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SPRING/SUMMER ’23
Discover Eudora is an official publication of the City of Eudora, the Eudora School District and the Eudora Chamber of Commerce, with editorial, design and advertising placement provided by Sunflower Publishing.
City Liaison Kevyn Gero
Chamber Liaison Anthony Brown
School District Liaison Jaylie Postlewait
Editor Nathan Pettengill
Art Director Alex Tatro
Copy Editor Leslie Clugston Andres
Advertising Angie Taylor
Photographers Jason Dailey
Racheal Major Writers Fally Afani
Haines Eason
Cindy Higgins
Nick Spacek
President Anthony Brown
www.cityofeudoraks.gov
Mayor Tim Reazin
Interim City Manager Kevyn Gero
04 | Meet &
www.eudoraschools.org
School District
Superintendent Stu Moeckel
08 | For More Independent and More Fulfilling Lives
Tapping the strength of a regional program, Eudora School District provides a range of special needs programs
12 | Light Within
A rare example of a female religious leader in the American Midwest of the 1800s, Penelope Hill Gardner has deep connections to Eudora and the surrounding region
20 | When Panasonic Lands
Community leaders are assessing and preparing for the impact of the massive battery plant—but fortunately, effective planning and lessons from history have placed Eudora in a good position to benefit from the new facility
www.sunflowerpub.com
Director Bob Cucciniello
Publisher Bill Uhler
All material and photographs copyright Sunflower Publishing, 2023.
For editorial queries: Nathan Pettengill (785) 832-7287
npettengill@sunflowerpub.com
For advertising queries: Angie Taylor (785) 832-7236
ataylor@sunflowerpub.com
on the cover. A volunteer gardener holds a bouquet of flowers at the Eudora Giving Garden. Photograph by Jason Dailey.
Where were you born?
Texarkana, Arkansas
What was your first job?
Omaha World Herald paper route and sweeping classrooms after school. I was in sixth grade.
When did you begin doing business in Eudora?
2014
How would you describe your profession to a kindergarten class?
Dental professionals help keep our mouth healthy. It is a very important part of our bodies. It helps us eat, talk, and smile at others.
Complete the following sentences, please.
Many people think my profession is about fixing teeth, but it is much more about preventing the need to fix teeth—the “wellness approach.”
My three pieces of advice for someone just starting out in my profession would be: put patients’ best interests ahead of all else, never abandon your continuing education and treat people how you want to be treated.
Photograph by Racheal MajorUntil moving to Lawrence to attend the University of Kansas, I had never lived anywhere more than 2 years. My dad served in the U.S. Army for 31 years. From first to third grade I was in four schools in four different states. Then we moved to Germany. Except for dental school in Kansas City, I have lived in Douglas County since 1979. We have lived in a rural home the last 23 years.
What is the most promising trend you have seen in the Eudora business community since you have been connected to it?
A real growth in the local business community’s effort to invest in their business “home.” There appears to be good relationships between the city leaders, administration and the business community.
What is your favorite season in Eudora, and why?
Autumn, because it is my favorite season anywhere. Reflection creeps in during autumn, especially, I believe, as we age.
What is the one thing in Eudora that you would recommend visitors see/do?
I think the Eudora Historical Museum is a phenomenal part of the community. A few years ago they hosted a traveling Smithsonian exhibit. By nature, local history is always unique.
You are given a vacant lot in Eudora and several million dollars of investment. What business/attraction would you create?
The “Biggest Ferris Wheel in Kansas.” I love to ride them with my spouse of 38 years. As a unique attraction in our area, visible for miles, it would seasonally sells rides to all while locally licensed small business people sell sno-cones, cotton candy, and photo memories of your ride.
Where were you born?
I was born in Shawnee and have lived in Shawnee my entire life, but am planning to move to Eudora in the future.
What was your first job?
My first job was at Papa Keno’s as a delivery driver and pizza maker.
When did you begin doing business in Eudora?
I purchased my business in Eudora around March 2022.
So right after the pandemic’s peak. What do you think the pandemic taught us about doing business? That it’s important to be smart with your money when getting into business at any time. The pandemic definitely showed us that anything can happen, good and bad.
My three pieces of advice for someone just starting out in my profession would be:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help.
2. Be organized. Organization is key to any profession.
3. Don’t be afraid to take risks, but of course be smart about it and do research.
What is your advice for someone considering setting up a business in Eudora?
I would say, location is key. Also, do things as soon as you can before costs increase with all the new businesses that are to come in the future.
How will upcoming growth affect Eudora businesses?
I believe it will affect businesses in a positive way. More new residents equals more sales.
What is the most promising trend you have seen in the Eudora business community since you have been connected to it?
I’ve seen more new businesses coming into town, more people being involved with the community, and more people supporting local businesses.
What is your favorite event in Eudora, and why CPA Picnic, because downtown Eudora gets so lively.
You are given a vacant lot in Eudora and several million dollars of investment. What business/ attraction would you create?
I would probably say a hardware store or a Raising Cane’s, because I’m tired of having to drive to Lawrence for those two things.
Tapping the strength of a regional program, Eudora School District provides a range of special needs programs
With evident love, Kari Mack shares photos of her son, Grayson. There he is with a classic American boy haircut and huge smile. And here he is in a snowsuit, standing extra tall, a ski in each hand, the number 92 pinned to his chest. A boy who seems to relish adventure and the outdoors.
“Grayson is a sweet, silly, and inquisitive 10-year-old,” Mack says. “He asks lots of questions and likes to know how everything works. His special interests are batteries
CARDS: Comprehensive Autism Resources and Developmental Services
SEEDS: Social Emotional Educational Development Services
BRIDGES: Building Relationships, Instruction, Development, Growth and Employment Services
and vents. And, he has autism and ADHD.”
Grayson attends Eudora Elementary School, one of three schools—along with elementary programs in Baldwin City and Wellsville—served by the East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education (ECKCE). Known as a cooperative “interlocal” special education organization, ECKCE is of several such co-ops across Kansas, where smaller districts pool resources to provide special education. Throughout the state, there are 267 special education programs, and 240 of them are served by interlocals or cooperative-type arrangements.
Relying greatly on federal and state funds, the interlocal delivers services to the district’s students. In Eudora, ECKCE operates two programs for children: a kindergarten-through-fifth grade program called CARDS, and, for kids dealing with serious emotional issues, a program called WEBS that focuses on skills coaching and a special curriculum. The team also runs the BRIDGES program at Eudora High School for students ages 18–21 with intellectual and/or emotional disabilities. The focus there is on post-school life-skills training and communitybased education.
Mack says that the benefit of CARDS has been tremendous for her family and son.
“Grayson had a very challenging first semester of third grade in 2021, leading to behaviors that affected his safety and academics. The team decided to move Grayson to the CARDS program in order for him to have consistency with highly trained staff, and the change in him was almost immediate,” Mack notes.
“The staff was patient, caring,” she adds. “Challenging behaviors dropped significantly, and Grayson has been able to be successful in the classroom with his peers who have meaningful relationships with him. He has made so much progress.”
Dan Wray, director of ECKCE, says the success of the program rests with the staff who work with some 800
students throughout the three districts each day.
“It’s the human connection that gets people into teaching in the first place,” he notes.
An educator who began his journey in Colorado Springs, Wray started 35 years ago as an English teacher at a private school but wanted to transfer into the public education sector.
“Best way to do that was to substitute for whatever they asked you to substitute for. They asked me to sub for special education, and I jumped in,” he says. After getting his master’s and certification, he remained in the special education field and now works with other specialists such as Eudora Elementary School lead behavior teacher Megan Perry.
“I have wanted to go into teaching since as long as I can remember, and I never really pivoted from that vision,” Perry explains. Though she completed all coursework for middle school English certification before she graduated, Perry did not have a specific teaching focus at the time.
But similar to Wray, Perry discovered special education and has never left.
“A friend had got a job working as a paraprofessional for the local school district. She convinced me to do the same, and I fell in love instantly,” Perry notes. “Sometimes life throws you the worst curveballs only to get you right where you are truly needed.”
Perry says the smaller classes and the ability to focus on individual student needs are part of the appeal in teaching special education.
But that lower student-teacher ratio means districts and programs must recruit more staff—which is not always easy given educator shortages and budget challenges.
Wray notes that, as early as February, there were already six vacancies to fill for the upcoming school year. And, the state has almost never funded special education to the legally mandated 92%. Each year, Wray spends a significant amount of energy recruiting and getting creative with his
Acronyms are common in educational programs. Here’s a guide to the full names of the programs mentioned in this story.
As of the most recent full count (December 2022), the East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education (ECKCE) serves 795 students—715 with disabilities and 80 on Gifted Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). In Eudora, the program serves 308 students (or 18.3% of the student population) with disabilities and 42 on Gifted IEPs (which would bring the total to 20.7% of the student population). This is near the state average of 16.4% of students (not including the Gifted IEPs).
budget for special education (often referred to as SPED).
“I wish that more of our legislators and constituents knew how much goes into SPED and why it is so critical, especially in these times,” he says. “You need the funding to provide the services,” he adds. “I have seen it work both ways where students did not get the services. The outcomes, they are just not good. And, I have seen the flipside, with supports. Anything is possible when kids get what they need.”
Mack raves about the CARDS staff, saying they have been great role models for Grayson, advocating for him, making sure he knows his goals and continues working toward them. This persistent support, she says, has led to great academic and social growth.
Just as importantly, it allows her and Grayson to focus on the future as he graduates out of the CARDS program.
“My hope is that this will help prepare him to be more independent and successful in middle school,” Mack notes.
Information provided by Daniel Wray, director of ECKCE.
Acentury before many Protestant denominations began ordaining women, Penelope Hill Gardner had been ministering and would minister for some 50 years in Eudora and around eastern Kansas. As a member of The Society of Friends, or Quakers, Gardner’s ministering wasn’t unusual—but her influence and impact in this region were.
The first Quakers in Kansas came to promote Christianity with their eastern Johnson County mission school. Following the passage of the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed Kansans to decide whether slavery would be allowed in the new state, a second wave of Quaker families moved to Kansas to farm and to influence the abolition of slavery.
Their beliefs prevented them from exerting force in politics or warfare, so they lived by example and aided escaped slaves in Quaker settlements near Leavenworth, Osawatomie, Emporia, LeRoy, and smaller colonies.
They also practiced a form of religion—in both structured and unstructured worship groups—that focused on an inner light found in all individuals and which, therefore, welcomed women as equal spiritual practitioners and teachers.
“While some radical Puritan sects allowed women to preach, the conception of gender equality in Quakerism was unparalleled by other groups at the time,” notes religion scholar Margaret Hope Bacon.
Born 1817 in North Carolina, “where the Muscadine grapes grow,” she would say, Gardner embraced her faith’s belief in radical equality. She and her sister, Margaret Hill Davis, founded an elementary school for Quaker girls of all classes and races—and she became a Quaker minister in 1853.
Wanting to support antislavery and abolitionist forces, but abiding by the Friends’ creed of nonviolence, Gardner and her husband, William, left their farm and mercantile business in Florence, North Carolina, to be a physical presence in Bleeding Kansas. In 1861, William bought 160 acres to farm near Springfield, later named Hesper, four miles south of Eudora. Other Quakers had settled in this
Story by Cindy Higgins
area three years earlier, and 60 families attended the monthly worship services at their meeting house.
Continuing to work as a minister, Gardner traveled to other Quaker meeting houses and private homes to offer spiritual encouragement. She also represented Hesper at regional Quaker quarterly meetings and the annual statewide meeting. Both Gardner and her husband ministered throughout 1861 to the Quakers residing by Emporia.
During 1864 and 1865, Gardner ministered to the Quaker settlement by Osawatomie, which provided refuge and transport for fugitive slaves and fed, clothed, and educated 150 Black students. Then, throughout 1867, she and her husband taught religious studies to Shawnee students at the Quaker mission school.
Gardner continued her commitment to education when Kansas Quakers decided to build schools similar to today’s high schools. Their first Friends Academy started in 1878 in Grellet, followed by academies in Tonganoxie, Hesper, North Branch, Washington, Friendswood [Rose Hill], Lowell, Haviland, Stella, Lawrence, and Fowler.
The group organizing Hesper Friends Academy paid Gardner, a fellow trustee, $300 in 1884 for her four acres on which a two-story building was built along with basketball and tennis courts, baseball diamond, horse stables, and two outhouses.
Throughout the years, Gardner attended Friends Academy events. Hiram Nowlin, in his 1955 recounting of teaching school, wrote of seeing Gardner, a “quaint” old Quaker lady who dressed primly in outfits “somber in color” and of the best-quality material, at the events.
Gardner also returned to business. In 1880, Gardner, with her nephews, invested in another mercantile store by establishing Gardner, Hill and Company at 714 Main, a storefront that recently was renovated and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
At age 76, Gardner became a trustee of Friends University, a Quaker institution to be built in Kansas. She advocated for Hesper as the site because of its attractive location and proximity to two transcontinental railroads. Ultimately, Newton was chosen for the university, and it opened in 1898.
A local biographer described Gardner as “a lady of gentle demeanor, with a heart full of kindness toward the suffering and distressed and a ready sympathy that wins friends among her acquaintances.”
After a lifetime of abiding by the Quaker doctrine of letting one’s life speak of their faith, Gardner died in Eudora in 1903 and was buried in Hesper Friends Meeting Cemetery. At the time of her death, newspapers wrote that no other woman in the country had been a minister as long.
Her last words were “The Lord bless my people.”
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APRIL
4
Meet & Greet Networking
Eudora Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly gathering of members and guests at Zeb’s Coffeehouse. eudorakansaschamber.com
19
Birdwatching
Eudora Parks and Recreation Department teams up with the Jayhawk Audubon Society for a guided birdwatching expedition to Lake Clinton. eudoraparksandrec.org
21
Gaudete Holy Family Auction
Holy Family Catholic Church holds community charity auction. holyfamilyeudora.com
21
Cardinal Relays
Eudora High School hosts annual track and field competition. www.eudoraschools.org
MAY
2
Meet & Greet Networking
Eudora Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly gathering of members and guests at Zeb’s Coffeehouse. eudorakansaschamber.com
10
Kaw River Guide Workshop & Paddle
Friends of the Kaw opens a summer schedule of Beginner Wednesday short paddle excursions at various points along the Kaw River. See their website for a full schedule of locations and dates. kansasriver.org
13
Eudora High School Graduation
www.eudoraschools.org
16
School’s out Last day of classes for Eudora Schools. www.eudoraschools.org
18
Eudora’s Female Political Trailblazers
Eudora Area Historical Society offers a free presentation at the Eudora Community Center. cityofeudoraks.gov/100/Eudora-CommunityMuseum
JUNE
6
Meet & Greet Networking
Eudora Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly gathering of members and guests at Zeb’s Coffeehouse. eudorakansaschamber.com
15–17
CPA Picnic
The 122nd annual community celebration and fair runs for three days in Downtown Eudora with carnival rides, vendors and musical performances. facebook.com/eudoracpa
17–18
Citywide garage sale
Dozens of homes open their garages for sales across the city. eudoraevents.com
JULY
4
Fourth of July
Community gathering and fireworks. eudoraparksandrec.org
20
Stories from Working at the Sunflower Plant: Part 2 Eudora Area Historical Society offers a free presentation on the history of the Sunflower ammunition plant and how it affected the economy, culture and history of Eudora and the region. Former plant workers are expected to share their experiences. cityofeudoraks.gov/100/Eudora-CommunityMuseum
24–29
Douglas County Fair Douglas County Fair opens carnival grounds with amusement rides, battle of the bands, demolition derby, and additional events dgcountyfair.com
AUGUST 1
Meet & Greet Networking
Eudora Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly gathering of members and guests at Zeb’s Coffeehouse. eudorakansaschamber.com
17
First half-day of school for grades 1–9 and new high school students
www.eudoraschools.org
18
First full-day of school for grades 1–12
www.eudoraschools.org
21
First day of school for Eudora Schools Early Childhood and Kindergarten programs www.eudoraschools.org
SEPTEMBER 21
The History of Eudora Area Communities
Eudora Area Historical Society offers a free presentation on the history of Fall Leaf, Clearfield, Weaver, Hesper and other smaller towns around Eudora. cityofeudoraks.gov/100/Eudora-CommunityMuseum
25
The annual 25-mile adventure race by canoe, bike, and foot through Eudora and DeSoto. Great Kaw Adventure Race on Facebook
Community leaders are assessing and preparing for the impact of the massive battery plant—but fortunately, effective planning and lessons from history have placed Eudora in a good position to benefit from the new facility
Since Panasonic’s October 2022 announcement that it would build an electric battery plant at the old Sunflower Army Ammunition plant, a countdown has begun across towns in Douglas and Johnson counties to prepare for the multibillion-dollar facility’s impact on local businesses, infrastructures, housing markets and school district enrollments. By the time production begins on the 2170 cylindrical Li-ion batteries (estimated March 2025), the region will have seen a vast transformation, according to local and state officials. De Soto is likely to receive the bulk of the impact, both positive and negative. However, areas such as Eudora are geographically closer to the plant and will also be affected.
“The largest economic development project in Kansas history is going to lift not just the immediate region but
the entire state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland responded to our request for an assessment on the plant’s effect. “Eudora’s proximity to Panasonic’s plant in De Soto makes it a very attractive option for potential suppliers and the thousands of workers that will be seeking places to live, eat, shop, go to school and raise their families.”
With less than two years until the expecting opening, Eudora has a limited window of time to address crucial concerns. Thankfully, according to mayor Tim Reazin, the community already had many plans in place.
“The neat part for me is that we’ve been planning for years now about what’s it gonna look like in 20 or 30
years in Eudora anyway. Some of the things that we've done have laid the groundwork for growth,” Reazin says. “We didn’t anticipate it to be accelerated, but we’ve got the things in place that we just now have to implement that are part of that accelerated growth.”
Reazin points to projects such as the city’s purchase of land for a new water treatment plant, which occurred a few years ago as part of planning for expected growth—now with that growth coming earlier than expected, that purchase became even more fortuitous and timely.
The same could be said for the city’s development of the sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds district it had been working on for nearly a year and a half before Panasonic’s announcement.
“We anticipated the need to diversify our tax base, and we didn’t want to tax the citizens out of the community,” Reazin says of the new district, whose $40-plus. million plan is based around a focal point of a sports and entertainment arena that can seat up to 5,000 guests. The city’s overview of the arena also anticipates “a diverse set of programming, including mixed martial arts, basketball, volleyball, concerts, entertainment events, and much more.”
Housing has been another area of focus for city leaders. Given a possibility of 16,000 workers arriving—but not permanently settling—over the course of the plant’s construction, Reazin says the city should be careful not to fall into a trap of building cheap, quick, high-density housing.
The mayor sees Eudora as a community that wants to age in place—a community where citizens don’t have to leave in order to access resources as they age.
That means focusing on developing housing for employees who would establish roots in Eudora and support the community’s expansion with a continued presence long term.
“We want to focus on who’s going to be there for 20 years as an employee,” Reazin says. “We want to focus on what’s going to be a bigger community, and that, for me, is what drives us.”
For current residents, Panasonic’s arrival can mean striking the right balance of civic and business-related planning, according to Rob Richardson, Panasonic opportunities manager for the Economic Development Corporation of Lawrence and Douglas County.
Richardson’s office is charged with facilitating economic opportunities for those who live in the area. In terms of employment, the fully operational plant expects to hire 4,000 people, with 1,600–1,800 of those people expected to be new to the area; the remainder will be drawn from the local workforce. That creates opportunities for some— and conundrums for others.
“There will be pressure on existing businesses—probably on the warehousing and service sector—that don’t pay quite what the new plant will pay,” Richardson says, explaining that there’s anticipation Panasonic will pay $20–25 an hour for entry positions when it opens. “People need to be very cognizant of keeping up with pay scales and benefit packages and great work environments.”
Richardson says businesses should note that employees do not necessarily leave jobs for small wage differences, but they will if a new employer offers a better working environment or culture. His recommendation is that businesses should prepare for the possibility of staff attrition and be proactive rather than scrambling to react once Panasonic opens.
“We’re encouraging people to keep tabs on the situation, on what’s going on in the workforce, and with their workforce and to do what they can with salaries and benefits and work environment to keep their folks when Panasonic starts hiring,” Richardson says.
Panasonic’s arrival will also affect city services, according to interim city manager Kevyn Gero City resources in public safety—fire and police departments—as well as in the planning and codes work will see new demands and might require new assets and staff.
But the biggest challenge lies with public works.
"The crucial part is placing in the utility structure—water lines, sewer lines, electrical lines and more," Gero says, adding that these can be the most difficult components to add in advance because of fluctuations in costs, supply chains, construction timelines, and the need to correctly estimate the direction and rate of new housing and business developments.
But all city services are being examined in the light of the plant’s construction, Gero points out. It’s all part of making sure that Eudora city government is ahead of whatever may come, rather than responding to things as they pop up in a never-ending game of civic whack-a-mole.
In anticipating the impact of the Panasonic plant, the community has one helpful case study—the dynamic growth and expansion of the same area during World War II when it was developed as the Sunflower Ammunition Plant.
“If you drive around, you can see that there are some areas where the city had to be more reactive in terms of growth because it was coming so fast,” Gero says. “It’s not as consistent, so there are anomalies in some of the areas of town and some of the infrastructure is inconsistent, as well.”
Mayor Reazin looks to that past as a way toward a better future, as well.
“You can look at streets in town that that have no curbs, gutters, or sidewalks,” he says. “Those houses are directly related to the impactful growth in town that was caused by an outside source. There were people living in chicken coops and garages and barns and tents in people’s backyard because our population tripled in size because of the ammunition plant.”
Reazin says that the city is collectively wise enough to look at that history and understand what the plant once did to and for Eudora, and then draw lessons for the immediate future.
“The benchmark is that 10 years from now we are still on an upward tick,” Reazin says. “We’re an ever-growing community, and that includes arts. That includes diversity. It includes where you buy your milk. All those kinds of things are going to be impactful.”
As he finishes talking about the plant, Reazin points to a more personal benchmark for future success. The mayor has four boys, with the oldest 21 and the youngest 10—so his personal benchmark will be if his kids want to live in Eudora 10 years from now.
By 2033, Reazin says, a larger Eudora should still “have a great small-town feel” but with amenities that benefit residents every day they choose to remain in town. “That would give them a reason to be here.”
Given that many of the freshmen and sophomores currently attending Eudora High School will graduate right as the Panasonic plant opens, Eudora USD 491 has reviewed curriculum from specific changes to a “very 50,000-foot overview,” says Stu Moeckel, superintendent of schools.
One of the key components, Moeckel notes, has been former high school principal Ron Abel’s collaboration with Johnson County Community College and Peaslee Tech to prepare curriculum and lessons that will allow students to be “future ready.”
The plan is that students interested in working at Panasonic could develop preparatory skills while still in high school, and then build on this foundation if they do accept a job at the plant. One example is offering students OSHA certification—a ten-hour
and thirty-hour course in job-hazard safety that is often required for construction and manufacturing positions.
Moeckel says the course will try to be general but also provide students with “skills so that they don’t have to spend a lot of time onboarding when they start up.”
Much of Eudora Public Schools’ vocational education—in food service, welding, drafting, healthcare or otherwise—is based on problem-solving and critical thinking. Moeckel says that the Panasonic-related path will share much of this approach.
Of course, one of the biggest changes in the coming years might not be in the curriculum but in the size of the student body. Moeckel says this change is inevitable, but the school’s mission will remain the same.
“We’re trying to prepare for that change that, quite frankly, I don’t think anybody has the exact answer to. But we’re trying to have a great plan so that we’re adaptable and flexible when those times for change do come,” Moeckel says. “It is how we take the values which we hold so important to us and what we love about Eudora and how are we able to replicate how we treat others, how we work as a team, how we value others’ opinions and, as we grow, continue to remember those things that made us so successful at our current size.”
Story by Fally Afani | Photography by Jason Dailey
Laura Smith will be one of the first to tell you that the Eudora Giving Garden is more than a plot of land.
“I say this over and over—I always say it’s so much more than a garden,” explains the volunteer group’s marketing director. “Not only is it so peaceful, but it’s grounding,” she adds. “It bonds you with people. I’ve met the kindest, most wonderful people since I started being involved with the garden.”
The garden began in 2020 as a small, six-by-six–foot plot of land off Main Street in downtown Eudora. After securing a grant, community donations, and an acre of land donated by Stephanie and Nolan Jones, the garden moved to its present location at 545 West 20th Street. The larger area allows for a greenhouse and land plots that produce flowers and vegetables for extended growing seasons.
Throughout the year, produce from the garden might end up in the food pantry or with Feeding Eudora, an organization that provides free lunches in the summer. Sometimes, volunteers deliver food to someone’s doorstep when they call requesting healthy options for their families. “We have a lot of families reach out to us and say ‘I really want my kids to eat healthy but we’re tight on funds.’ And we have a ‘say no more’ type thing, and we put together a little bag and drop it off on their porch,” Smith says.
During the school year, Smith is busy running from school to school, teaching children about the garden. Sometimes, she even brings a friend, like a beekeeper. Often during the summer, volunteers deliver cut flowers from the garden to senior citizens.
“The entire community, in a good way, is affected by our garden,” Smith says. “We have educational events all the time, so our sense of community is very strong all the time. I’m out in the schools a lot. I’ll teach classes or help with sciences of plant life cycles. We hold workshops
The Giving Garden grows a variety of flowers to give away in the community and to sell through a subscription service.
at the garden. We’ve had beekeepers there, bird migration specialists there … just a wide variety of people.”
All of these activities are possible because of the range of people who volunteer time and expertise to the garden. Amy Gordon Ames is a retired physician and current volunteer coordinator who works at bringing in new guests and helpers.
“We experimented with a few different ways of having people out in the garden last year. They could come out as a group for a whole educational thing, they could come out as an individual and take care of a certain area all season,” Ames says. “We want to be able to provide those things for the community but also have an educational focus—teaching people how to grow their own food, use their own food, live and eat in a more healthy and sustainable way.”
Beyond these benefits, the garden has become a community gathering spot.
“I’m just finding it really rewarding and fun,” says Ames. “I’m loving the group I’m working with, so it just feels like the right thing.”
As Smith notes, the garden offers many different aspects for people to find their own “right thing” as they volunteer on the land.
“Growing your own food and taking pride in something like that is something that has gone by the wayside. We’re a society of convenience and instant gratification. To me, gardening is something that’s really overlooked,” she says. “This built who I am. It’s made me realize what’s important in life. It all started with the garden. …Yes, we get the fruit and veggies. But it’s so much more than that.”
The garden began growing flowers and produce downtown, but has since moved to a larger plot of land on the south edge of town.We have educational events all the time, so our sense of community is very strong all the time.
The Eudora Giving Garden is lining up volunteers for the 2023 growing and harvest season. If you are interested in assisting, go online at eudoragivinggarden.org/volunteer.
One beautiful way to support the Eudora Giving Garden is by joining the garden’s Floral CSA (communitysupported agriculture) program. For a $120 donation, CSA members can come to the garden once every other week from mid-June to midOctober to choose and cut their own fresh bouquets. In order to ensure there are plenty of blooms for this program, membership is capped. You can learn more about this program or sign up for it at eudoragivinggarden. org/floral-csa.
The Eudora Giving Garden welcomes guests and is planning a special open house on Earth Day, April 22, this year. Details will be announced on the garden's Facebook page and website, eudoragivinggarden.org.
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Air Filter Plus
Bret Kay customerservice@airfilterplus.com airfilterplus.com
800.733.8011
Ameriprise Financial
Vestana Ahlen vestanaahlen@gmail.com ameripriseadvisors.com/vestana.ahlen
913.239.2512
Amy Del Designs
Amy Delarosa amydeldesigns@gmail.com
620.290.1691
ATEC Services
Aaron Thacker atec-services@gmx.com
785.304.3904
Atmos Energy
Aaron Bishop aaron.bishop@atmosenergy.com atmosenergy.com
913.254.6321
Attic Storage of Eudora
Mike Lindeman atticeudora@atticmgmt.net attic-storage.com
785.542.1515
AuBurn Pharmacy
Samuel Glennon eudora@auburnpharmacies.com auburnpharmacies.com
785.690.7575
Autism Services Of Kansas
Melissa Cline melissa@autismservicesofkansas.com
913.777.9718
BBarbwire Barbecue
Jason Musick smoking@barbwirebarbecue.com barbwirebarbecue.com
785.856.0877
Ben Miller, LLC
Ben Miller, CPA ben@millercpallc.com millercpallc.com
785.424.7812
Black Swan Media Solutions LLC
Craig Watson craig@blackswanmediasolutions.com blackswanmediasolutions.com
785.269.9554
BlueJacket Crossing Vineyard Pep Solberg bluejacketcrossing@gmail.com bluejacketwinery.com
785.542.1764
Brightway Insurance, The Thakker Agency
Katie Lewis katie.lewis@brightway.com brightwaythakker.co
785.727.4212
CC-Hawkk Construction, Inc
Clint Shelton clint@chawkk.com chawkk.com
785.542.1800
Cornerstone Property Management
GW Weld gwweld@sbcglobal.net cornerstonehomes.managebuilding.com
785.542.0101
Cornerstone Storage
Chris Gillespie cornerstonestorageks1@gmail.com cornerstonestorageks.com
785.691.5699
Cornwell Beef East, LLC
Jake Cline jake_cline@yahoo.com
785.371.7354 cornwellbeef.com
Cox Homes, LLC
Meagan Cox coxhomesks@gmail.com
(785) 979-0469
Dahlicious Hair LLC
Mindy Dahl mindydahlicious@gmail.com
785.424.5103
De Soto Veterinary Clinic
Matthew Fahr, DVM desotovetclinic@gmail.com desotovetclinic.com
913.585.1115
Document Products, Inc. (DPI) Brenda Johnston brenda@dpi.bz
785.841.8041
Ecogene llc russ.seybert@gmail.com
913.544.9959 EcogeneEHS.com
Edward Jones
Kyle Branine kyle.branine@edwardjones.com edwardjones.com
785.841.0342
Energy Md (Grant Funding Ed) Cody Bruce cody@myenergymd.com myenergymd.com
785.865.6917
Eudora Animal Hospital
George Schreinier, DVM info@eudoravet.com eudoravet.com
785.542.2734
Eudora Area Historical Society
Ben Terwilliger eudorahistory@gmail.com eudorahistoricalsociety.com 785.690.7900
Eudora Baptist Church
Josh Monhollon office@eudorabc.org eudorabc.org
785.542.2734
Eudora Community Library
Carol Wohlford eudorapl@sunflower.com eudorapubliclibrary.org
785.542.2496
Eudora Dental
Logan Mallicoat info@eudoradental.com eudoradental.com
913.972.7545
Eudora Giving Garden
Laura Smith serenelaura@yahoo.com eudoragivinggarden.org
316.207-7241
Eudora Schools Foundation
Shanda Hurla shandahurla@eudoraschools.org foundation.eudoraschools.org
785.542.4910
Eudora Thrift Store
Andrea Starr kk.starr@yahoo.com
816.337.2451
Eudora Unified School District #491 Jaylie Postlewait jayliepostlewait@eudoraschools.org www.eudoraschools.org 785.542.4910
Eudorable Home
Courtney Gebauer eudorablehome@gmail.com eudorablehome.com 913.963.7303
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Farm Bureau Financial Services
Anthony Brown anthony.brown@fbfs.com fbfs.com 785.615.0516
Forge I.T. Solutions
Justin & Sarah Smith jsmith@forge-it.us forgeitsolutions.com 913.449.4387
Forge Martial Arts
Tonya Bolte tkboltefitness@gmail.com forgema.com 785.633.0013
Frenzel Family BBQ
Bill Frenzel
bbqbill@sbcglobal.ne frenzelsbbq.com 913.915.5086
GGambino’s Pizza
Sheena Boden eudoragambinos@yahoo.com gambinospizza.com 785.542.2121
Gene's Heartland Foods
Lance Handley geneshfeudora@hotmail.com eudora.heartlandfoodsstores.com 785.542.2727
Glass Consulting LLC
Edwina Glass edwina.glass@cpa.com glassconsultingllc.com 785.727.4305
Go Tire & Lube
Josh & Rachel Pacheco josh.gotire@gmail.com
785.450.1411
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Harbour Jane Boutique
Erika Grant erika@harbourjane.com harbourjane.com
785.764.4848
Holy Family Catholic Church
Fr. Mick Mulvaney hfceudora.com holyfamilyeudora.com
785.542.2788
Homestead of Eudora Midwest Health
Brandy Weeks-Coons bcoon@homesteadofeudora.com homesteadofeudora.com
785.363.5150
IInnovative Design
Larry Carden Cardenlarry50@gmail.com
913.250.4064
Integrity Midwest Insurance
Clint and Sarah Kueffer clint@ integritymw.com sarah@ integritymw.com integritymidwestins.com
785.542.2000
Intrust Bank
Beth Easter
Brandon Young beth.easter@intrustbank.com brandon.young@intrustbank.com intrustbank.com
785.830.2636
Jannell Lorenz, CMT, LLC
Jannell Lorenz jannell.lorenz.cmt@gmail.com jannelllorenzcmt.com
785.592.1920
Jasmin’s Chinese & Mexican Restaurant
J and Maria Ramirez alazan357@gmail.com
785.542.1111
Jayhawk Dental Patrick Jankowski, DDS jayhawkdental@sunflower.com 785.843.9122
Jayhawk Trophy Co. Bill Scoular bill@jayhawktrophy.com jayhawktrophy.com 785.843.3900
Jenny Jolley Photography
Jenny Jolley jennyjolleyphotography@gmail.com 913.215.8827
John H Hay Family Dental Care
John Hay eudoradentalcare@johnhhaydds.com johnhhaydds.com 785.542.9105
K
Kaw Valley State Bank
Grant High ghigh@kawvalleystatebank.com kawvalleystatebank.com 785.542.4200
Keller Williams Integrity- Theresa Seiwald
Theresa Seiwald theresaseiwald@kw.com 785.917.0036
Kenneth O Von Achen Architects
Kurt Von Achen vonachenca@aol.com 785.542.2502
KSU DGCO Extension Office Marlin Bates batesm@k-state.edu douglas.k-state.edu 785.843.7058
Lulu’s Bakery Cara Austin ccaustin21@gmail.com 785.393.1907
Main Street Wines & Spirits Hardeep Gosal mainstreetwinesandspirits@gmail.com facebook.com/mainstreetwinesandspirits 913.687.9268
The Lodge on Main Susan (Susie) Pelzel susan@jarvispec.com thelodgeonmain.com 214.926.0800
Long Lasting Lighting and Landscaping Matt and Jacqueline Ariaz-Long longlastinglighting@gmail.com longlastinglighting.com 913.514.4565
McGrew Real Estate Kelly Long, Heather Noble, Caren Rowland kellylong@askmcgrew.com heathernoble@askmcgrew.com caren@askmcgrew.com askmcgrew.com 785.691.6707
Mateo Chiropractic Doug Mateo mateochiro@yahoo.com mateochiro.com 785.542.5400
Dedicated to serving the seniors of Eudora
Senior Foundation of Eudora is a Nonprofit Organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Eudora seniors.
• TransportationSenior Wheels Program
• Senior Activities
• Affordable Housing
Mid-America Bank
Dave Hill
dhill@mid-americabank.com mid-americabank.com
785.766.1306
MIDCO Cable Company
Debra Schmidt debra.schmidt@midco.com midco.com
785.231.7858
Midwest Computer Plus
Joshua & Kara Jacobs
Daniel & Krista Bell midwestcplus@gmail.com
913.353.5936
Miko LLC Colby Manley lisamanley1019@gmail.com
785.979.5670
NNexthome Gadwood Group
Julie Gadwood julie@gadwoodgroup.com gadwoodgroup.com
913.731.9131
NoNonsense Healthcare Ninja, LLC
Chad Beisel chad.beisel@ushadvisors.com nononsensehealthcareninja.com 405.435.2129
OOne Window Photography
Katie Lewis
katie@onewindowphotography.com onewindowphotography.com
785.248.9395
PPeaslee Tech
Kevin Kelley kevin.kelley@peasleetech.org peasleetech.org
785.856.1801
RReese Nichols Susan (Susie) Brown susie@reesenichols.com reesenichols.com
785.691.9967
The Refuge Christian Church
Jeremiah Holcomb jeremiah@refugecc.com refugecc.us
785.917.2263
Resource Center
Mary Kirkendoll eudora@unitedwaydgco.org unitedwaydgco.org
785.550.5928
Rock Family Chiropractic office@rockfamilychiropractic.com
785.542.2118 rockfamilychiropractic.com
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SD Home Team, LLC
Shelly Milburn sdmilburn17@gmail.com facebook.com/SDHomeTeam
913.709.4425
St Paul United Church of Christ Dr Robyn Kelso drrobynkelso@gmail.com
785.550.5536
Schurle Signs
Jennifer Schurle jennifer@schurlesigns.com schurlesigns.com
785.832.9897
Senior Foundation of Eudora
Ruth Hughs ruthhughs47@gmail.com sfeudora.org
785.331.7508
Senior Resource Center for Douglas County
Megan Poindexter mpoindexter@yoursrc.org yoursrc.org
785.842.0543
SERC Physical Therapy
Brandi Goss, PT, DPT bgoss@serctherapy.com serctherapy.com 785.542.3333
Slaughterhouse Print Solutions, Llc Josh and Rachel Pacheco josh.slaughterhouse@gmail.com 867.234.5674
State Farm Insurance
Keith Nowland keithnowlandstatefarm@gmail.com keithnowland.com 785.615.1516
Strategy, LLC
Edward Roche
ed.roche@strategynewmedia.com strategynewmedia.com 913.440.0672
Sunflower Publishing
Angie Taylor ataylor@sunflowerpub.com sunflowerpub.com 785.832.7236
Sunflower State Dance, LLC
Rachel Weitkamp msrachelweitkamp@gmail.com admin@sunflowerstatedance.com 785.690.7200
Sweet Acres Inn Bed & Breakfast
Sue Howig
sweetacresinn@gmail.com
785.542.2466
TTorched Goodness
Julia Ireland julia@torchedgoodness.com torchedgoodness.com
785.766.2877
Twill Trade
Elizabeth Knispel eknispel@gmail.com shoptwilltrade.com
785.363.0008
U
The Uncorked Pianist
Michael Kirkendoll michael@uncorkedpianist.com uncorkedpianist.com
785.218.2422
WWarren-McElwain Mortuary— Eudora Chapel
Lisa Manley info@warrenmcelwain.com warrenmcelwain.com
785.843.1120
Watts Rental Properties
MaryAnn & Charlie Watts maryannwatts10@gmail.com 785.550.6939
Well Wilderness Kids
Stephanie Novacek snovacek@wellwildernesskids.com wellwildernesskids.com 913.231.8581
Westerhouse Heating and Cooling
Aaron Westerhouse aaron@westerhouse.com westerhouse.com
785.542.2707
The Willow Domestic Violence Center
Christy Imel christyimel@willowdvcenter.org willowdvcenter.org 785.331.2034
YYoga of Kindness
Mary Kirkendoll mary@yogaofkindness.com yogaofkindness.com 785.550.5928
Z&M Twisted Vines and Winery
Bryan Zesiger & Gina Montalbano zmtwistedvines@gmail.com zmtwistedwines.com 531.600.8187
Zeb’s Coffeehouse
Kathy Weld kathy@zebscoffeehouse.com zebscoffeehouse.com 785.542.0103
