. Geared towards anyone aged 1-18 in Harvey County, this program dishes out free meals and fun activities four days a week. By serving up nutritious meals, breaking social barriers, and rallying community support, SEAK aims to sprinkle some positivity around! Teaming up with awesome community members like YOU lets Peace Connections shine a spotlight on our community's strengths. The African proverb, "I am because we are," perfectly sums up how SEAK can bring us closer, tap into our neighborhood resources, and share good times over a meal. Big thanks to YOU for being a key player in this exciting journey! See you this summer!

  (Originally Published Wednesday, September 20, 2023) In early June, Ellie Wintermote, an only child, got the benefit of the bubbling water play along with the buzz of social time in the park next to New Creation Fellowship in Newton. Because of wanting to provide more social connections for her daughter, as well as to have a mom-daughter date, Jennie Wintermote brought Ellie to Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids (SEAK), sponsored by Peace Connections. Every June through July, the local non-profit offers a free meal to kids, for anyone ages 1-18, and activities four days each week at two sites; the park at New Creation Fellowship and at Immanuel Baptist Church on Anderson Street, which is across town. Ellie and her mom enjoyed the Chinese meal provided by Panda Kitchen and playground equipment at the New Creation site. “We love this program, especially since Ellie is an only child and without other cousins,” said Wintermote, a member of First Mennonite Church in Newton. “This g...

  (Originally Published Monday, November 14, 2022) Even as the leaves start to change, we are still bask-ing in the post-summertime-glow of SEAK (Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids). We had a tremendous summer laughing and learning at the playground and getting to know kids in our neighborhood. We added a second location this year and still continued to see new faces every week. Many thanks go out to our volunteers and community partners who coordinated, transported, played, splashed, encouraged, and shared their talents this summer and emphasized the joy of spending time with others. Our community is blessed with an abundance of relationships and commitments for children, especially from places like Shalom Mennonite Church, New Creation Fellowship, First Mennonite Church in Newton, and Immanuel Baptist Church. This program would not have been possible without them and the oodles of support coming from you! This summer we had a 160% increase in the number of meals served to kids...

 ( Originally Published Tuesday, June 14, 2022) We are gearing up for another fun season of Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids (SEAK), an eight-week program for children to interact with others, learn about community resources, and get a good meal. This program, geared towards kids ages 1-18, offers free programming to any family in Harvey County and puts more meals in the hands of children while simultaneously reducing social isolation and supporting small businesses! With your help, we had a fantastic year in 2021, where we served nearly 1,000 meals to kids and their caretakers and were able to introduce them to new community resources. Icing on the cake- we are partnering with Immanuel Baptist Church to offer a second location for meals and social activities to build even greater community connections this summer!     This will be twice the fun and twice the opportunity to get involved and offer twice the impact. Collaborative partnerships with community member...