April 29, 2025 • 41 mins
As the challenge of homelessness grows more urgent, one leader’s journey offers a powerful example of how diverse experiences can prepare us to serve. Shelly Buhler, a board member at Topeka Rescue Mission, shares insights shaped by a career spanning public service, education, and nonprofit leadership. From driving forklifts at a food bank to serving as a mayor and county commissioner, each step of her journey reflects how God prepares individuals for meaningful service. Now as President of Hayden High School, Buhler uses her diverse experiences to guide the mission’s response to growing needs, emphasizing both careful resource stewardship and deep compassion.
Buhler believes the solution requires a united effort—“It’s everybody’s job.” At Hayden, she instills this mindset in students through service opportunities that foster empathy and leadership. For listeners seeking to make a difference, Buhler’s story offers both inspiration and a practical reminder: we are all called to serve, right where we are.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for this
time to be together, Lord torecord this podcast, and Lord
for all of the listeners who aregoing to hear it.
Lord, we pray just your specialblessing over this conversation
.
Thank you for our guests today.
Pray a blessing over them andtheir dedication to the work
going on here at the mission.
Lord, bless this time and blessthe listeners.
Lord, in your holy name, wepray, Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello everybody, thank you for joining us for
another episode of Our Community, our Mission, a podcast of the
Topeka Rescue Mission here onTuesday, april 29th of 2025.
This is podcast episode number265.
Good morning, lamanda andMiriam.
Good morning, how are you doingthis morning?
Good Good, we've got a littlecooler weather in the middle of
the spring.
We didn't get a tornado lastnight, so good to go.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
But we did get some rain, which we needed.
We needed it, we did.
We need rain, yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
So we're going to jump right into those most
important things about thepodcast, and that's the research
and development department.
Research is about the importantparts of our day, and then
we're going to get to our very,very, very, very special guest
today so.
Lamanda, Miriam, did you get upthis morning?
The first thing that you didand recognize the importance of
April 29th with your moves.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
You know, I'm sure LaManda did, I did not, you did
not, I did not.
No, miriam, is it age yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
As a matter of fact, I get it.
I get it.
So, amanda, I'm sure you jumpedout of bed and started dancing
this morning.
Right, I sure did.
Why did you do that?
Speaker 5 (01:32):
The first thought I had, aside from scripture and
prayer, is it's InternationalDance Day.
I've got to get my boots onright.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Everybody knows that.
So put on your dancing shoestoday.
Let's honor the world of dancetoday, together Maybe not
together, just dance and try toturn anybody when you're doing
it, or yourself Remember.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
I mean, I'm still recovering.
No, I don't remember.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Oh, that's right.
So last September I was dancingand flipping.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
And for some reason, I forgot that I'm older than you
used to be and that I'm about40 pounds heavier than what I
used to be and my body did.
My arm did not hold up my bodywith those dance moves and the
flips, and so, yeah, I tore mytrapezoid muscle.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
And that right there is why we should not do that.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
That's exactly right, which was a nice little bill
and for some reason I got towatch that arm when I do my
morning dance moves, oh gosh.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So Research and Development Department for the
CEO of Topeka Rescue Missionsend her some information about
alternate dance moves, yeah, allright, or just not Moving along
we always try to choose threeof these.
It's National Shrimp Scampi Day, delicious yes.
Why do you think somebodycreated National?
Shrimp Scampi Day, my guess isthey were just eating it and
(02:46):
then were like, all right,today's the day, and so they
came back over and, over andover again and had scampi, and
so the research and developmentdepartment did go a little
further with this to look intoNational Coconut Shrimp Day, and
what date is that on?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I actually couldn't find that.
So here I did find NationalShrimp.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Day is May 10th.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
General.
So yeah, which we don't have apodcast that day.
So if you're really interestedin shrimp, put that on your
calendar so you don't miss it.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Stay tuned.
That's on a Saturday, so wewill not be in here talking
about that.
So, but anyway, there must havebeen a bunch of people from
Kansas who are recognizingshrimp day.
I mean people on the Gulf.
No, no big deal.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Do you like seafood?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, I see seafood and I like it, do you not?
Speaker 5 (03:29):
I love, I love shrimp scampi.
I just guess I've never had aconversation with Barry about it
.
I've had seafood with you.
Yes, you have Um.
Well, if you want to show mesome shrimp.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I'll try it.
Um yeah, I'll see if I like it,I see food and like almost
every food I see.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
All right.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Our guest is probably .
Why did I say yes?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Why did I say yes?
Why did I say yes?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
She's such a serious person.
So one more, one more.
Now, this is really important.
It's National.
What day?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Zipper Day, it's National.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Zipper Day.
Zipper Day Can you say that,with a little more Of a zip to
it?
Zipper day, okay.
So how long Do you thinkZippers have been around?
There was a time Before youremember, back in Jesus'.
Day, when they were Zipping upthe.
You know they didn't haveZippers back then.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
I don't know, did they have buttons?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Even.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Ask the Lord when you make it Barry, Ask him.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Exactly, I don't even think they did have buttons.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So we kind of take zippers for granted.
Matter of fact, there's a fewzippers in here right now, and
sometimes you want to make sureyour zipper's working, but
anyway, it's National Zipper Day.
That was created in the 1800s.
The guy who created it nevergot any recognition for it.
He could be a millionairebillionaire, if you still like
got any recognition for it.
(04:45):
He could be a millionairebillionaire if he's still alive.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
But he's not.
But anyway, back.
They called it the hookless,fastener the hookless, so
apparently they hook stuff.
Oh, that's funny, that isreally funny, yeah, the hookless
fastener.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
April 29th on this date in 1913.
So, zippers haven't been aroundthat long.
Interesting.
What would we do without azipper, Anyway?
Speaker 5 (05:03):
so I'm going to have to tell my oldest that she came
in last night and was extremelyserious and she said, which
she's going to be 13.
And so she's just a hootanyways.
But she said, mom, I need youto call your seamstress friends.
I know you have a couple,because her mama is not.
I mean, I've tried and it's notgood, but she has this backpack
(05:39):
that I've had since she was ababy and thankfully we can wash
it and things like that.
But she still carries it withdifferent things in it as a
teenager and it's got her eitherher name on have tons of bags.
And she looked at me, deadserious.
She says, not this one, and weare going to do this and we need
to get it fixed.
And so I said okay.
And she goes and look andliterally in her hand is the
entire zipper that came off thecotton part of the bag and she
goes.
It happened last week but Iforgot to tell you, but I've
(06:01):
been saving it.
So not only does she want itfixed, she does not want another
zipper, she wants the samezipper that's been on it and
somehow for the seamstress,whoever that is to put it on
there, Bless her heart.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So tonight, when you go home, you're going to talk
about this Correct?
Yeah, I'm like we've got to dothat, I know a good seamstress.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
My mom is a she can fix anything.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
There you go, she can fix anything, there you go.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
You heard a third voice or a fourth voice that
came out here and we're going tointroduce her now.
She's a former director notdirector, but at least worked in
a food bank in Colorado.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
I did.
Driving forklifts I did.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Had some history here .
Originally from Kansas, wentout to Colorado, then went to a
town called Rossville.
Became the mayor of Rossvilleand then decided to invest more
into the whole county of ShawneeCounty, be a county
commissioner and then for abouteight years now, roughly has
been the president of HaydenHigh School, has been the
chairman of the Board of Regentsof Worsham University and is
(06:56):
also a longtime board member ofthe Topeka Community Foundation
and a whole lot of other things.
One of our favorite people.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mentionthis.
A board member of Top to ourpodcast.
Thank you all for inviting me.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Seriously, I was, I was.
I told Josh I'm a littleintimidated.
I am, I've never done a podcast, so just full transparency.
So amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Podcasts are so trendy and, shelly, we know from
seeing you on TV a billiontimes being a county
commissioner for two terms.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Three terms, three terms Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And you've been interviewed a lot.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
I know and we said.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Today you're interviewed amongst friends.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Yes, and I said be kind, please.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Well, Shelly, you had quite experience.
You had a degree fromBenedictine in what In community
services.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
So it was an interdisciplinary degree back in
the day and it was sociologyand home economics and I did not
.
Oddly enough, I started ineducation and then figured out
my sophomore year.
I could probably not do that.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
And now I'm at a school.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I know, I know, but I started.
I finished at Benedictine andstarted at NECAP in Atchison
County and had my office in thebasement of the courthouse in
Atchison County.
Oh, my goodness office in thebasement of the courthouse in
Atchison County and so yeah.
But a lot of those things thatI learned in college really
(08:28):
helped me in that.
I worked there that semester inpersonal finance, nutrition,
working with the total familyprogram, that sort of thing.
So that was my first real jobout of college.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So, and driving forklifts on a, on a, on a, yeah
, so that came.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That came a little bit later got married.
Did you hear that?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Miriam Iifts on a food distribution.
Yeah, so that came.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
a little bit later Got married.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Did you hear that, Miriam?
I know I've already written itdown Exactly.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I got married, we moved to Colorado Springs and
worked at the Colorado SpringsFood Bank and again still in my
field of, you know, study, Iguess, and uh, yeah.
So we, uh, we managed a lot ofdifferent food banks, uh,
smaller food banks in and arounduh Southern Colorado, pueblo,
(09:11):
la Junta, those areas, and um,yeah, and they, uh, I learned
how to drive a food, uh, aforklift.
Not very well, I was supervisedmost of the time, but you know,
it was just a really good time.
I just learned a lot aboutservice, you know, and it was a
(09:36):
good time.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Did you ever dream in those days that you'd be in
politics someday?
Speaker 4 (09:40):
No, never.
A president of a high school.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
No, okay, didn't dream that.
Okay, never, did you ever dreamin those days, you Okay didn't
dream of that, never.
Did you ever dream in thosedays you'd be on the board of
directors of a homeless service?
No, I figured, maybe.
So what were?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
you doing?
I don't know.
Maybe I don't know why thiscame so late.
Why'd you wait?
No, I did not, you know, Idon't think God knows your path
right, yeah, and God knows yourpath right, and so I just kind
of kept going with whatever wasbeing called to do, so you moved
into Rossville.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
You and Steve did.
He's the coach of the RossvilleBulldogs.
He was yeah, they're a veryfamous team in this part of the
world and good rivalry with theSilver Lake Eagles, of course,
yeah and so forth, and so I'mgoing to talk about what he's
doing in a minute and talk aboutthe conflict you must have in
your home.
But anyway, so You're in thetown of Rossville and they have
(10:34):
a mayor there.
Some people probably don't knowthat a town like Rossville has
a mayor, but you became a mayor.
What led you to that?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Well, I mean I think growing up one I've just been
thinking about this.
I mean, I've always beeninvolved in service.
I was a Girl Scout.
I mean I was involved in churchand my family my mom and dad
were really involved, and so mysisters and my family.
My mom and dad were reallyinvolved, and so my sisters and
my brother.
So we were always involved inservice, always doing things.
So then when I went to collegethat just kind of solidified
(11:03):
everything.
And then, you know, growing upI mean having a family then I
was looking for something thatwas flexible.
So I volunteered for my churchand was doing things there and
so had somebody approach me andjust I had chaired a church
picnic and said hey, have youthought about running for mayor?
(11:23):
And I'm like no, never done.
Church picnic Mayor yeah so, butit was absolutely so much fun.
How long were you the mayor?
I was the mayor for two terms,but in the middle of my second
term then I ran for countycommissioner.
But you know, being mayor of asmall town, roswell's a great
(11:44):
community but we were right onMain Street with my office and,
you know, had office hours andmy daughter would go to the
senior center with me and shewas the butter girl, she would
give the butter.
She was really little then.
So you know it was just areally, really good experience.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Do you miss being the mayor of the world capital of
the cornhole?
Festival the tall corn, tallcorn festival.
That's what it is.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Yes, yes and if you haven't been second weekend in
August always.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Always a good time so real good times.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
And great people that I worked with there.
And then just we experienced aflood Rossville does have floods
sometimes, yeah, and that'swhen I think I first got my
experience and exposure tocounty politics in a different
way and then was encouraged torun for a county commissioner.
(12:36):
I ran as an independent, I didnot know what I was getting
myself into, but uh, yeah.
So just that service and and umyeah, that's just always been a
part of my life.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I think, uh, as I recall you and I officially met
during your time as countycommissioner when we were doing
the safest capital cityinitiative and yes.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And you were working with Dick Klein.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Who was the head of the Shawnee County Department of
Corrections, and we workedtogether on trying to bring
safety to the community.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Those were some fun days.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Oh they were, they were.
We had some great, great, greatexperiences and also some
results Absolutely On that wholeeffort, absolutely.
So back in the day, ron Millerwas a police chief.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Dick.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Barta was a sheriff, and those were some really good
relationships that built to helpus to think about other things
that we could do in the samemanner.
So three terms countycommissioner and now president
of Hayden High School and talkabout that.
What is a president of HaydenHigh School?
It's private, it is a privateschool.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
We're an archdiocesan high school, so we're about 334
students.
So we have apresident-principal model.
That's what the archdiocese ofKansas City, that's how we have
our high schools.
So my principal, jamesSandstrom, vice principal John
Tetuan, they really manage theacademic portion, and then I,
(13:59):
along with my team, whichthey're a great team, we do most
of the administration.
So advancement facilities, thebusiness office, you know all
those types of things.
So we are part of thearchdiocese, so there is a
superintendent for the whole,for the 42 schools that are in
the archdiocese.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Is that Northeast Kansas?
Okay so, yeah, okay.
So that's a pretty big systemthere.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
It is, it is, but I really running as county
commissioner really helped mewith some of those skills too.
It's like everything kind ofkept building upon itself Right
and I did not plan.
I had decided not to run for afourth term, but I did not
anticipate this coming into mylife at all.
And I was approached again bysomeone who said, have you ever
(14:47):
thought about this?
Slid a piece of paper acrossthe table and I flipped it up
and I was like, oh my goodness,no.
And my husband at the time,working at Washburn Rural High
School, and Hayden and WashburnRural have a healthy, healthy
rivalry.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
That's the conflict we wanted to bring up here today
.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
But he, my husband, was born and raised in Denver
Catholic schools all the waythrough.
So he was like, absolutely, whydon't?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
you, why don't?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
you try, and so I prayed about it and applied, and
, and then yeah, and then herewe are.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
So Steve is the head football coach of the Worshman
Rule.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
High School.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
And you have a football team at Hayden.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Yes, we do.
Do you guys ever play eachother?
We did the first couple ofyears that I was there, and I'm
glad we don't now.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
It was a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Imagine what Friday nights and Saturday mornings
must have been like.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Yeah, as some of his assistant coaches.
It was a lot stressful, but Ithink during that time I think
Hayden won once, Washburn Ruralwon once, and then we're a 4A,
3A, 4A and Washburn World's 6A.
So yeah, but we do play eachother in basketball and baseball
and everything else, so stillin basketball and baseball.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Okay, so there's still some issues here.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Still Centennial League, still somewhat.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Some issues here, oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
No, no, I've met Steve a few times.
Great guy, obviously verysuccessful in the Bulldogs and
now in the Blues, that's right.
So, Shelley, also going intoyour continue on and serving.
You've served as chair of theWashburn University Board of
(16:28):
Regents.
What's that mean?
What does it mean to be on theBoard of Regents?
We have the Kansas Board ofRegents, which Washburn's not
under, if I understand thatcorrectly, and Washburn's
separated from that.
So what is that like?
What?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
does a regent do in regards to a Washburn University
?
Well, I'm incredibly gratefulto Governor Kelly, her appointee
on there, and so you know thathuge responsibility that I just
am so grateful for.
But, of course, education, andeducation in all forms, from,
you know, technical school toyour bachelor's, to your
master's, to your law degree,you know, I mean, I mean you can
(17:09):
, you can enter any one area ofthose.
So, and I think, looking backat when I first got out of
college and worked with thosefamilies, education does make a
huge difference in, you know,that person's life and their
family's life.
So, yeah, I mean, and Washburnis just a gem in almost the
(17:33):
middle of Kansas, but just somany amazing opportunities there
.
So I just feel completelyblessed to serve there and help
guide the direction.
I mean, dr Farley has done awonderful job and I was there on
that transition and then, ofcourse, hiring Dr Mazachek has
been simply amazing.
(17:54):
And you were chairing the searchcommittee and everything.
Big decisions there.
That was huge.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
So, shelly, about three years ago maybe four now,
I don't recall you were lookingfor volunteering at the
Speaker's.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Commission.
I was, yeah, I said Barry, Iwant to come volunteer and he
goes.
Well, let's come and have aconversation.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
I was like famous last words.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
So we had this unique opportunity as a board member
at Topeka Rescue Mission.
Why did you say yes to a boardposition here and what have you
seen, learned during your timesince you came on the board?
I mean?
Speaker 4 (18:32):
just the impactful work that Topeka Rescue Mission
has had in so many years to somany people and to those who
most often don't have a voice.
You know, when we were workingon Momentum 2022, we talked
(19:03):
about you know we need to makesure that we are listening and
paying attention to those whoare less fortunate than us, and
so, yeah, and you know, I lookat volunteering on the board is
one thing, but the real work isnot done at the board level.
The real work is done with allthe leadership and all the staff
at TRM.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Honestly, From coming in, and this is like almost all
volunteers and new staffmembers is.
They come in, they had acertain idea what Topeka Rescue
Mission was, and then they get areally much larger idea.
Oh my goodness, How's that kindof changed from what you knew
on the outside and now you're onthe inside.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
I don't know Just the depth of compassion you know,
and that I hear some examples ofjust how staff and leadership
step up to help individuals, andjust that if it's not here,
(19:57):
then where else are they gettingthat care?
And they're not right.
And so just that compassion isso important and, honestly, you
know, more of it is needed inthe world.
You know, and not just, notjust in compassion for their
(20:19):
situation, but their human,their, you know, their future.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Amanda, merriam don't mean to exclude you from the
conversation here, but Shellyand our long term friends, so
that's why so.
So, amanda, as a CEO, threeyears last week that you've been
here, and you were here forwhat?
Eight months when I was here.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
I started in June of 21, so I'm about to have four
years.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Shelly was a pretty new board member at that time
when you started as well.
What's it mean to you I mean,you've said this before to
really have this board ofdirectors.
That is your supervision, butalso your partnership.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
One of the first things that I remember about
Shelly was one of the first fewboard meetings.
She said something to theextent of that she and I would
be learning together.
And that has stuck with mebecause when I look at Shelly
and other board members too,they have such a plethora of
experience widespread right,both locally, both sometimes in
(21:19):
other areas of the world, thosekinds of things.
But then everybody, whetherit's staff, board members,
volunteers, we all go throughlike the same learning curve
when we're embedded in TRM andit's kind of like that phrase
that we've joked before.
Everybody says I had no idea,right, we've talked before.
We've joked before.
Everybody says I had no idea,right, we've talked before.
We need the T-shirts that say Ihave no idea.
(21:40):
That that's our theme themephrase.
And so I love kind of Shelly'sheart on that, that here she is.
She's such a humble woman,coming with all of this
experience and all of thesetitles right that the Lord has
allowed her to have, yet shestill embraces one being a
(22:02):
servant and two being a learner.
And so when you have that kindof heart, to me Shelly
represents such a beautiful andstrong board member because
she's so eager to learn andhumble to say there is so much
there that I don't know rightwithin the rescue mission.
But yet there's also this silentstrength in her because you
(22:25):
realize what all she's done andthat God continues, like she
said, guiding her steps.
And so to me I love it's almostlike this part of the
friendship, but then also Istill recognize them as my
governing body and because theyhave the wisdom and they have
the dedication.
And Shelly is such a perfectmixture of that sponge and wants
(22:45):
to learn, and when she comes tothe board meetings you can tell
she wants to hear, unless I'masking for money, probably, but
she's just so she wants to learnthat and she's just so invested
in all the stories that Miriamand I are sharing.
Yet she's so dependable and weknow that God's going to give
her wisdom, the right questionsto ask, the right time to pause
(23:10):
and also the right time to takeaction, even if it means we're
walking solely by faith, and Ilove that about her.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
I think that's well said about you, shelly.
You know very, very humble,very quiet but, very powerful
your experiences here.
Obviously that you've done.
You may want to listen to thisagain.
If you're ever looking for adifferent job, use this on your
resume.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
I'll type it up.
I'll type it up?
Speaker 2 (23:32):
No, that's you, miriam.
I want to get to you in asecond.
But, shelly, what would you say?
From when you first came on,topeka Reshmus got the inside
view.
What's one or two of thebiggest things that you learned?
That I think for our listenerswould be would be important that
maybe they haven't been on theinside of Topeka rescue.
What have you learned?
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Oh, my goodness, I think most importantly is that
the level of the level ofexpertise, of support, of
guiding and being a good stewardof the dollars that people give
, guiding and being a goodsteward of the dollars that
people give, but also managing,um, just everything that comes
(24:15):
from day to day, and so, um,that solid um, that, that solid
um, you know, approach um, andand yet a huge amount of faith
that, that that we trust, andyet a huge amount of faith that
we trust and that's carriedforward to me in my work at
Hayden too, honestly.
(24:36):
So, because we don't know,right, yeah, so that has been
eye-opening to me and I thinkthat would be a great comfort to
those who are not only guestsat the mission but also
contributing to the mission.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
That's been a marker that has to be met here, that
donor confidence to take care ofthe funds.
We all, and probably many ofour listeners, realize that it's
not just about what we do herein front of people, it's about
what we do in front of the Lordand how we honor him and he's
going to entrust us like heentrusts you to lead Hayden and
(25:16):
entrust LaManda to lead TopekaRescue Mission, and trust those
people.
And in trusting that, you've gotto take care of all the
resources.
Well, and those resources arevolunteers and those resources
are not used, but they're aresource that God brings to us
and those are the people whoneed help and those are
(25:37):
resources because they help usto know how to help them better.
And so, yeah, Miriam, you'vebeen involved in a lot of things
in community in regards toUnited Way, Topeka Rescue
Mission, Greater TopekaPartnership, on and on and on
and on downtown DTI and so forth.
You get the chance to sit rightnext to the men in board
meetings and you've known Shellyfor some time.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Well, and you know, Shelly and I have a very special
bond because we share abirthday.
Oh, is that right?
December 12th December 12th.
All right, okay, josh, make anote of that We'll have a
special day.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Well, I'm sure it's going to show up on one of these
sheets.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
It's a Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
So I might have a couple of years on.
Shelly, we do share a birthday.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Not same place, same time.
Yeah, so to you.
You've been United Way board,You've had that over your side,
Topeka Rescue Mission board.
They're all a little bitdifferent, but something with
Shelly's experiences that bringsto board.
What do you see from theimportance of that?
(26:35):
Not everybody has to have thepedigree that Shelly has, but
what's the value of thispedigree that you know about
Shelly?
Speaker 3 (26:39):
The importance of that and why it makes Shelly
such an ideal candidate for anyboard.
Right, but definitely for us isthe diversity in her experience
, shelley, because when we'retalking about different things
whether we're talking aboutdifferent government things,
that we're looking at fundingordinances, whatever the case
(27:00):
might be Shelley can bring avery personal experience to how
we might try to navigate that.
Then you look at her nonprofitbackground and that's just a
perfect fit and then you thinkabout what she's doing.
Now we know how importanteducation is.
If we didn't know it fromLaManda, who comes from an
(27:21):
education background, we couldknow it here too in terms.
So when we're talking aboutthat kind of programming for the
people who we get to serve,that then is an influence there
too.
So I think when you look at whatShelly brings to the table,
it's perfect for us because itintersects with her experience,
(27:42):
intersects with so many of thedifferent things that we have to
intersect with and that makesit wonderful, because there's no
way that any CEO, no matter howwonderful they are, whether it
was you before, whether it'sLaManda now there is just such a
need for this multidisciplinedinput into what we do, because
(28:04):
we just can't know it all, andso having board members that can
bring, we can can't know it alland we also can't afford it all
.
Right, so we can't have that.
So when you get that with yourvolunteer board, all of a sudden
, now you have these expertise,principles and focuses that you
get access to all the time- andsome people may be listening and
(28:26):
saying well, all you reallyneed for people to work at the
rescue mission, volunteer or bea board members to care.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
And that's true, that's a very first, one of the
first elements to care aboutpeople who are in need.
But Topeka Rescue Missiontouches many different parts of
the community community safetyand health and education and
workforce and housing.
I mean all of those things.
And so to have thismultidisciplinary, as you call
(28:53):
it, board of directors comingalong and you know, I remember,
shelley, when we first met Idon't know if you remember we
were in my office here and wewere working on Safest Capital
City and you were countycommissioner at the time.
And you know I'm thinking OK,here's a former mayor, here's a
county commissioner.
And then you said, you used todrive a forklift in a food bank
in Colorado and I go, wow, she'sawesome to have that and so a
(29:14):
well-rounded experience in there, Shell.
I'm going to kind of put you onthe spot here.
As a board member, you knowTopeka Rescue Mission is
attempting to steward everythingthat it has been granted to
steward.
But it's also forward thinkingand as a board member individual
(29:34):
board members have, you know,what could we become, what could
Topeka Rescue Mission becomeand as corporately that's going
to happen.
And then you have the CEO overhere.
That's always got vision.
You know, Dr Miss Vision overhere, Dr Miss Vision over here.
And so what do you think?
What do you think with we'veseen in your time with Topeka
Rescue Mission, there's been asignificant increase of people
(29:57):
that don't have a place to beRight.
There's been a significantincrease in people who are
hungry.
There's been a significant lossof what we would call safety
net.
What's forward thinking in youropinion, as a board member and
as board of regents andpresident of the school, what's
Topeka Rescue Mission should belooking towards in the future?
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Oh, my goodness Well, and I know that's putting you
on the spot, it is huge.
But I mean, I know that it'snot just here in Topeka, I know
it's in several differentcommunities across the nation.
And gosh for the future.
That is a big question.
(30:38):
It is.
I think, honestly, we have togo back to how we integrate
again, being kind and beinghuman in no matter what we are
doing.
And so, if that means from thecorporate boardrooms to
(31:02):
education, to commercialbusiness, to, you know,
commercial business, I mean it'snot just the Topeka Rescue
Mission's job, it's everybody'sjob.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
Right.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
And so how do you consciously keep that in the
forefront of people?
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
And you know I mean you never know, you know when
that you know family member mayexperience homelessness or crime
or whatever I mean.
So you can't go into, you can'tgo through this world and think
nothing is going to touch melike that, because you're just
fooling yourself.
Right, correct, right.
(31:46):
But to somehow you know that werely on everyone in our
community to help with this.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Yeah, and I think it isn't separate, right.
And you know, barry, I thinkback to when I first came to
Topeka, back to Topeka, right,that was 2008.
And when they took me around toshow me the city, one of my
questions that I asked because Ihad been working in Bakersfield
with the homeless population,with United Way there.
(32:16):
But I asked so I'm not seeingpeople who are homeless, where
are your homeless?
Where do they stay?
What do they do?
Where do they stay, what dothey do?
And the person that was touringme around the city said well,
(32:38):
you know, I'm not really surethat there are a lot of homeless
people, but well, we do have arescue mission, right, I mean?
So that was the environmentthen, in terms of the knowledge
of somebody who should haveknown that did not see it.
That is not the case anymore,should?
have known that did not see it.
That is not the case anymore.
So when our CEO or our boardmembers are now out in the
committee and our community andpeople know that we are involved
(32:58):
with people experiencinghomelessness, it's a whole
different perspective there Idon't believe there is anyone
anymore that would say I'm notsure we really have a problem
with the homeless at all anymore.
And what that means, then, interms of the importance of our
board and our CEO knowing what'sgoing on, to be able to speak
(33:23):
about it, to speak about theneed for compassion, to speak
also about the need forsolutions that are inclusive of
everyone has maybe never been asimportant because it is so in
the forefront.
So being on the board now forthe Topeka Rescue Mission is
maybe different than it was in2008.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Oh, I think so.
I think that you know, andthere's an asset and a liability
.
Yes, thank God, for 70 plusyears, Topeka Rescue Mission has
been able to help people to go.
I'm not sure we have a homelessproblem here, because they were
here.
It's not like Topeka RescueMission quit doing it.
It's not like Topeka RescueMission reduced its population.
It did for a little bit duringCOVID, but now it's busting into
(34:04):
seams again.
Plus, we have these other folks.
Shelly, as a president of ahigh school, how are we
equipping the next generation tocare and to get in the game, so
to speak, to be able to do this?
Great question.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
That's part of that deal, that we can place an
emphasis on our students to makesure that they are nurturing
relationship with Christ, thatthey are doing that first and
foremost.
That is in our missionstatement.
So, again, looking at virtuesand looking at how we treat one
(34:46):
another, so we're trying to dothat.
We have about 35% of ourstudents who are on tuition
assistance, and so there mightbe some perception with private
schools, but we feel that it'svery important in our mission
(35:09):
that we could provide a Catholiceducation to those students who
desire one, and so that helpswith our diversity of our
classes our student population,so students and families who
have needs as well.
Absolutely, and so you know, atleast for me, I can answer that
(35:29):
having that strong faith is veryimportant, backed up with
excellent academics, a greatexperience for them in high
school.
High school is tough, it istough, and so we want to try to
have that great experience.
We call it the Haydenexperience, so that they do
leave high school, that they areequipped for what comes next,
(35:54):
and so we don't shelter them butwe do provide opportunities.
Our motto is enter to learn,leave to serve, and so we have a
service component in ourgraduation requirements so they
do a certain part of theircommunity service hours, parish
(36:17):
service hours and Corporal Worksof Mercy.
So visiting the know,developing that whole person, we
know academics is importantabsolutely, but we believe most
importantly it's developing yourrelationship with Christ and
(36:38):
how you live that out throughthe rest of your life.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
The issue of homelessness has become a very
polarizing issue in our country.
It has yeah, and so there arepeople that are very sympathetic
and compassionate and believethat everybody's entitled to
housing, and then there's otherpeople that say it's their fault
, it's their problem, theycreated it, deal with it or go
to jail or whatever.
Just get them out of our way.
(37:00):
That's generally my guesstimate.
That's not the kids at highschool level, that's not junior,
high or grade school kids, forsure.
This is the adults who haven'tlearned or whatever.
What are you seeing in the kidswith the level of desire to
serve community and the desireto be engaged in the community?
(37:20):
Do we have hope there?
Speaker 4 (37:21):
We do Absolutely.
It's the jubilee year of hopeif.
I'm right, francis.
We absolutely do, and I think,even though it's a requirement,
such fruit comes out of thatbecause, they do get to see,
they do get to experience thosewho are less fortunate than them
(37:43):
, but they get to walk rightbeside them and help them.
So there is a huge amount ofhope and I in particular, I see
this too.
We have a couple differentopportunities during the summer
Catholic Heart Work Camp orPrayer in Action and so take a
week of summer and we go.
(38:04):
We've done that here in Topeka,we've done it in Lawrence,
we've done it in Atchison.
We go and we pray and we work,and that's the whole week.
And so they're going intosituations that are not good and
they're safe but they're notgood.
But learning from that and thentaking that back to the other
(38:28):
students at Hayden so I go onthose trips just because I love
it, learning from that and thentaking that back to the other
students at Hayden so I go onthose trips just because I love
it.
I love to see the studentsexperiencing that.
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
So, yes, there's a huge amount of hope.
That's encouraging.
Yeah Well, we're going to needthe next generation to step up
into this, from my generation toLamanda.
Seeing that next generation, Ithink some of us are wondering
is anybody out there that'sgoing to take up the baton and
carry it on?
And, as LaManda has alreadytalked about, she can't
breakdance anymore withoutinjury.
It's going to be those onesthat come along to step up into
(39:00):
this, because things are veryuncertain for our nation, very
uncertain for people who are inneed.
We look in statistics in regardsto the increasing homeless and
the older homeless and what theycall the graying homeless and
where that's going.
We really don't have the luxuryof waiting for somebody else to
take care of it but we alsoneed the next ones coming up,
(39:22):
Right right.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
I am a firm believer, though, that God puts you in
this place and this time to dothat work and as much as you can
, and he will give you that, andso you try to do the very best
you can for the time you'regiven here and no matter what
situation.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
So being good stewards of that Well thank you
for saying yes and doing whatyou can on your watch.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
I don't do enough.
No, I don't, not for TRM, butwith all the other thing you're
doing.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
I'm not sure you've got any time for anything, so
yeah, but, shelly, it's beenjust such a blessing to know you
you were my county commissionerand you know just to have you
come on something that's verydear to my heart Topeka Rescue
Mission.
I can't think of too manypeople better than you to do
(40:14):
this job, and I know thateverybody feels that way around
here, you all do the hard work,you do the heavy lifting, and I
so appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Thank you for being a part of that.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Thank you for being a part of that.
Anything else you'd like to say?
I'm good, okay, all right, apart of that.
Anything else you'd like to say?
I'm good, okay.
Well, thank you for listeningto our community, our mission.
We've heard from Shelly Bueller, a board member at Topeka
Rescue Mission, and also manyother things, including the
president of Hayden High Schoolin our community, one person who
has said yes to the Lord intheir life to say I'm here, show
me where to go and I will go.
(40:45):
And we have many people thatjoin us in this effort.
For that person who, today, iswondering if anybody cares.
Maybe they're wondering ifthey're going to get something
to eat today, or they have to goanother day without something
to eat, or maybe wondering ifthey're going to be safe when
they're sleeping in the streets.
And yes, there is a place andthere is people like Shelly
Buehler, like you, who comealong to help us to be our
(41:06):
community, our mission.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for this
time to be together, Lord torecord this podcast, and Lord
for all of the listeners who aregoing to hear it.
Lord, we pray just your specialblessing over this conversation
.
Thank you for our guests today.
Pray a blessing over them andtheir dedication to the work
going on here at the mission.
Lord, bless this time and blessthe listeners.
Lord, in your holy name, wepray, Amen.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello everybody, thank you for joining us for
another episode of Our Community, our Mission, a podcast of the
Topeka Rescue Mission here onTuesday, april 29th of 2025.
This is podcast episode number265.
Good morning, lamanda andMiriam.
Good morning, how are you doingthis morning?
Good Good, we've got a littlecooler weather in the middle of
the spring.
We didn't get a tornado lastnight, so good to go.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
But we did get some rain, which we needed.
We needed it, we did.
We need rain, yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
So we're going to jump right into those most
important things about thepodcast, and that's the research
and development department.
Research is about the importantparts of our day, and then
we're going to get to our very,very, very, very special guest
today so.
Lamanda, Miriam, did you get upthis morning?
The first thing that you didand recognize the importance of
April 29th with your moves.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
You know, I'm sure LaManda did, I did not, you did
not, I did not.
No, miriam, is it age yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
As a matter of fact, I get it.
I get it.
So, amanda, I'm sure you jumpedout of bed and started dancing
this morning.
Right, I sure did.
Why did you do that?
Speaker 5 (01:32):
The first thought I had, aside from scripture and
prayer, is it's InternationalDance Day.
I've got to get my boots onright.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Everybody knows that.
So put on your dancing shoestoday.
Let's honor the world of dancetoday, together Maybe not
together, just dance and try toturn anybody when you're doing
it, or yourself Remember.
Speaker 5 (01:49):
I mean, I'm still recovering.
No, I don't remember.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Oh, that's right.
So last September I was dancingand flipping.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
And for some reason, I forgot that I'm older than you
used to be and that I'm about40 pounds heavier than what I
used to be and my body did.
My arm did not hold up my bodywith those dance moves and the
flips, and so, yeah, I tore mytrapezoid muscle.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
And that right there is why we should not do that.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
That's exactly right, which was a nice little bill
and for some reason I got towatch that arm when I do my
morning dance moves, oh gosh.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So Research and Development Department for the
CEO of Topeka Rescue Missionsend her some information about
alternate dance moves, yeah, allright, or just not Moving along
we always try to choose threeof these.
It's National Shrimp Scampi Day, delicious yes.
Why do you think somebodycreated National?
Shrimp Scampi Day, my guess isthey were just eating it and
(02:46):
then were like, all right,today's the day, and so they
came back over and, over andover again and had scampi, and
so the research and developmentdepartment did go a little
further with this to look intoNational Coconut Shrimp Day, and
what date is that on?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I actually couldn't find that.
So here I did find NationalShrimp.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Day is May 10th.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
General.
So yeah, which we don't have apodcast that day.
So if you're really interestedin shrimp, put that on your
calendar so you don't miss it.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Stay tuned.
That's on a Saturday, so wewill not be in here talking
about that.
So, but anyway, there must havebeen a bunch of people from
Kansas who are recognizingshrimp day.
I mean people on the Gulf.
No, no big deal.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Do you like seafood?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, I see seafood and I like it, do you not?
Speaker 5 (03:29):
I love, I love shrimp scampi.
I just guess I've never had aconversation with Barry about it
.
I've had seafood with you.
Yes, you have Um.
Well, if you want to show mesome shrimp.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I'll try it.
Um yeah, I'll see if I like it,I see food and like almost
every food I see.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
All right.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Our guest is probably .
Why did I say yes?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Why did I say yes?
Why did I say yes?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
She's such a serious person.
So one more, one more.
Now, this is really important.
It's National.
What day?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Zipper Day, it's National.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Zipper Day.
Zipper Day Can you say that,with a little more Of a zip to
it?
Zipper day, okay.
So how long Do you thinkZippers have been around?
There was a time Before youremember, back in Jesus'.
Day, when they were Zipping upthe.
You know they didn't haveZippers back then.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
I don't know, did they have buttons?
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Even.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Ask the Lord when you make it Barry, Ask him.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Exactly, I don't even think they did have buttons.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So we kind of take zippers for granted.
Matter of fact, there's a fewzippers in here right now, and
sometimes you want to make sureyour zipper's working, but
anyway, it's National Zipper Day.
That was created in the 1800s.
The guy who created it nevergot any recognition for it.
He could be a millionairebillionaire, if you still like
got any recognition for it.
(04:45):
He could be a millionairebillionaire if he's still alive.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
But he's not.
But anyway, back.
They called it the hookless,fastener the hookless, so
apparently they hook stuff.
Oh, that's funny, that isreally funny, yeah, the hookless
fastener.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
April 29th on this date in 1913.
So, zippers haven't been aroundthat long.
Interesting.
What would we do without azipper, Anyway?
Speaker 5 (05:03):
so I'm going to have to tell my oldest that she came
in last night and was extremelyserious and she said, which
she's going to be 13.
And so she's just a hootanyways.
But she said, mom, I need youto call your seamstress friends.
I know you have a couple,because her mama is not.
I mean, I've tried and it's notgood, but she has this backpack
(05:39):
that I've had since she was ababy and thankfully we can wash
it and things like that.
But she still carries it withdifferent things in it as a
teenager and it's got her eitherher name on have tons of bags.
And she looked at me, deadserious.
She says, not this one, and weare going to do this and we need
to get it fixed.
And so I said okay.
And she goes and look andliterally in her hand is the
entire zipper that came off thecotton part of the bag and she
goes.
It happened last week but Iforgot to tell you, but I've
(06:01):
been saving it.
So not only does she want itfixed, she does not want another
zipper, she wants the samezipper that's been on it and
somehow for the seamstress,whoever that is to put it on
there, Bless her heart.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So tonight, when you go home, you're going to talk
about this Correct?
Yeah, I'm like we've got to dothat, I know a good seamstress.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
My mom is a she can fix anything.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
There you go, she can fix anything, there you go.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
You heard a third voice or a fourth voice that
came out here and we're going tointroduce her now.
She's a former director notdirector, but at least worked in
a food bank in Colorado.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
I did.
Driving forklifts I did.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Had some history here .
Originally from Kansas, wentout to Colorado, then went to a
town called Rossville.
Became the mayor of Rossvilleand then decided to invest more
into the whole county of ShawneeCounty, be a county
commissioner and then for abouteight years now, roughly has
been the president of HaydenHigh School, has been the
chairman of the Board of Regentsof Worsham University and is
(06:56):
also a longtime board member ofthe Topeka Community Foundation
and a whole lot of other things.
One of our favorite people.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mentionthis.
A board member of Top to ourpodcast.
Thank you all for inviting me.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Seriously, I was, I was.
I told Josh I'm a littleintimidated.
I am, I've never done a podcast, so just full transparency.
So amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Podcasts are so trendy and, shelly, we know from
seeing you on TV a billiontimes being a county
commissioner for two terms.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Three terms, three terms Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And you've been interviewed a lot.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
I know and we said.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Today you're interviewed amongst friends.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Yes, and I said be kind, please.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Well, Shelly, you had quite experience.
You had a degree fromBenedictine in what In community
services.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
So it was an interdisciplinary degree back in
the day and it was sociologyand home economics and I did not
.
Oddly enough, I started ineducation and then figured out
my sophomore year.
I could probably not do that.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
And now I'm at a school.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I know, I know, but I started.
I finished at Benedictine andstarted at NECAP in Atchison
County and had my office in thebasement of the courthouse in
Atchison County.
Oh, my goodness office in thebasement of the courthouse in
Atchison County and so yeah.
But a lot of those things thatI learned in college really
(08:28):
helped me in that.
I worked there that semester inpersonal finance, nutrition,
working with the total familyprogram, that sort of thing.
So that was my first real jobout of college.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So, and driving forklifts on a, on a, on a, yeah
, so that came.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
That came a little bit later got married.
Did you hear that?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Miriam Iifts on a food distribution.
Yeah, so that came.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
a little bit later Got married.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Did you hear that, Miriam?
I know I've already written itdown Exactly.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I got married, we moved to Colorado Springs and
worked at the Colorado SpringsFood Bank and again still in my
field of, you know, study, Iguess, and uh, yeah.
So we, uh, we managed a lot ofdifferent food banks, uh,
smaller food banks in and arounduh Southern Colorado, pueblo,
(09:11):
la Junta, those areas, and um,yeah, and they, uh, I learned
how to drive a food, uh, aforklift.
Not very well, I was supervisedmost of the time, but you know,
it was just a really good time.
I just learned a lot aboutservice, you know, and it was a
(09:36):
good time.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Did you ever dream in those days that you'd be in
politics someday?
Speaker 4 (09:40):
No, never.
A president of a high school.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
No, okay, didn't dream that.
Okay, never, did you ever dreamin those days, you Okay didn't
dream of that, never.
Did you ever dream in thosedays you'd be on the board of
directors of a homeless service?
No, I figured, maybe.
So what were?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
you doing?
I don't know.
Maybe I don't know why thiscame so late.
Why'd you wait?
No, I did not, you know, Idon't think God knows your path
right, yeah, and God knows yourpath right, and so I just kind
of kept going with whatever wasbeing called to do, so you moved
into Rossville.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
You and Steve did.
He's the coach of the RossvilleBulldogs.
He was yeah, they're a veryfamous team in this part of the
world and good rivalry with theSilver Lake Eagles, of course,
yeah and so forth, and so I'mgoing to talk about what he's
doing in a minute and talk aboutthe conflict you must have in
your home.
But anyway, so You're in thetown of Rossville and they have
(10:34):
a mayor there.
Some people probably don't knowthat a town like Rossville has
a mayor, but you became a mayor.
What led you to that?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Well, I mean I think growing up one I've just been
thinking about this.
I mean, I've always beeninvolved in service.
I was a Girl Scout.
I mean I was involved in churchand my family my mom and dad
were really involved, and so mysisters and my family.
My mom and dad were reallyinvolved, and so my sisters and
my brother.
So we were always involved inservice, always doing things.
So then when I went to collegethat just kind of solidified
(11:03):
everything.
And then, you know, growing upI mean having a family then I
was looking for something thatwas flexible.
So I volunteered for my churchand was doing things there and
so had somebody approach me andjust I had chaired a church
picnic and said hey, have youthought about running for mayor?
(11:23):
And I'm like no, never done.
Church picnic Mayor yeah so, butit was absolutely so much fun.
How long were you the mayor?
I was the mayor for two terms,but in the middle of my second
term then I ran for countycommissioner.
But you know, being mayor of asmall town, roswell's a great
(11:44):
community but we were right onMain Street with my office and,
you know, had office hours andmy daughter would go to the
senior center with me and shewas the butter girl, she would
give the butter.
She was really little then.
So you know it was just areally, really good experience.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Do you miss being the mayor of the world capital of
the cornhole?
Festival the tall corn, tallcorn festival.
That's what it is.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Yes, yes and if you haven't been second weekend in
August always.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Always a good time so real good times.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
And great people that I worked with there.
And then just we experienced aflood Rossville does have floods
sometimes, yeah, and that'swhen I think I first got my
experience and exposure tocounty politics in a different
way and then was encouraged torun for a county commissioner.
(12:36):
I ran as an independent, I didnot know what I was getting
myself into, but uh, yeah.
So just that service and and umyeah, that's just always been a
part of my life.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I think, uh, as I recall you and I officially met
during your time as countycommissioner when we were doing
the safest capital cityinitiative and yes.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And you were working with Dick Klein.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Who was the head of the Shawnee County Department of
Corrections, and we workedtogether on trying to bring
safety to the community.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Those were some fun days.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Oh they were, they were.
We had some great, great, greatexperiences and also some
results Absolutely On that wholeeffort, absolutely.
So back in the day, ron Millerwas a police chief.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Dick.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Barta was a sheriff, and those were some really good
relationships that built to helpus to think about other things
that we could do in the samemanner.
So three terms countycommissioner and now president
of Hayden High School and talkabout that.
What is a president of HaydenHigh School?
It's private, it is a privateschool.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
We're an archdiocesan high school, so we're about 334
students.
So we have apresident-principal model.
That's what the archdiocese ofKansas City, that's how we have
our high schools.
So my principal, jamesSandstrom, vice principal John
Tetuan, they really manage theacademic portion, and then I,
(13:59):
along with my team, whichthey're a great team, we do most
of the administration.
So advancement facilities, thebusiness office, you know all
those types of things.
So we are part of thearchdiocese, so there is a
superintendent for the whole,for the 42 schools that are in
the archdiocese.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Is that Northeast Kansas?
Okay so, yeah, okay.
So that's a pretty big systemthere.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
It is, it is, but I really running as county
commissioner really helped mewith some of those skills too.
It's like everything kind ofkept building upon itself Right
and I did not plan.
I had decided not to run for afourth term, but I did not
anticipate this coming into mylife at all.
And I was approached again bysomeone who said, have you ever
(14:47):
thought about this?
Slid a piece of paper acrossthe table and I flipped it up
and I was like, oh my goodness,no.
And my husband at the time,working at Washburn Rural High
School, and Hayden and WashburnRural have a healthy, healthy
rivalry.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
That's the conflict we wanted to bring up here today
.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
But he, my husband, was born and raised in Denver
Catholic schools all the waythrough.
So he was like, absolutely, whydon't?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
you, why don't?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
you try, and so I prayed about it and applied, and
, and then yeah, and then herewe are.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
So Steve is the head football coach of the Worshman
Rule.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
High School.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
And you have a football team at Hayden.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Yes, we do.
Do you guys ever play eachother?
We did the first couple ofyears that I was there, and I'm
glad we don't now.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
It was a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Imagine what Friday nights and Saturday mornings
must have been like.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Yeah, as some of his assistant coaches.
It was a lot stressful, but Ithink during that time I think
Hayden won once, Washburn Ruralwon once, and then we're a 4A,
3A, 4A and Washburn World's 6A.
So yeah, but we do play eachother in basketball and baseball
and everything else, so stillin basketball and baseball.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Okay, so there's still some issues here.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Still Centennial League, still somewhat.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Some issues here, oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
No, no, I've met Steve a few times.
Great guy, obviously verysuccessful in the Bulldogs and
now in the Blues, that's right.
So, Shelley, also going intoyour continue on and serving.
You've served as chair of theWashburn University Board of
(16:28):
Regents.
What's that mean?
What does it mean to be on theBoard of Regents?
We have the Kansas Board ofRegents, which Washburn's not
under, if I understand thatcorrectly, and Washburn's
separated from that.
So what is that like?
What?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
does a regent do in regards to a Washburn University
?
Well, I'm incredibly gratefulto Governor Kelly, her appointee
on there, and so you know thathuge responsibility that I just
am so grateful for.
But, of course, education, andeducation in all forms, from,
you know, technical school toyour bachelor's, to your
master's, to your law degree,you know, I mean, I mean you can
(17:09):
, you can enter any one area ofthose.
So, and I think, looking backat when I first got out of
college and worked with thosefamilies, education does make a
huge difference in, you know,that person's life and their
family's life.
So, yeah, I mean, and Washburnis just a gem in almost the
(17:33):
middle of Kansas, but just somany amazing opportunities there
.
So I just feel completelyblessed to serve there and help
guide the direction.
I mean, dr Farley has done awonderful job and I was there on
that transition and then, ofcourse, hiring Dr Mazachek has
been simply amazing.
(17:54):
And you were chairing the searchcommittee and everything.
Big decisions there.
That was huge.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
So, shelly, about three years ago maybe four now,
I don't recall you were lookingfor volunteering at the
Speaker's.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Commission.
I was, yeah, I said Barry, Iwant to come volunteer and he
goes.
Well, let's come and have aconversation.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
I was like famous last words.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
So we had this unique opportunity as a board member
at Topeka Rescue Mission.
Why did you say yes to a boardposition here and what have you
seen, learned during your timesince you came on the board?
I mean?
Speaker 4 (18:32):
just the impactful work that Topeka Rescue Mission
has had in so many years to somany people and to those who
most often don't have a voice.
You know, when we were workingon Momentum 2022, we talked
(19:03):
about you know we need to makesure that we are listening and
paying attention to those whoare less fortunate than us, and
so, yeah, and you know, I lookat volunteering on the board is
one thing, but the real work isnot done at the board level.
The real work is done with allthe leadership and all the staff
at TRM.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Honestly, From coming in, and this is like almost all
volunteers and new staffmembers is.
They come in, they had acertain idea what Topeka Rescue
Mission was, and then they get areally much larger idea.
Oh my goodness, How's that kindof changed from what you knew
on the outside and now you're onthe inside.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
I don't know Just the depth of compassion you know,
and that I hear some examples ofjust how staff and leadership
step up to help individuals, andjust that if it's not here,
(19:57):
then where else are they gettingthat care?
And they're not right.
And so just that compassion isso important and, honestly, you
know, more of it is needed inthe world.
You know, and not just, notjust in compassion for their
(20:19):
situation, but their human,their, you know, their future.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Amanda, merriam don't mean to exclude you from the
conversation here, but Shellyand our long term friends, so
that's why so.
So, amanda, as a CEO, threeyears last week that you've been
here, and you were here forwhat?
Eight months when I was here.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
I started in June of 21, so I'm about to have four
years.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Shelly was a pretty new board member at that time
when you started as well.
What's it mean to you I mean,you've said this before to
really have this board ofdirectors.
That is your supervision, butalso your partnership.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
One of the first things that I remember about
Shelly was one of the first fewboard meetings.
She said something to theextent of that she and I would
be learning together.
And that has stuck with mebecause when I look at Shelly
and other board members too,they have such a plethora of
experience widespread right,both locally, both sometimes in
(21:19):
other areas of the world, thosekinds of things.
But then everybody, whetherit's staff, board members,
volunteers, we all go throughlike the same learning curve
when we're embedded in TRM andit's kind of like that phrase
that we've joked before.
Everybody says I had no idea,right, we've talked before.
We've joked before.
Everybody says I had no idea,right, we've talked before.
We need the T-shirts that say Ihave no idea.
(21:40):
That that's our theme themephrase.
And so I love kind of Shelly'sheart on that, that here she is.
She's such a humble woman,coming with all of this
experience and all of thesetitles right that the Lord has
allowed her to have, yet shestill embraces one being a
(22:02):
servant and two being a learner.
And so when you have that kindof heart, to me Shelly
represents such a beautiful andstrong board member because
she's so eager to learn andhumble to say there is so much
there that I don't know rightwithin the rescue mission.
But yet there's also this silentstrength in her because you
(22:25):
realize what all she's done andthat God continues, like she
said, guiding her steps.
And so to me I love it's almostlike this part of the
friendship, but then also Istill recognize them as my
governing body and because theyhave the wisdom and they have
the dedication.
And Shelly is such a perfectmixture of that sponge and wants
(22:45):
to learn, and when she comes tothe board meetings you can tell
she wants to hear, unless I'masking for money, probably, but
she's just so she wants to learnthat and she's just so invested
in all the stories that Miriamand I are sharing.
Yet she's so dependable and weknow that God's going to give
her wisdom, the right questionsto ask, the right time to pause
(23:10):
and also the right time to takeaction, even if it means we're
walking solely by faith, and Ilove that about her.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
I think that's well said about you, shelly.
You know very, very humble,very quiet but, very powerful
your experiences here.
Obviously that you've done.
You may want to listen to thisagain.
If you're ever looking for adifferent job, use this on your
resume.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
I'll type it up.
I'll type it up?
Speaker 2 (23:32):
No, that's you, miriam.
I want to get to you in asecond.
But, shelly, what would you say?
From when you first came on,topeka Reshmus got the inside
view.
What's one or two of thebiggest things that you learned?
That I think for our listenerswould be would be important that
maybe they haven't been on theinside of Topeka rescue.
What have you learned?
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Oh, my goodness, I think most importantly is that
the level of the level ofexpertise, of support, of
guiding and being a good stewardof the dollars that people give
, guiding and being a goodsteward of the dollars that
people give, but also managing,um, just everything that comes
(24:15):
from day to day, and so, um,that solid um, that, that solid
um, you know, approach um, andand yet a huge amount of faith
that, that that we trust, andyet a huge amount of faith that
we trust and that's carriedforward to me in my work at
Hayden too, honestly.
(24:36):
So, because we don't know,right, yeah, so that has been
eye-opening to me and I thinkthat would be a great comfort to
those who are not only guestsat the mission but also
contributing to the mission.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
That's been a marker that has to be met here, that
donor confidence to take care ofthe funds.
We all, and probably many ofour listeners, realize that it's
not just about what we do herein front of people, it's about
what we do in front of the Lordand how we honor him and he's
going to entrust us like heentrusts you to lead Hayden and
(25:16):
entrust LaManda to lead TopekaRescue Mission, and trust those
people.
And in trusting that, you've gotto take care of all the
resources.
Well, and those resources arevolunteers and those resources
are not used, but they're aresource that God brings to us
and those are the people whoneed help and those are
(25:37):
resources because they help usto know how to help them better.
And so, yeah, Miriam, you'vebeen involved in a lot of things
in community in regards toUnited Way, Topeka Rescue
Mission, Greater TopekaPartnership, on and on and on
and on downtown DTI and so forth.
You get the chance to sit rightnext to the men in board
meetings and you've known Shellyfor some time.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Well, and you know, Shelly and I have a very special
bond because we share abirthday.
Oh, is that right?
December 12th December 12th.
All right, okay, josh, make anote of that We'll have a
special day.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Well, I'm sure it's going to show up on one of these
sheets.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
It's a Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
So I might have a couple of years on.
Shelly, we do share a birthday.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Not same place, same time.
Yeah, so to you.
You've been United Way board,You've had that over your side,
Topeka Rescue Mission board.
They're all a little bitdifferent, but something with
Shelly's experiences that bringsto board.
What do you see from theimportance of that?
(26:35):
Not everybody has to have thepedigree that Shelly has, but
what's the value of thispedigree that you know about
Shelly?
Speaker 3 (26:39):
The importance of that and why it makes Shelly
such an ideal candidate for anyboard.
Right, but definitely for us isthe diversity in her experience
, shelley, because when we'retalking about different things
whether we're talking aboutdifferent government things,
that we're looking at fundingordinances, whatever the case
(27:00):
might be Shelley can bring avery personal experience to how
we might try to navigate that.
Then you look at her nonprofitbackground and that's just a
perfect fit and then you thinkabout what she's doing.
Now we know how importanteducation is.
If we didn't know it fromLaManda, who comes from an
(27:21):
education background, we couldknow it here too in terms.
So when we're talking aboutthat kind of programming for the
people who we get to serve,that then is an influence there
too.
So I think when you look at whatShelly brings to the table,
it's perfect for us because itintersects with her experience,
(27:42):
intersects with so many of thedifferent things that we have to
intersect with and that makesit wonderful, because there's no
way that any CEO, no matter howwonderful they are, whether it
was you before, whether it'sLaManda now there is just such a
need for this multidisciplinedinput into what we do, because
(28:04):
we just can't know it all, andso having board members that can
bring, we can can't know it alland we also can't afford it all
.
Right, so we can't have that.
So when you get that with yourvolunteer board, all of a sudden
, now you have these expertise,principles and focuses that you
get access to all the time- andsome people may be listening and
(28:26):
saying well, all you reallyneed for people to work at the
rescue mission, volunteer or bea board members to care.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
And that's true, that's a very first, one of the
first elements to care aboutpeople who are in need.
But Topeka Rescue Missiontouches many different parts of
the community community safetyand health and education and
workforce and housing.
I mean all of those things.
And so to have thismultidisciplinary, as you call
(28:53):
it, board of directors comingalong and you know, I remember,
shelley, when we first met Idon't know if you remember we
were in my office here and wewere working on Safest Capital
City and you were countycommissioner at the time.
And you know I'm thinking OK,here's a former mayor, here's a
county commissioner.
And then you said, you used todrive a forklift in a food bank
in Colorado and I go, wow, she'sawesome to have that and so a
(29:14):
well-rounded experience in there, Shell.
I'm going to kind of put you onthe spot here.
As a board member, you knowTopeka Rescue Mission is
attempting to steward everythingthat it has been granted to
steward.
But it's also forward thinkingand as a board member individual
(29:34):
board members have, you know,what could we become, what could
Topeka Rescue Mission becomeand as corporately that's going
to happen.
And then you have the CEO overhere.
That's always got vision.
You know, Dr Miss Vision overhere, Dr Miss Vision over here.
And so what do you think?
What do you think with we'veseen in your time with Topeka
Rescue Mission, there's been asignificant increase of people
(29:57):
that don't have a place to beRight.
There's been a significantincrease in people who are
hungry.
There's been a significant lossof what we would call safety
net.
What's forward thinking in youropinion, as a board member and
as board of regents andpresident of the school, what's
Topeka Rescue Mission should belooking towards in the future?
Speaker 4 (30:17):
Oh, my goodness Well, and I know that's putting you
on the spot, it is huge.
But I mean, I know that it'snot just here in Topeka, I know
it's in several differentcommunities across the nation.
And gosh for the future.
That is a big question.
(30:38):
It is.
I think, honestly, we have togo back to how we integrate
again, being kind and beinghuman in no matter what we are
doing.
And so, if that means from thecorporate boardrooms to
(31:02):
education, to commercialbusiness, to, you know,
commercial business, I mean it'snot just the Topeka Rescue
Mission's job, it's everybody'sjob.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
Right.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
And so how do you consciously keep that in the
forefront of people?
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
And you know I mean you never know, you know when
that you know family member mayexperience homelessness or crime
or whatever I mean.
So you can't go into, you can'tgo through this world and think
nothing is going to touch melike that, because you're just
fooling yourself.
Right, correct, right.
(31:46):
But to somehow you know that werely on everyone in our
community to help with this.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Yeah, and I think it isn't separate, right.
And you know, barry, I thinkback to when I first came to
Topeka, back to Topeka, right,that was 2008.
And when they took me around toshow me the city, one of my
questions that I asked because Ihad been working in Bakersfield
with the homeless population,with United Way there.
(32:16):
But I asked so I'm not seeingpeople who are homeless, where
are your homeless?
Where do they stay?
What do they do?
Where do they stay, what dothey do?
And the person that was touringme around the city said well,
(32:38):
you know, I'm not really surethat there are a lot of homeless
people, but well, we do have arescue mission, right, I mean?
So that was the environmentthen, in terms of the knowledge
of somebody who should haveknown that did not see it.
That is not the case anymore,should?
have known that did not see it.
That is not the case anymore.
So when our CEO or our boardmembers are now out in the
committee and our community andpeople know that we are involved
(32:58):
with people experiencinghomelessness, it's a whole
different perspective there Idon't believe there is anyone
anymore that would say I'm notsure we really have a problem
with the homeless at all anymore.
And what that means, then, interms of the importance of our
board and our CEO knowing what'sgoing on, to be able to speak
(33:23):
about it, to speak about theneed for compassion, to speak
also about the need forsolutions that are inclusive of
everyone has maybe never been asimportant because it is so in
the forefront.
So being on the board now forthe Topeka Rescue Mission is
maybe different than it was in2008.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Oh, I think so.
I think that you know, andthere's an asset and a liability
.
Yes, thank God, for 70 plusyears, Topeka Rescue Mission has
been able to help people to go.
I'm not sure we have a homelessproblem here, because they were
here.
It's not like Topeka RescueMission quit doing it.
It's not like Topeka RescueMission reduced its population.
It did for a little bit duringCOVID, but now it's busting into
(34:04):
seams again.
Plus, we have these other folks.
Shelly, as a president of ahigh school, how are we
equipping the next generation tocare and to get in the game, so
to speak, to be able to do this?
Great question.
Speaker 4 (34:24):
That's part of that deal, that we can place an
emphasis on our students to makesure that they are nurturing
relationship with Christ, thatthey are doing that first and
foremost.
That is in our missionstatement.
So, again, looking at virtuesand looking at how we treat one
(34:46):
another, so we're trying to dothat.
We have about 35% of ourstudents who are on tuition
assistance, and so there mightbe some perception with private
schools, but we feel that it'svery important in our mission
(35:09):
that we could provide a Catholiceducation to those students who
desire one, and so that helpswith our diversity of our
classes our student population,so students and families who
have needs as well.
Absolutely, and so you know, atleast for me, I can answer that
(35:29):
having that strong faith is veryimportant, backed up with
excellent academics, a greatexperience for them in high
school.
High school is tough, it istough, and so we want to try to
have that great experience.
We call it the Haydenexperience, so that they do
leave high school, that they areequipped for what comes next,
(35:54):
and so we don't shelter them butwe do provide opportunities.
Our motto is enter to learn,leave to serve, and so we have a
service component in ourgraduation requirements so they
do a certain part of theircommunity service hours, parish
(36:17):
service hours and Corporal Worksof Mercy.
So visiting the know,developing that whole person, we
know academics is importantabsolutely, but we believe most
importantly it's developing yourrelationship with Christ and
(36:38):
how you live that out throughthe rest of your life.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
The issue of homelessness has become a very
polarizing issue in our country.
It has yeah, and so there arepeople that are very sympathetic
and compassionate and believethat everybody's entitled to
housing, and then there's otherpeople that say it's their fault
, it's their problem, theycreated it, deal with it or go
to jail or whatever.
Just get them out of our way.
(37:00):
That's generally my guesstimate.
That's not the kids at highschool level, that's not junior,
high or grade school kids, forsure.
This is the adults who haven'tlearned or whatever.
What are you seeing in the kidswith the level of desire to
serve community and the desireto be engaged in the community?
(37:20):
Do we have hope there?
Speaker 4 (37:21):
We do Absolutely.
It's the jubilee year of hopeif.
I'm right, francis.
We absolutely do, and I think,even though it's a requirement,
such fruit comes out of thatbecause, they do get to see,
they do get to experience thosewho are less fortunate than them
(37:43):
, but they get to walk rightbeside them and help them.
So there is a huge amount ofhope and I in particular, I see
this too.
We have a couple differentopportunities during the summer
Catholic Heart Work Camp orPrayer in Action and so take a
week of summer and we go.
(38:04):
We've done that here in Topeka,we've done it in Lawrence,
we've done it in Atchison.
We go and we pray and we work,and that's the whole week.
And so they're going intosituations that are not good and
they're safe but they're notgood.
But learning from that and thentaking that back to the other
(38:28):
students at Hayden so I go onthose trips just because I love
it, learning from that and thentaking that back to the other
students at Hayden so I go onthose trips just because I love
it.
I love to see the studentsexperiencing that.
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
So, yes, there's a huge amount of hope.
That's encouraging.
Yeah Well, we're going to needthe next generation to step up
into this, from my generation toLamanda.
Seeing that next generation, Ithink some of us are wondering
is anybody out there that'sgoing to take up the baton and
carry it on?
And, as LaManda has alreadytalked about, she can't
breakdance anymore withoutinjury.
It's going to be those onesthat come along to step up into
(39:00):
this, because things are veryuncertain for our nation, very
uncertain for people who are inneed.
We look in statistics in regardsto the increasing homeless and
the older homeless and what theycall the graying homeless and
where that's going.
We really don't have the luxuryof waiting for somebody else to
take care of it but we alsoneed the next ones coming up,
(39:22):
Right right.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
I am a firm believer, though, that God puts you in
this place and this time to dothat work and as much as you can
, and he will give you that, andso you try to do the very best
you can for the time you'regiven here and no matter what
situation.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
So being good stewards of that Well thank you
for saying yes and doing whatyou can on your watch.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
I don't do enough.
No, I don't, not for TRM, butwith all the other thing you're
doing.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
I'm not sure you've got any time for anything, so
yeah, but, shelly, it's beenjust such a blessing to know you
you were my county commissionerand you know just to have you
come on something that's verydear to my heart Topeka Rescue
Mission.
I can't think of too manypeople better than you to do
(40:14):
this job, and I know thateverybody feels that way around
here, you all do the hard work,you do the heavy lifting, and I
so appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Thank you for being a part of that.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Thank you for being a part of that.
Anything else you'd like to say?
I'm good, okay, all right, apart of that.
Anything else you'd like to say?
I'm good, okay.
Well, thank you for listeningto our community, our mission.
We've heard from Shelly Bueller, a board member at Topeka
Rescue Mission, and also manyother things, including the
president of Hayden High Schoolin our community, one person who
has said yes to the Lord intheir life to say I'm here, show
me where to go and I will go.
(40:45):
And we have many people thatjoin us in this effort.
For that person who, today, iswondering if anybody cares.
Maybe they're wondering ifthey're going to get something
to eat today, or they have to goanother day without something
to eat, or maybe wondering ifthey're going to be safe when
they're sleeping in the streets.
And yes, there is a place andthere is people like Shelly
Buehler, like you, who comealong to help us to be our
(41:06):
community, our mission.
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