July 29, 2025 • 42 mins
When Nancy Johnson stepped away from her role as CEO of Community Resources Council, she could never have imagined the new chapter God was preparing for her. A season of personal struggle opened the door to an unexpected conversation with Barry Feaker, leading Nancy to Topeka Rescue Mission. What began as casual volunteering soon became a source of deep joy and renewed purpose, as she now spends her days welcoming guests, answering phones, and helping staff create a culture of compassion and belonging.
In this episode, Nancy shares with TRM CEO La Manda Cunningham how the Mission’s culture—where “ego is left at the front door”—makes room for authentic relationships and lasting impact. From her pioneering work establishing neighborhood resource centers to her current role of daily service, Nancy’s story reminds us that significance isn’t measured by titles, but by faithful love in action. Listeners will be inspired to consider how their own gifts and experiences can be used to stand in the gap for others.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this
day and your blessings andprovisions, and Lord, just this
time to record this podcast.
Lord, we thank you for ourspecial guests we have on today
and, lord, just pray that youwould bless this conversation,
father, and our listeners whohear it.
Father, we love you.
We praise your name, amen.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hello everybody.
You're listening to OurCommunity, our Mission, a
podcast of the Topeka RescueMission.
Here on Tuesday, july 29th 2025.
And this is episode number 277.
I'm your host today, barryFeeker, here with the CEO of
Topeka Rescue Mission, lamandaCunningham.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Ooh you say that all in like one breath.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I'm reading it right here.
But generally it's all the same, except for the date changes.
That's right.
Yeah, so it's good.
Well, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
LaManda, good morning .
Yeah, so it's good.
Well, good morning Amanda.
Good morning, how are you I'm?
You know, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You're good.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
You know we're juggling higher numbers of the
shelter and heat for oursheltered neighbors back to
school.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
We've already had two Christmas meetings warming
centers warming centers.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Christmas meetings.
That means cold and snow, butthat also means we're rounding
out July, so we start doingChristmas in July.
Yep, that's right.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So there's a special event that is coming up in
September on a Friday night Josh, what's coming up Night of?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Praise.
Yay, what's Night of Praise.
Night of Praise, it is our onekind of I call it a fundraiser,
but it's like our one event, thebig event that we do here at
the Rescue Mission.
This will be our third one, sowe've been doing it for three
years now.
He's smiling, amanda.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I know you used to talk about Night of Praise and
it was like he was sweating.
Oh, I still do.
He does.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, a lot to be done with it, but it's such a
great event because it really isobviously like we talk about
it's worshiping God, not apraise and thanking him for all
he's done in the community,sharing stories of what he's
doing at TRM.
And I think the thing I loveabout it the most is seeing kind
(01:57):
of the community of churches,as I think they should be,
coming together as one.
It's not just, you know, it'shosted at FBC, but it's not FBC,
you know, it's the body ofbelievers coming together
thanking God and praising himfor all he's done.
So it's awesome.
It's going to be Friday,september 12th, 6 pm.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And music and testimonies Yep music
testimonies Talking about TRM.
It's kind of a big package, anopportunity for people to
contribute.
Absolutely, it's not just afundraiser, it is a night of
praise, correct, and then peoplecan also contribute in prayer
for people and those kind ofthings.
It's quite an event.
Now, if you've never been toFellowship Bible Church, it's a
big auditorium, yes, and there'sa lot of people that come to
the night of praise.
(02:36):
So it's got, it's a great event.
But, yeah, it's not tillSeptember.
But get on your calendar Now,the 12th of September, which is
Friday night, 6 30 PM, it startsfor the night of parade.
Yeah, 6 PM, oh, 6 PM, okay.
Well, don't come at 6 30.
You miss some of it.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
The theme this year is loving in the gap, so we
don't want to share a lot tospoil it.
But all year, you know, we'vebeen talking about in our
newsletter and just this themeof not only how people have been
loved in their own gaps butalso how we love others while
they're in the gap andrecognizing that TRM loves in a
(03:21):
big way, not because of our ownefforts but because we're loved
by a Lord and knowing that we'reon a mission to share that Not
everybody has to believe the waywe do, but we're on a mission
because we know the Lord lovesus and we want to serve well and
to share that love.
So I think we're all excitedabout it.
(03:41):
We're very thankful we alreadyhave, I think, six sponsors for
this year's event.
So we started working on thatabout a month, month and a half
ago.
Thankful for the people thathave said hey, you know we'll be
this level sponsor and thislevel sponsor.
Thankful for Bill and Brody andjust all of our good friends at
FBC who really help us kind ofmastermind the logistics of all
(04:07):
of this and, of course, fbc forhosting Each year.
You know we've done it.
I think it's one of thosethings you know better, you do
better, so we're doing that.
But then also we've been reallydriven on.
How do we do a fundraiser?
Because TRM needs the funds.
There's a lot of operationalcosts that happen because of the
(04:32):
work we do, but yet how do wedo a fundraiser?
That does not align with ourmission.
And so a couple years ago hadthe idea of doing this worship
night and we see God do the rest.
So we trust him with thefinances that come in.
And you know, really, lookingat, how do we really not just
(04:55):
give God glory but how do wealso come to him united as the
church and not divided?
The church and not divided, butthen also sharing what the Lord
has done, but believingtogether as one unity of what
he's going to continue to do?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So we're excited.
It's a great event and so planto be there.
And if you also want to sponsor, you're still taking more
sponsors, I assume.
We are People can get a hold ofthe rescue mission.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Yeah, the event is free, but we do ask, if you can,
to bring some type ofnon-perishable item.
That's always a blessing too.
We also will have tables set up, like we did last year, for
volunteer opportunities.
If you're interested inlearning more about being a
volunteer, we'll also have atable set up that.
If you want to become areoccurring donor, that's a
(05:44):
blessing.
That's really what we'reneeding right now when we look
at our annual budget.
It would be so nice to say wehave this many of this many of
this much monthly sponsorshipsand donations, because if so,
then we know we'd meet thatannual budget every year.
So a lot of opportunities onthe inside before we even get
(06:04):
into the worship center.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Well, plan on coming.
It's a great event and we wantto get to our special guest, but
since we had Josh already JoshTurley he's the guy working the
boards here and putting all thistogether been doing it now for
277 episodes now, don't thinkyou've ever missed one, have you
Maybe one?
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I think I missed one and somebody else took it, okay.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
But you had to stand in.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I did Somebody's got to produce it but also Josh and
his team, Alec and his team arevery, very proud of their
research and developmentdepartment of Topeka Rescue
Mission, and so, while we wantto get to our guests, we do want
to honor you, Josh, because youdo some extensive work to try
to find out what's veryimportant about the day that
(06:45):
we're recording the podcast,which is the 29th of July.
So today is I'm sure mostpeople weren't aware of this,
but it's National Lasagna Day.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
So, Josh, why was that important to you?
I mean, lasagna is fantastic,so I love Italian food, but I
think everyone should know it'sLasagna Day day Also it was on
the list and there wasn't a lotof other things.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
So you wrote down here you don't have to be
Italian or a fat orange cartooncat To celebrate National.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Lasagna Day, garfield , garfield.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Man that takes me back.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Anyway, we do want to move on, but thank you, josh.
For all the work that you do topour into these Solid 15
minutes, yeah, solid 15 minutes.
Well, that's precious aroundhere, right, 15 minutes any time
.
It's also National Rain Day andit's International Tiger Day,
(07:45):
and so if you're interested inlearning more about those, you
can Google, like Josh did, andspend about 10 or 15 minutes
doing that to be able to come upwith these.
So, lamanda, we have a reallyspecial guest today who is a
team member at Topeka RescueMission, who I know that has
just been loved around TopekaRescue Mission since she came on
board, I think starting out asa volunteer, and eventually
stepped into the place and I'veknown this lady for about 20
(08:06):
years as we've worked togetheron a number of projects.
So, amanda tell, and you saidyou didn't want to cry today,
but I'm going to have you startout.
Talk about why Nancy Johnson,former director of the Community
Resources Council, now is theadministrative assistant here at
the Children's Palace.
Talk about how and why she's soimportant to the people here.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, the first thing is because she's wonderful and
not evil like you are.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Just for the listeners to hear.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I told him.
I said, barry, do not ask meabout what she means to me,
because I have a really busy daytoday.
I don't need to look bad at 3o'clock in the afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Kleenexes are right over there.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
You can always have a little makeup break, so yes,
you know, um, I think when Ithink of Nancy, there are a lot
of of attributes that I couldsay about her, um, from just her
, her warmth and her kindness,and, um, her loyalty, her
discernment, all of those thingsare what I would just say is
(09:08):
beautiful.
But, honestly, when I thinkabout Nancy, what just comes to
my mind is she is almost likethe rainbow and the sun that
comes after a storm, and there'sjust a beauty about that that I
don't care who you are I'm notsure I have ever seen someone
(09:30):
see a rainbow and that that sunpeek out, that they don't stop
and say look at that rainbow, orthat they're acknowledging it.
And that's Nancy.
Um, there is something that isso beautiful about her that will
stop you every time, and itdoesn't matter if it's her hugs,
if it's her laughter.
(09:52):
She's the one who plans ourmonthly Children's Palace
parties here, that the lunchesare themed and so much fun.
There is just something abouther that, if you're going
through a storm, or a storm hasjust finished, nancy is your
sunshine and your rainbow, and Ihave seen that with myself and
(10:20):
I've seen that with multiplestaff, but, most importantly,
I've seen that with guests,guests that come over for
classes and they're greeted byher Unsheltered neighbors, who
(10:49):
are very hot or very cold, andshe is just a breath of fresh
air that we've all needed.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Well, sunshine as well as rainbow.
Lady Nancy Johnson, welcome tothe podcast here at Peeker
Rescue Mission today.
You need clinics too.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I probably do.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Nancy, you and I have known each other a long time.
I want to talk a little bitabout some of our past, but some
things that we got a chance todo.
But, nancy, why did you comeand start in kind of a
retirement time in your life?
Come back to the Topeka RescueMission.
Come to the Topeka RescueMission and see if there was an
opportunity for you to servehere.
(11:27):
What drew you to the TopekaRescue Mission?
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Barry Feaker.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Oh, okay, well, he was already gone, so but no, I'm
serious, I was going through a.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Very, very Well, let me start at the beginning.
Barry and my daughter have thesame birthday, and so I always
text Barry.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Not the same year, by the way, just so you know.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
But I always text Barry on his birthday and we
always say, oh, we need to gettogether.
Well, this year we did.
Last year we did, and I wasgoing through a very, very bad
time of my life.
I had just gotten out of thehospital with septic.
This little bird over here wastelling me life wasn't
(12:08):
worthwhile.
And this little bird was sayingyour daughter would absolutely
kill you if you did this.
And so it was going back andforth, and so I took the lead, I
believe, and called Barry andsaid let's get together, because
God brought me to him to getout of this just deepness I was
(12:33):
in and I came in and talked tohim and we talked for maybe, oh,
we tried to catch up.
We hadn't seen each otherprobably in two or three years.
And when I came in here, barrysaid why don't you come here and
volunteer?
And I went oh geez, you know Ifeel like I've volunteered all
(12:53):
my life.
He said no, come here and do it.
Well, I have to admit that theminute I walked in here I knew
it was at the right place.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
How did you know that ?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
One were the people who I felt the love immediately
and I think if nobody's workeddown here, you can talk all you
want, but they will neverunderstand the culture of TRM.
I mean, I've worked a lot ofplaces and there's backstabbing
(13:34):
and gossip and everything likethat.
We have none of that here atTRM.
I always say the ego is left atthe front door, and it really
is.
Is left at the front door andit really is.
And we love each other, we careabout each other, we hug each
(14:00):
other, we, you know, talk toeach other off the cliff and I
think that lured me here and Ifelt so good when I walked out
and so I did the front desk forprobably six months or so and
the job was open and I talked toJosh about it and he said, well
, apply for it.
And I said, well, the problemis, Josh, it's Monday through
(14:22):
Friday.
I'm not doing Monday throughFriday.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You like being here, but not that much.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
I really like Tuesday , wednesday and Thursday and
that's not going to work.
Not going to work.
I said well, talk about it.
First of all, tuesdays andThursdays are our busiest day
here because of class, and so Icame in for an interview with Mr
Josh.
How are you going to feel withsomebody my age supervising you?
(14:53):
I don't know, I have noproblems with that.
Do?
Speaker 1 (14:58):
you.
Well, to be fair, given youryou know your work history, I
was, you know, maybe slightlyintimidated at the time, oh,
please.
How do you feel as a former CEO?
Speaker 4 (15:09):
But you know, that's in my past life and I've shut
the door of that and now I justwant to be, I want to bring joy
to everyone that walks in thatfront door.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And you do.
I hope so, because that's my.
It was like Amanda had said andshe kind of pretty good intro
there for how she sees you andother people see you as well.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Well, josh did an interesting thing.
He I guess it was the firstcouple of weeks.
He said now you know, this isreally your job description.
You have to be nice to people.
I thought, geez, okay, Iprobably can handle that.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
So how would you describe your work here the days
that you're here Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
There, you know, I don't do that well at all.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
So I mean just answer the phone.
You are the voice of TopekaRescue Mission when people call
during the daytime on a Tuesday,Wednesday or Thursday, so you
field a lot of calls, you answerquestions, Try to find the
right person that's going to beable to answer a question.
That's one thing.
So keep going.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Well, this was really just to start with, and I'm to
blame for this because I can'tstand not to be busy.
It drives me crazy and you canonly play so many games or look
up so much stuff on Google.
I and I got handed theobituaries, because every
(16:41):
Tuesday or every week we gothrough the obituaries to see if
anyone had been a donor and wesend a letter to them.
So that was the first big, bigjob I had, besides answering the
phone and putting out the lunchmenu.
And then I moved into helpingSusie with volunteers putting
(17:04):
together packets, doing nametags, driving her crazy because
I wouldn't do, got the packetsmixed up, but it's just the
kindness of people here.
I mean, it wasn't like youidiot, you can't even put
together a packet.
It was not a problem, let'sjust, and that's what I love
(17:27):
about it.
And then I picked up callingreferences, which I love, and I
also call potential people fororientation and turf.
That's Susie Holtz.
So, yes, I have turned it intothe job I wanted.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
And we needed but in the same time, hopefully, making
somebody happy that day andjust loving on them, and so the
conversation you and I had anumber of years ago is it's
frightening conversation you andI had a number of years ago is.
(18:09):
That was you were the CEO ofthe Community Resources Council
for a number of years, which isstill a great organization today
.
Mary Thomas and you worktogether.
She's the director of the CRCnow.
I think the CRC has been inTopeka around 100 years.
And so you were CEO at that timeand you you wanted to be um
more engaged with people in needand have that office move into
an area, um, where there wasmore um, um, tangible need, and
(18:34):
not just a resource organizationbut actually a service
organization.
I want to get to that in amoment, but you have a chance
here in your position at TopekaRescue Mission to engage with
the guests of the shelters and,as LaManda said, people even
walking in off the streets.
What's it like for you now?
(18:55):
You talked about kind of theculture here.
You talked about the people andthe way they treat each other.
How is it with you and theguests?
Because sometimes as they comeover for classes, the training
programs, the care program, lifeskills, you're the first person
they see.
What's that like for you?
Speaker 4 (19:16):
I love it.
I love it.
I want them to see my smile andfeel my love when they walk
through.
And seriously, in the year I'vebeen here volunteer work a year
and a half I've only had oneperson really get angry at me
and oh, by the way, lamanda wasstanding right next to me when
(19:37):
the person got angry at me.
I handled that one very well.
I mean, it was like what have Idone that?
Speaker 2 (19:46):
lady was just having a bad day, huh Well, she was.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
And I've always run on the philosophy that just
because you're having a bad day,that doesn't mean everybody has
to have a bad day, so leave itat home.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, leave it at home, Take it back to the
shelter.
They'll deal with it there.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
One thing I got to say this real quick I can't tell
you how many times I've hadpeople come in on a Monday or
Friday when Nancy's not here,and go where's Nancy?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
They're disappointed.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
And they'll be like well cause.
You know, normally it's Tuesday, thursdays, the guest classes
and different things, and sosometimes some of them will come
over just to see Nancy.
I'm like, I'm sorry she's nothere today, like why?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
She's off Monday and.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Friday.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
And then they leave.
So yeah, but people love you.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
And I love them, and I mean, I'm just a simple person
that God has given me the giftI hope to make people
comfortable and know how muchthey are loved.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Apparently, he is giving you that gift because
that's what you do, nancy.
You're in this position now ofanswering phones and helping put
packets together and engagingwith different people who are
coming in, who are kind of oneof the most challenging times of
their life.
This wasn't always your role.
As we mentioned the CommunityResources Council, you and I met
(21:06):
before around that time when wetalked about a meeting at the
library and then we startedgetting together talking about
what could happen in one of ourmost challenged neighborhoods
and we started envisioning thisthing called Net Reach and we
said, ok, who's going to do whatpart of that?
And I remember Julie Ford wasthe superintendent of Pico
(21:28):
Public Schools.
They had a building in theHighcrest neighborhood that was
one of the most challengedneighborhoods at the time, and
so we began to visit with herand the Board of Education Larry
Robbins, larry Robbins, yeah.
And they had a price to rentthat building which was
absolutely not affordable, andwe cast the vision with them and
(21:51):
they brought it down toone-twelfth of the price.
They said, let's give this atry.
That program was pioneered byyou and you and well had a
little bit to do with that andit was a division of the Topeka
Rescue Mission and we got a lotof people coming in for about
seven years and something overthere took its place.
(22:13):
It's called SENT today, and soin many different I don't know
how many, but at least threethat I'm aware of what we call
the CRC Resource Centers birthedout of that.
So talk about what you werethinking and what your
experience was as you as theleader of the Community
(22:34):
Resources Council, bringingpeople together to be able to
start something that today isproven to be very
transformational.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
It started out as anger because I saw where all
these non-profits were and I sawwhere the majority of our
homeless people were, and I keptthinking how do they get to
these services?
I mean, some of them aren't onbus routes, so how do you get
people to get to these services?
I mean, some of them aren't onbus routes, so how do you get
people to get to these services?
And that's when Barry and Istarted talking about bringing
nonprofits together so that itwas a one-stop shop.
(23:16):
And the main story that evercomes out of this was we had a
committee Sally Zeller and RonMiller and we talked about well,
we're going to put inbasketball courts and we're
going to do this, we're going todo that.
And we asked the people myfriends down there, what would
(23:38):
you really like?
And they said we'd like a payphone.
And it was like, wow, were weoff on that one?
But they needed a phone thatthey could call, or a number
that somebody could call themback at.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
So that's probably one of my biggest loves that I
did was to bring that CRC into aneighborhood.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
One of the things that I recall when you first got
into that building was.
Now people found out where youwere, where we were.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Well, let me say we were in the top floor of the
Ramada in years Very hard to getto, very hard to get to With a
conference room, and it wasmainly just the agencies.
But now we have neighborhoodfolks that are coming to you.
I remember sitting in youroffice about a month into it and
it was like a littleoverwhelming.
There was all of these needs,and so how did you handle that?
And how did you then not justsay, well, we've really made a
(24:43):
bad decision here?
What did you do from there tosay we've got to do something
about this?
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Well, we went to different nonprofits and we came
to you and because we needed toget those nonprofits in there,
or some simile of of them, andwe didn't want to have to charge
them an arm and a leg to do it,we provided the administration,
(25:10):
the person that greeted people,that answered phones and um
when the when the roof leaked orthe toilet broke, you took care
of that by calling the landlord, which is is Topeka Public
Schools.
That's right, that was wonderful, but it was just.
I look at it as a project builtin love, because that's exactly
(25:35):
what it was.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Nancy, there's been a lot of people helped in the
High Crest neighborhood since.
I believe we started that about2013, if I'm not mistaken, and
maybe 2012, 2013.
The Net Center, NetReach, andnow it's birthed out into these
other areas.
How does it feel now and I knowyou love TRM and this is where
(25:58):
you are now.
We're grateful for that.
I love TRM and this is whereyou are now.
We're grateful for that howdoes it feel to look back and
see the growth of something thatyou pioneered, that you really
didn't know the outcome?
What does it feel like to you?
Do you even give that anythought?
No, Okay.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
I really don't, because it was such a joint
effort and you probably know mewell enough to know that I'm not
a me person and it wasn't justme, it was a number of us coming
together and many times it wasa number, it was us talking for
the first time.
You know that agencies weren'ttalking to this agency or that
(26:38):
agency and it was bringing thosepeople around the table.
And I was telling Amanda, wewere instrumental in starting
Noto because they were having,they were getting their 501c3
and it wasn't going as fast andthey needed to get going.
(26:59):
So we took them under ourumbrella until they got it so
they could use our 5013.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Even that nonprofit status so they could get going
quicker.
And, LaManda, you're a CEOsignificantly behind where Nancy
and I have been.
And what does it sound like toyou?
Because she's kind ofunderstating her impact on this
community and things that aregoing today and beyond.
(27:28):
What does that say to you abouthaving Nancy here with you to
have this kind of a person who'sbeen there, done that and now
serving in the way she's serving?
No cry.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
No cry, I know.
Not only has he asked me whatyou mean to me, now he's asking
me about your impact.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
What the?
Speaker 3 (27:45):
heck.
You know, I think there's a lotof her example that I think
speaks out to a lot of us.
But from her perspective as aformer CEO and me currently
being a CEO, I think what speaksloudly to me is in order to
(28:06):
lead, you have to know how toserve, and that doesn't mean
that you don't lead from thefront sometimes, and especially
when times are challenging, ormaybe in kind of what you've
mentioned a couple of timesabout pioneering this idea that
maybe wasn't going to work.
Um, so to me, I look at that asa risk taker Right.
(28:29):
Yeah and um.
So I think that there is also apart of Nancy that speaks to me
as a CEO, and some of that isher courage.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Um yes.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
And and it's not courage when you're doing
something that everybody's inagreement with.
It takes courage when you'redoing something that everybody
says isn't going to work.
And so I learned a lot fromNancy's past, and sometimes it's
on my worst days.
You know, nancy is the one thatsees me um, in and out a
(29:04):
hundred times and she's the onethat knows I'm still here three
hours after everybody leaves andlike she gets it because she's
walked in there, um.
And so I have to tell thisfunny little Nancy story, cause
she's never just come out andsaid it's for me.
But you know I'm pretty sureit's for me, but you know I'm
pretty sure it's for me.
She got worried about threemonths ago about the load that
(29:30):
myself and I think some othersare carrying, and so she has
started and apparently I'mreally fast when I'm in and out.
Maybe I look like I'm alsomultitasking and maybe sometimes
I'm guilty of maybe not evenlooking up from my phone that
I'm trying to disengage ofissues and yeah, in other words,
(29:54):
you're walking down the hallway, you're looking at your phone.
She says I run.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
That's a good point, good yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
She says I run.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
It's a run looking, looking at your phone.
Probably have my earpods intalking to them, Wondering if
you're going to open the door orjust smack into the door.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Correct, yes.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
And so she gives out this little gentle nudge of a
reminder when we were alltogether as a staff.
And then a cute little emailcomes out.
Cute little email comes out andthe next thing I know there is
now an encouraging piece ofpaper that is held on that door
that I go in and out of, thathas magnets to the door and it's
(30:33):
just this reminder.
Sometimes it's one that's justliterally like breathe, and then
other times it's talking aboutyour importance and things like
that, and then other times it'stalking about your importance
(31:07):
and things like that.
So why do I share that?
Because I'm not only sees whatI'm doing, she not only feels
what I'm facing, but she caresabout my experience as a CEO,
and that's not often talkedabout.
I've got a great leadershipteam that serves.
(31:28):
I've got excellent directorsand assistant directors, and the
volunteers are impeccable.
The donors are great, right,but Nancy is probably the only
person that has had aconversation with me that says I
want you to enjoy being a CEO.
And so, knowing that she did it, knowing that what she did was
(31:55):
hard, knowing she did it anyways, and then you fast forward all
these years later where shecould really be doing anything,
and she chooses to not onlyserve in a time where
homelessness is verycontroversial, but she chooses
to see me as a CEO and uses herpast the good and the hard that
(32:19):
she faced as a CEO to even makemy experience different hard
that she faced as a CEO to evenmake my experience different,
and that's something that is sohumbling to me and definitely
something that I don't take forgranted.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
So Well, Nancy, you thought you were coming here for
you and when we first startedtalking, but it's been way
beyond that.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
Well, and let me tell you one of the really fun
things I'm really proud ofstarting was Christ talked about
eating around a table, howimportant that was sharing love
and stuff like that.
So I couldn't just do aneight-to-five job.
I had to add more things.
(32:58):
So I have not.
I.
We have a committee now thatorganizes different potlucks
once a month, and we've hadChristmas cookies, we've had
barbecue, we've had hamburgersand hot dogs.
We usually have a theme.
(33:18):
We had a luau this month andnext month is a submarine party,
and so it just— I want to comeback.
Tailgating, tailgating, yeah,and I mean it just brings us
around the table, and probablythe one thing that just blew my
mind was at one of them.
(33:41):
I brought rocks, flat rocks,and I gave everybody, got the
paint that will go on them andeverything like that.
And I sat back and I looked atthis and I thought this is God
working.
This is God working.
(34:02):
I mean, they loved it.
It was a simple, simple thing,but they loved it and it took
them away from, I think, theirreality and let them go back and
just have fun, because sooftentimes we get in here and
(34:22):
it's so overwhelming and I worryso much about LaManda because
she takes everything on andthat's the reason I put the
stuff on the back.
I have to protect her and Ihave to protect most of the
people here Because, much likeme, they don't know how to say
(34:47):
no and they've got to learn todo that.
But our potlucks have justturned into pure fun for an hour
and a half.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
I think, amanda, it's already been kind of stated how
valuable you see, nancy to youand, I think, nancy's decision
to come here.
Nancy, how valuable it's beento you and others.
What would you say to somebodywho's listening to this right
now, who maybe wasn't a CEO ormaybe is and getting ready to
(35:20):
retire or whatever?
What would you say to them ifthey're really wondering about
what's next?
Speaker 4 (35:29):
Well, I would encourage them to sign up to be
a volunteer first, because Ithink what happens well, I know
what happens with the public isthat you say Topeka, rescue
Commission and theyautomatically think, oh, those
homeless people.
And I mean, you know the story.
I was before the citycommission one time and it was
(35:55):
about bus passes for our friendsor transit friends or transit,
and the subject before that hadbeen a new pond at Clarion Woods
and the absolute chamber waspacked with big donors, big
(36:18):
names.
After that passed, they took aa break and the bus was next and
there were four of us left inthe room and I had somebody say
to me, as we were addressing itwell, those people and I said so
(36:42):
, and so they're not thosepeople.
Each of them is an individual,each of them is a person.
Each of them have their ownstory.
So I would encourage the peopleto come and volunteer and see
what it's like, because you willnever go to any place that is
(37:04):
as loving and caring as TRM is,and we always, always have space
for volunteers.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I think we all need that in our lives because it
doesn't seem to be a reallysuper caring, loving world out
there and sometimes people wouldbe surprised, like you were, of
coming here, amanda.
Any other thoughts today withour special guest?
Speaker 3 (37:29):
I would just say, regardless of what your
perspective is right now, ifyou're someone who is walking
through some challenges andyou're being served in some way,
just don't walk in that withguilt or shame.
Know that we too have beenhelped, and that's why there's
(37:52):
so many people at TRM that areso devoted to helping people
have that hand up because we'vebeen given it, and so you know.
I think if you are listeningnow and you're someone who is
constantly helping someone, justknow that your work is not
unnoticed, not just by yourfriends at TRM that are thankful
(38:17):
for the many nonprofits and themany business owners and the
other agencies that are doinghard stuff right now.
You know the economy has gotchallenges right now and there's
just strife, and so I know thatthere's a lot of other
incredible organizations thatare doing work that are being
impacted right now.
And just know you're beingprayed for by those of us at TRM
(38:40):
and we know that we couldn't doserving our community without
you.
And then, lastly, I think youknow I would like to address the
leaders in the community, andespecially any that are
transitioning into retirement.
Just remember that there areother generations of leaders
(39:02):
that are up and coming and thatleadership isn't all about the
individual legacy of the person,it's about the legacy of the
work.
And so the leaders that areoutgoing into retirement, those
of us who are newer leaders, weare craving wisdom.
We are craving wisdom and we'recraving the realistic stories
(39:26):
of the previous ones of you thathave been CEOs, to know, oh,
it's not always been the awardsor the accolades, or the new
buildings or the new pioneeringstuff, like there were times
that you all faced too, thatwere bleak, that were people in
opposition, those kinds ofthings.
So I would just say, if you area leader that is looking at
(39:51):
retirement, really figure outhow you can still pour into the
next generation, because there'sa lot of us who are soaking it
in and want to continue thelegacy of the work, because we
too know one day it won't be us,it'll be someone else leading,
and we want that to trickle down.
So there's just, there's aplace for all of us.
And then, lastly, I would justsay remember what I just
(40:13):
mentioned can also be a cycle.
So those of us who are leaderscan also be people that need to
be served and are also teampartners with all the other
organizations, and thatsometimes that can be a rotation
, so it's also okay if there'sleaders out there that are
needing help right now, needingto have their hands held up,
because it's a lot right now andit's beautiful work to do that
(40:37):
of nonprofit work, but it's alsovery challenging right now, and
so I just hope that those of usthat are in the leadership
positions welcome the Nancys intheir lives, instead of trying
to have a facade or keeping thestruggle from the people, like
Nancys, that are pouring into us.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Well, well said.
Nancy, thank you for saying yes, and thank you for not just
saying yes to coming to the Peakof Rescue mission, not just
being the director and leader inso many different ways in this
community, but thank you forsaying yes to this podcast
because we knew that this wasnot the easiest thing for you to
want to do.
It was begrudgingly Right.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
She was voluntold.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
Josh just finally remarked to me are you going to
say no to LaManda?
And I turned around and wentyes.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
So we promise we will take those restraints off of
you as soon as this is over, andI want to just say one final
thing is that there's a realmisnomer that you have to.
Speaker 4 (41:34):
I mean, we're a Christian organization, but that
doesn't mean, just because Ibelieve something that's
different from you, that weaccept that because it's a
loving Christ organization thataccepts everyone and we don't
care where you are in yourjourney.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
That's correct Absolutely Well.
You've been a blessing to manypeople, me especially, for many,
many years.
I'm glad you're still with usand the impact that you are
continuing to make, I'm sure hasnot only spoken to people who
work here, volunteer here, whoare guests of the peak of rescue
mission, but people listeningto this podcast today are
(42:10):
probably going to think Hmm,maybe I'm that person too.
So thank you, nancy, welcome.
So thank you for listening toour community, our mission.
You've really listened to theformer CEO of the community
resources council.
Now we might call her the CEOof kindness and love of Topeka
Rescue Mission for many, manypeople.
And if you'd like moreinformation about volunteering
(42:31):
or contributing to Topeka RescueMission, you can go to
trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg and markyour calendars for September the
12th for Night of Praise.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this
day and your blessings andprovisions, and Lord, just this
time to record this podcast.
Lord, we thank you for ourspecial guests we have on today
and, lord, just pray that youwould bless this conversation,
father, and our listeners whohear it.
Father, we love you.
We praise your name, amen.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hello everybody.
You're listening to OurCommunity, our Mission, a
podcast of the Topeka RescueMission.
Here on Tuesday, july 29th 2025.
And this is episode number 277.
I'm your host today, barryFeeker, here with the CEO of
Topeka Rescue Mission, lamandaCunningham.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Ooh you say that all in like one breath.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I'm reading it right here.
But generally it's all the same, except for the date changes.
That's right.
Yeah, so it's good.
Well, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
LaManda, good morning .
Yeah, so it's good.
Well, good morning Amanda.
Good morning, how are you I'm?
You know, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You're good.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
You know we're juggling higher numbers of the
shelter and heat for oursheltered neighbors back to
school.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
We've already had two Christmas meetings warming
centers warming centers.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Christmas meetings.
That means cold and snow, butthat also means we're rounding
out July, so we start doingChristmas in July.
Yep, that's right.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So there's a special event that is coming up in
September on a Friday night Josh, what's coming up Night of?
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Praise.
Yay, what's Night of Praise.
Night of Praise, it is our onekind of I call it a fundraiser,
but it's like our one event, thebig event that we do here at
the Rescue Mission.
This will be our third one, sowe've been doing it for three
years now.
He's smiling, amanda.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I know you used to talk about Night of Praise and
it was like he was sweating.
Oh, I still do.
He does.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, a lot to be done with it, but it's such a
great event because it really isobviously like we talk about
it's worshiping God, not apraise and thanking him for all
he's done in the community,sharing stories of what he's
doing at TRM.
And I think the thing I loveabout it the most is seeing kind
(01:57):
of the community of churches,as I think they should be,
coming together as one.
It's not just, you know, it'shosted at FBC, but it's not FBC,
you know, it's the body ofbelievers coming together
thanking God and praising himfor all he's done.
So it's awesome.
It's going to be Friday,september 12th, 6 pm.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And music and testimonies Yep music
testimonies Talking about TRM.
It's kind of a big package, anopportunity for people to
contribute.
Absolutely, it's not just afundraiser, it is a night of
praise, correct, and then peoplecan also contribute in prayer
for people and those kind ofthings.
It's quite an event.
Now, if you've never been toFellowship Bible Church, it's a
big auditorium, yes, and there'sa lot of people that come to
the night of praise.
(02:36):
So it's got, it's a great event.
But, yeah, it's not tillSeptember.
But get on your calendar Now,the 12th of September, which is
Friday night, 6 30 PM, it startsfor the night of parade.
Yeah, 6 PM, oh, 6 PM, okay.
Well, don't come at 6 30.
You miss some of it.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
The theme this year is loving in the gap, so we
don't want to share a lot tospoil it.
But all year, you know, we'vebeen talking about in our
newsletter and just this themeof not only how people have been
loved in their own gaps butalso how we love others while
they're in the gap andrecognizing that TRM loves in a
(03:21):
big way, not because of our ownefforts but because we're loved
by a Lord and knowing that we'reon a mission to share that Not
everybody has to believe the waywe do, but we're on a mission
because we know the Lord lovesus and we want to serve well and
to share that love.
So I think we're all excitedabout it.
(03:41):
We're very thankful we alreadyhave, I think, six sponsors for
this year's event.
So we started working on thatabout a month, month and a half
ago.
Thankful for the people thathave said hey, you know we'll be
this level sponsor and thislevel sponsor.
Thankful for Bill and Brody andjust all of our good friends at
FBC who really help us kind ofmastermind the logistics of all
(04:07):
of this and, of course, fbc forhosting Each year.
You know we've done it.
I think it's one of thosethings you know better, you do
better, so we're doing that.
But then also we've been reallydriven on.
How do we do a fundraiser?
Because TRM needs the funds.
There's a lot of operationalcosts that happen because of the
(04:32):
work we do, but yet how do wedo a fundraiser?
That does not align with ourmission.
And so a couple years ago hadthe idea of doing this worship
night and we see God do the rest.
So we trust him with thefinances that come in.
And you know, really, lookingat, how do we really not just
(04:55):
give God glory but how do wealso come to him united as the
church and not divided?
The church and not divided, butthen also sharing what the Lord
has done, but believingtogether as one unity of what
he's going to continue to do?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So we're excited.
It's a great event and so planto be there.
And if you also want to sponsor, you're still taking more
sponsors, I assume.
We are People can get a hold ofthe rescue mission.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Yeah, the event is free, but we do ask, if you can,
to bring some type ofnon-perishable item.
That's always a blessing too.
We also will have tables set up, like we did last year, for
volunteer opportunities.
If you're interested inlearning more about being a
volunteer, we'll also have atable set up that.
If you want to become areoccurring donor, that's a
(05:44):
blessing.
That's really what we'reneeding right now when we look
at our annual budget.
It would be so nice to say wehave this many of this many of
this much monthly sponsorshipsand donations, because if so,
then we know we'd meet thatannual budget every year.
So a lot of opportunities onthe inside before we even get
(06:04):
into the worship center.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Well, plan on coming.
It's a great event and we wantto get to our special guest, but
since we had Josh already JoshTurley he's the guy working the
boards here and putting all thistogether been doing it now for
277 episodes now, don't thinkyou've ever missed one, have you
Maybe one?
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I think I missed one and somebody else took it, okay.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
But you had to stand in.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I did Somebody's got to produce it but also Josh and
his team, Alec and his team arevery, very proud of their
research and developmentdepartment of Topeka Rescue
Mission, and so, while we wantto get to our guests, we do want
to honor you, Josh, because youdo some extensive work to try
to find out what's veryimportant about the day that
(06:45):
we're recording the podcast,which is the 29th of July.
So today is I'm sure mostpeople weren't aware of this,
but it's National Lasagna Day.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
So, Josh, why was that important to you?
I mean, lasagna is fantastic,so I love Italian food, but I
think everyone should know it'sLasagna Day day Also it was on
the list and there wasn't a lotof other things.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
So you wrote down here you don't have to be
Italian or a fat orange cartooncat To celebrate National.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Lasagna Day, garfield , garfield.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Man that takes me back.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Anyway, we do want to move on, but thank you, josh.
For all the work that you do topour into these Solid 15
minutes, yeah, solid 15 minutes.
Well, that's precious aroundhere, right, 15 minutes any time
.
It's also National Rain Day andit's International Tiger Day,
(07:45):
and so if you're interested inlearning more about those, you
can Google, like Josh did, andspend about 10 or 15 minutes
doing that to be able to come upwith these.
So, lamanda, we have a reallyspecial guest today who is a
team member at Topeka RescueMission, who I know that has
just been loved around TopekaRescue Mission since she came on
board, I think starting out asa volunteer, and eventually
stepped into the place and I'veknown this lady for about 20
(08:06):
years as we've worked togetheron a number of projects.
So, amanda tell, and you saidyou didn't want to cry today,
but I'm going to have you startout.
Talk about why Nancy Johnson,former director of the Community
Resources Council, now is theadministrative assistant here at
the Children's Palace.
Talk about how and why she's soimportant to the people here.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, the first thing is because she's wonderful and
not evil like you are.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Just for the listeners to hear.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I told him.
I said, barry, do not ask meabout what she means to me,
because I have a really busy daytoday.
I don't need to look bad at 3o'clock in the afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Kleenexes are right over there.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
You can always have a little makeup break, so yes,
you know, um, I think when Ithink of Nancy, there are a lot
of of attributes that I couldsay about her, um, from just her
, her warmth and her kindness,and, um, her loyalty, her
discernment, all of those thingsare what I would just say is
(09:08):
beautiful.
But, honestly, when I thinkabout Nancy, what just comes to
my mind is she is almost likethe rainbow and the sun that
comes after a storm, and there'sjust a beauty about that that I
don't care who you are I'm notsure I have ever seen someone
(09:30):
see a rainbow and that that sunpeek out, that they don't stop
and say look at that rainbow, orthat they're acknowledging it.
And that's Nancy.
Um, there is something that isso beautiful about her that will
stop you every time, and itdoesn't matter if it's her hugs,
if it's her laughter.
(09:52):
She's the one who plans ourmonthly Children's Palace
parties here, that the lunchesare themed and so much fun.
There is just something abouther that, if you're going
through a storm, or a storm hasjust finished, nancy is your
sunshine and your rainbow, and Ihave seen that with myself and
(10:20):
I've seen that with multiplestaff, but, most importantly,
I've seen that with guests,guests that come over for
classes and they're greeted byher Unsheltered neighbors, who
(10:49):
are very hot or very cold, andshe is just a breath of fresh
air that we've all needed.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Well, sunshine as well as rainbow.
Lady Nancy Johnson, welcome tothe podcast here at Peeker
Rescue Mission today.
You need clinics too.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I probably do.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Nancy, you and I have known each other a long time.
I want to talk a little bitabout some of our past, but some
things that we got a chance todo.
But, nancy, why did you comeand start in kind of a
retirement time in your life?
Come back to the Topeka RescueMission.
Come to the Topeka RescueMission and see if there was an
opportunity for you to servehere.
(11:27):
What drew you to the TopekaRescue Mission?
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Barry Feaker.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Oh, okay, well, he was already gone, so but no, I'm
serious, I was going through a.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Very, very Well, let me start at the beginning.
Barry and my daughter have thesame birthday, and so I always
text Barry.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Not the same year, by the way, just so you know.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
But I always text Barry on his birthday and we
always say, oh, we need to gettogether.
Well, this year we did.
Last year we did, and I wasgoing through a very, very bad
time of my life.
I had just gotten out of thehospital with septic.
This little bird over here wastelling me life wasn't
(12:08):
worthwhile.
And this little bird was sayingyour daughter would absolutely
kill you if you did this.
And so it was going back andforth, and so I took the lead, I
believe, and called Barry andsaid let's get together, because
God brought me to him to getout of this just deepness I was
(12:33):
in and I came in and talked tohim and we talked for maybe, oh,
we tried to catch up.
We hadn't seen each otherprobably in two or three years.
And when I came in here, barrysaid why don't you come here and
volunteer?
And I went oh geez, you know Ifeel like I've volunteered all
(12:53):
my life.
He said no, come here and do it.
Well, I have to admit that theminute I walked in here I knew
it was at the right place.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
How did you know that ?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
One were the people who I felt the love immediately
and I think if nobody's workeddown here, you can talk all you
want, but they will neverunderstand the culture of TRM.
I mean, I've worked a lot ofplaces and there's backstabbing
(13:34):
and gossip and everything likethat.
We have none of that here atTRM.
I always say the ego is left atthe front door, and it really
is.
Is left at the front door andit really is.
And we love each other, we careabout each other, we hug each
(14:00):
other, we, you know, talk toeach other off the cliff and I
think that lured me here and Ifelt so good when I walked out
and so I did the front desk forprobably six months or so and
the job was open and I talked toJosh about it and he said, well
, apply for it.
And I said, well, the problemis, Josh, it's Monday through
(14:22):
Friday.
I'm not doing Monday throughFriday.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You like being here, but not that much.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
I really like Tuesday , wednesday and Thursday and
that's not going to work.
Not going to work.
I said well, talk about it.
First of all, tuesdays andThursdays are our busiest day
here because of class, and so Icame in for an interview with Mr
Josh.
How are you going to feel withsomebody my age supervising you?
(14:53):
I don't know, I have noproblems with that.
Do?
Speaker 1 (14:58):
you.
Well, to be fair, given youryou know your work history, I
was, you know, maybe slightlyintimidated at the time, oh,
please.
How do you feel as a former CEO?
Speaker 4 (15:09):
But you know, that's in my past life and I've shut
the door of that and now I justwant to be, I want to bring joy
to everyone that walks in thatfront door.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And you do.
I hope so, because that's my.
It was like Amanda had said andshe kind of pretty good intro
there for how she sees you andother people see you as well.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Well, josh did an interesting thing.
He I guess it was the firstcouple of weeks.
He said now you know, this isreally your job description.
You have to be nice to people.
I thought, geez, okay, Iprobably can handle that.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
So how would you describe your work here the days
that you're here Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
There, you know, I don't do that well at all.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
So I mean just answer the phone.
You are the voice of TopekaRescue Mission when people call
during the daytime on a Tuesday,Wednesday or Thursday, so you
field a lot of calls, you answerquestions, Try to find the
right person that's going to beable to answer a question.
That's one thing.
So keep going.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Well, this was really just to start with, and I'm to
blame for this because I can'tstand not to be busy.
It drives me crazy and you canonly play so many games or look
up so much stuff on Google.
I and I got handed theobituaries, because every
(16:41):
Tuesday or every week we gothrough the obituaries to see if
anyone had been a donor and wesend a letter to them.
So that was the first big, bigjob I had, besides answering the
phone and putting out the lunchmenu.
And then I moved into helpingSusie with volunteers putting
(17:04):
together packets, doing nametags, driving her crazy because
I wouldn't do, got the packetsmixed up, but it's just the
kindness of people here.
I mean, it wasn't like youidiot, you can't even put
together a packet.
It was not a problem, let'sjust, and that's what I love
(17:27):
about it.
And then I picked up callingreferences, which I love, and I
also call potential people fororientation and turf.
That's Susie Holtz.
So, yes, I have turned it intothe job I wanted.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
And we needed but in the same time, hopefully, making
somebody happy that day andjust loving on them, and so the
conversation you and I had anumber of years ago is it's
frightening conversation you andI had a number of years ago is.
(18:09):
That was you were the CEO ofthe Community Resources Council
for a number of years, which isstill a great organization today
.
Mary Thomas and you worktogether.
She's the director of the CRCnow.
I think the CRC has been inTopeka around 100 years.
And so you were CEO at that timeand you you wanted to be um
more engaged with people in needand have that office move into
an area, um, where there wasmore um, um, tangible need, and
(18:34):
not just a resource organizationbut actually a service
organization.
I want to get to that in amoment, but you have a chance
here in your position at TopekaRescue Mission to engage with
the guests of the shelters and,as LaManda said, people even
walking in off the streets.
What's it like for you now?
(18:55):
You talked about kind of theculture here.
You talked about the people andthe way they treat each other.
How is it with you and theguests?
Because sometimes as they comeover for classes, the training
programs, the care program, lifeskills, you're the first person
they see.
What's that like for you?
Speaker 4 (19:16):
I love it.
I love it.
I want them to see my smile andfeel my love when they walk
through.
And seriously, in the year I'vebeen here volunteer work a year
and a half I've only had oneperson really get angry at me
and oh, by the way, lamanda wasstanding right next to me when
(19:37):
the person got angry at me.
I handled that one very well.
I mean, it was like what have Idone that?
Speaker 2 (19:46):
lady was just having a bad day, huh Well, she was.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
And I've always run on the philosophy that just
because you're having a bad day,that doesn't mean everybody has
to have a bad day, so leave itat home.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah, leave it at home, Take it back to the
shelter.
They'll deal with it there.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
One thing I got to say this real quick I can't tell
you how many times I've hadpeople come in on a Monday or
Friday when Nancy's not here,and go where's Nancy?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
They're disappointed.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
And they'll be like well cause.
You know, normally it's Tuesday, thursdays, the guest classes
and different things, and sosometimes some of them will come
over just to see Nancy.
I'm like, I'm sorry she's nothere today, like why?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
She's off Monday and.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Friday.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
And then they leave.
So yeah, but people love you.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
And I love them, and I mean, I'm just a simple person
that God has given me the giftI hope to make people
comfortable and know how muchthey are loved.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Apparently, he is giving you that gift because
that's what you do, nancy.
You're in this position now ofanswering phones and helping put
packets together and engagingwith different people who are
coming in, who are kind of oneof the most challenging times of
their life.
This wasn't always your role.
As we mentioned the CommunityResources Council, you and I met
(21:06):
before around that time when wetalked about a meeting at the
library and then we startedgetting together talking about
what could happen in one of ourmost challenged neighborhoods
and we started envisioning thisthing called Net Reach and we
said, ok, who's going to do whatpart of that?
And I remember Julie Ford wasthe superintendent of Pico
(21:28):
Public Schools.
They had a building in theHighcrest neighborhood that was
one of the most challengedneighborhoods at the time, and
so we began to visit with herand the Board of Education Larry
Robbins, larry Robbins, yeah.
And they had a price to rentthat building which was
absolutely not affordable, andwe cast the vision with them and
(21:51):
they brought it down toone-twelfth of the price.
They said, let's give this atry.
That program was pioneered byyou and you and well had a
little bit to do with that andit was a division of the Topeka
Rescue Mission and we got a lotof people coming in for about
seven years and something overthere took its place.
(22:13):
It's called SENT today, and soin many different I don't know
how many, but at least threethat I'm aware of what we call
the CRC Resource Centers birthedout of that.
So talk about what you werethinking and what your
experience was as you as theleader of the Community
(22:34):
Resources Council, bringingpeople together to be able to
start something that today isproven to be very
transformational.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
It started out as anger because I saw where all
these non-profits were and I sawwhere the majority of our
homeless people were, and I keptthinking how do they get to
these services?
I mean, some of them aren't onbus routes, so how do you get
people to get to these services?
I mean, some of them aren't onbus routes, so how do you get
people to get to these services?
And that's when Barry and Istarted talking about bringing
nonprofits together so that itwas a one-stop shop.
(23:16):
And the main story that evercomes out of this was we had a
committee Sally Zeller and RonMiller and we talked about well,
we're going to put inbasketball courts and we're
going to do this, we're going todo that.
And we asked the people myfriends down there, what would
(23:38):
you really like?
And they said we'd like a payphone.
And it was like, wow, were weoff on that one?
But they needed a phone thatthey could call, or a number
that somebody could call themback at.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
So that's probably one of my biggest loves that I
did was to bring that CRC into aneighborhood.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
One of the things that I recall when you first got
into that building was.
Now people found out where youwere, where we were.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Well, let me say we were in the top floor of the
Ramada in years Very hard to getto, very hard to get to With a
conference room, and it wasmainly just the agencies.
But now we have neighborhoodfolks that are coming to you.
I remember sitting in youroffice about a month into it and
it was like a littleoverwhelming.
There was all of these needs,and so how did you handle that?
And how did you then not justsay, well, we've really made a
(24:43):
bad decision here?
What did you do from there tosay we've got to do something
about this?
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Well, we went to different nonprofits and we came
to you and because we needed toget those nonprofits in there,
or some simile of of them, andwe didn't want to have to charge
them an arm and a leg to do it,we provided the administration,
(25:10):
the person that greeted people,that answered phones and um
when the when the roof leaked orthe toilet broke, you took care
of that by calling the landlord, which is is Topeka Public
Schools.
That's right, that was wonderful, but it was just.
I look at it as a project builtin love, because that's exactly
(25:35):
what it was.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Nancy, there's been a lot of people helped in the
High Crest neighborhood since.
I believe we started that about2013, if I'm not mistaken, and
maybe 2012, 2013.
The Net Center, NetReach, andnow it's birthed out into these
other areas.
How does it feel now and I knowyou love TRM and this is where
(25:58):
you are now.
We're grateful for that.
I love TRM and this is whereyou are now.
We're grateful for that howdoes it feel to look back and
see the growth of something thatyou pioneered, that you really
didn't know the outcome?
What does it feel like to you?
Do you even give that anythought?
No, Okay.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
I really don't, because it was such a joint
effort and you probably know mewell enough to know that I'm not
a me person and it wasn't justme, it was a number of us coming
together and many times it wasa number, it was us talking for
the first time.
You know that agencies weren'ttalking to this agency or that
(26:38):
agency and it was bringing thosepeople around the table.
And I was telling Amanda, wewere instrumental in starting
Noto because they were having,they were getting their 501c3
and it wasn't going as fast andthey needed to get going.
(26:59):
So we took them under ourumbrella until they got it so
they could use our 5013.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Even that nonprofit status so they could get going
quicker.
And, LaManda, you're a CEOsignificantly behind where Nancy
and I have been.
And what does it sound like toyou?
Because she's kind ofunderstating her impact on this
community and things that aregoing today and beyond.
(27:28):
What does that say to you abouthaving Nancy here with you to
have this kind of a person who'sbeen there, done that and now
serving in the way she's serving?
No cry.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
No cry, I know.
Not only has he asked me whatyou mean to me, now he's asking
me about your impact.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
What the?
Speaker 3 (27:45):
heck.
You know, I think there's a lotof her example that I think
speaks out to a lot of us.
But from her perspective as aformer CEO and me currently
being a CEO, I think what speaksloudly to me is in order to
(28:06):
lead, you have to know how toserve, and that doesn't mean
that you don't lead from thefront sometimes, and especially
when times are challenging, ormaybe in kind of what you've
mentioned a couple of timesabout pioneering this idea that
maybe wasn't going to work.
Um, so to me, I look at that asa risk taker Right.
(28:29):
Yeah and um.
So I think that there is also apart of Nancy that speaks to me
as a CEO, and some of that isher courage.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Um yes.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
And and it's not courage when you're doing
something that everybody's inagreement with.
It takes courage when you'redoing something that everybody
says isn't going to work.
And so I learned a lot fromNancy's past, and sometimes it's
on my worst days.
You know, nancy is the one thatsees me um, in and out a
(29:04):
hundred times and she's the onethat knows I'm still here three
hours after everybody leaves andlike she gets it because she's
walked in there, um.
And so I have to tell thisfunny little Nancy story, cause
she's never just come out andsaid it's for me.
But you know I'm pretty sureit's for me, but you know I'm
pretty sure it's for me.
She got worried about threemonths ago about the load that
(29:30):
myself and I think some othersare carrying, and so she has
started and apparently I'mreally fast when I'm in and out.
Maybe I look like I'm alsomultitasking and maybe sometimes
I'm guilty of maybe not evenlooking up from my phone that
I'm trying to disengage ofissues and yeah, in other words,
(29:54):
you're walking down the hallway, you're looking at your phone.
She says I run.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
That's a good point, good yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
She says I run.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
It's a run looking, looking at your phone.
Probably have my earpods intalking to them, Wondering if
you're going to open the door orjust smack into the door.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Correct, yes.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
And so she gives out this little gentle nudge of a
reminder when we were alltogether as a staff.
And then a cute little emailcomes out.
Cute little email comes out andthe next thing I know there is
now an encouraging piece ofpaper that is held on that door
that I go in and out of, thathas magnets to the door and it's
(30:33):
just this reminder.
Sometimes it's one that's justliterally like breathe, and then
other times it's talking aboutyour importance and things like
that, and then other times it'stalking about your importance
(31:07):
and things like that.
So why do I share that?
Because I'm not only sees whatI'm doing, she not only feels
what I'm facing, but she caresabout my experience as a CEO,
and that's not often talkedabout.
I've got a great leadershipteam that serves.
(31:28):
I've got excellent directorsand assistant directors, and the
volunteers are impeccable.
The donors are great, right,but Nancy is probably the only
person that has had aconversation with me that says I
want you to enjoy being a CEO.
And so, knowing that she did it, knowing that what she did was
(31:55):
hard, knowing she did it anyways, and then you fast forward all
these years later where shecould really be doing anything,
and she chooses to not onlyserve in a time where
homelessness is verycontroversial, but she chooses
to see me as a CEO and uses herpast the good and the hard that
(32:19):
she faced as a CEO to even makemy experience different hard
that she faced as a CEO to evenmake my experience different,
and that's something that is sohumbling to me and definitely
something that I don't take forgranted.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
So Well, Nancy, you thought you were coming here for
you and when we first startedtalking, but it's been way
beyond that.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
Well, and let me tell you one of the really fun
things I'm really proud ofstarting was Christ talked about
eating around a table, howimportant that was sharing love
and stuff like that.
So I couldn't just do aneight-to-five job.
I had to add more things.
(32:58):
So I have not.
I.
We have a committee now thatorganizes different potlucks
once a month, and we've hadChristmas cookies, we've had
barbecue, we've had hamburgersand hot dogs.
We usually have a theme.
(33:18):
We had a luau this month andnext month is a submarine party,
and so it just— I want to comeback.
Tailgating, tailgating, yeah,and I mean it just brings us
around the table, and probablythe one thing that just blew my
mind was at one of them.
(33:41):
I brought rocks, flat rocks,and I gave everybody, got the
paint that will go on them andeverything like that.
And I sat back and I looked atthis and I thought this is God
working.
This is God working.
(34:02):
I mean, they loved it.
It was a simple, simple thing,but they loved it and it took
them away from, I think, theirreality and let them go back and
just have fun, because sooftentimes we get in here and
(34:22):
it's so overwhelming and I worryso much about LaManda because
she takes everything on andthat's the reason I put the
stuff on the back.
I have to protect her and Ihave to protect most of the
people here Because, much likeme, they don't know how to say
(34:47):
no and they've got to learn todo that.
But our potlucks have justturned into pure fun for an hour
and a half.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
I think, amanda, it's already been kind of stated how
valuable you see, nancy to youand, I think, nancy's decision
to come here.
Nancy, how valuable it's beento you and others.
What would you say to somebodywho's listening to this right
now, who maybe wasn't a CEO ormaybe is and getting ready to
(35:20):
retire or whatever?
What would you say to them ifthey're really wondering about
what's next?
Speaker 4 (35:29):
Well, I would encourage them to sign up to be
a volunteer first, because Ithink what happens well, I know
what happens with the public isthat you say Topeka, rescue
Commission and theyautomatically think, oh, those
homeless people.
And I mean, you know the story.
I was before the citycommission one time and it was
(35:55):
about bus passes for our friendsor transit friends or transit,
and the subject before that hadbeen a new pond at Clarion Woods
and the absolute chamber waspacked with big donors, big
(36:18):
names.
After that passed, they took aa break and the bus was next and
there were four of us left inthe room and I had somebody say
to me, as we were addressing itwell, those people and I said so
(36:42):
, and so they're not thosepeople.
Each of them is an individual,each of them is a person.
Each of them have their ownstory.
So I would encourage the peopleto come and volunteer and see
what it's like, because you willnever go to any place that is
(37:04):
as loving and caring as TRM is,and we always, always have space
for volunteers.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I think we all need that in our lives because it
doesn't seem to be a reallysuper caring, loving world out
there and sometimes people wouldbe surprised, like you were, of
coming here, amanda.
Any other thoughts today withour special guest?
Speaker 3 (37:29):
I would just say, regardless of what your
perspective is right now, ifyou're someone who is walking
through some challenges andyou're being served in some way,
just don't walk in that withguilt or shame.
Know that we too have beenhelped, and that's why there's
(37:52):
so many people at TRM that areso devoted to helping people
have that hand up because we'vebeen given it, and so you know.
I think if you are listeningnow and you're someone who is
constantly helping someone, justknow that your work is not
unnoticed, not just by yourfriends at TRM that are thankful
(38:17):
for the many nonprofits and themany business owners and the
other agencies that are doinghard stuff right now.
You know the economy has gotchallenges right now and there's
just strife, and so I know thatthere's a lot of other
incredible organizations thatare doing work that are being
impacted right now.
And just know you're beingprayed for by those of us at TRM
(38:40):
and we know that we couldn't doserving our community without
you.
And then, lastly, I think youknow I would like to address the
leaders in the community, andespecially any that are
transitioning into retirement.
Just remember that there areother generations of leaders
(39:02):
that are up and coming and thatleadership isn't all about the
individual legacy of the person,it's about the legacy of the
work.
And so the leaders that areoutgoing into retirement, those
of us who are newer leaders, weare craving wisdom.
We are craving wisdom and we'recraving the realistic stories
(39:26):
of the previous ones of you thathave been CEOs, to know, oh,
it's not always been the awardsor the accolades, or the new
buildings or the new pioneeringstuff, like there were times
that you all faced too, thatwere bleak, that were people in
opposition, those kinds ofthings.
So I would just say, if you area leader that is looking at
(39:51):
retirement, really figure outhow you can still pour into the
next generation, because there'sa lot of us who are soaking it
in and want to continue thelegacy of the work, because we
too know one day it won't be us,it'll be someone else leading,
and we want that to trickle down.
So there's just, there's aplace for all of us.
And then, lastly, I would justsay remember what I just
(40:13):
mentioned can also be a cycle.
So those of us who are leaderscan also be people that need to
be served and are also teampartners with all the other
organizations, and thatsometimes that can be a rotation
, so it's also okay if there'sleaders out there that are
needing help right now, needingto have their hands held up,
because it's a lot right now andit's beautiful work to do that
(40:37):
of nonprofit work, but it's alsovery challenging right now, and
so I just hope that those of usthat are in the leadership
positions welcome the Nancys intheir lives, instead of trying
to have a facade or keeping thestruggle from the people, like
Nancys, that are pouring into us.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Well, well said.
Nancy, thank you for saying yes, and thank you for not just
saying yes to coming to the Peakof Rescue mission, not just
being the director and leader inso many different ways in this
community, but thank you forsaying yes to this podcast
because we knew that this wasnot the easiest thing for you to
want to do.
It was begrudgingly Right.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
She was voluntold.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
Josh just finally remarked to me are you going to
say no to LaManda?
And I turned around and wentyes.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
So we promise we will take those restraints off of
you as soon as this is over, andI want to just say one final
thing is that there's a realmisnomer that you have to.
Speaker 4 (41:34):
I mean, we're a Christian organization, but that
doesn't mean, just because Ibelieve something that's
different from you, that weaccept that because it's a
loving Christ organization thataccepts everyone and we don't
care where you are in yourjourney.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
That's correct Absolutely Well.
You've been a blessing to manypeople, me especially, for many,
many years.
I'm glad you're still with usand the impact that you are
continuing to make, I'm sure hasnot only spoken to people who
work here, volunteer here, whoare guests of the peak of rescue
mission, but people listeningto this podcast today are
(42:10):
probably going to think Hmm,maybe I'm that person too.
So thank you, nancy, welcome.
So thank you for listening toour community, our mission.
You've really listened to theformer CEO of the community
resources council.
Now we might call her the CEOof kindness and love of Topeka
Rescue Mission for many, manypeople.
And if you'd like moreinformation about volunteering
(42:31):
or contributing to Topeka RescueMission, you can go to
trmonlineorg.
That's trmonlineorg and markyour calendars for September the
12th for Night of Praise.
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