Smiling Hearts is a diverse group of people with ties throughout our community and one common goal—lifting those around us. Smiling Hearts was created to provide necessities to those in our community who are facing food and nutrition insecurity and instability, and to offer other supports when life takes unexpected turns.
We serve as a bridge, connecting people to agencies that can provide aid when it seems that options are few. Though Smiling Hearts was formed during the height of the pandemic, we know this work is necessary, even in normal times.
The ribbon cutting ceremony began a twice-monthly drive-through distribution serving hundreds of families.
Who we serve
While mobile drives serve everyone nutritious food, we specifically address the needs of Mission, Kansas residents as well as the greater northeast Johnson County region, serving people of all ages.
We operate a local food pantry at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at Shawnee Mission Parkway & Nall, on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month (4-6 p.m.), and the Harvester’s Mobile Food Distribution on every fifth Saturday of a given month in the Shawnee Mission North High School parking lot. (8-11 a.m.).
Why our food
pantry is important
As 2020 and 2021 taught us, the unexpected twists and turns of life can leave any one of us feeling lost and vulnerable. If we can bring relief and a smile to even one child, mother, veteran, struggling teen, or another person, we know it’s worth it.
People often talk about others in their lives who have been there for them in hard times and the impacts those people have made. In lifting the burden on families to provide healthy food options, those families can more effectively tackle the many other challenges they face.
The pantry consists of community members who are compassionate, volunteering to provide nutritional support to community members in need of assistance. The pantry is in a safe and supportive environment.
How you can help
Volunteering is a selfless gesture and a way to show you have a caring, smiling heart. Join our volunteer list, help at the pantry, and come together with other volunteers to help distribute food at our mobile events.
Spread the word to other people you know who can help our charity in any way possible…personally and/or professionally. Help us get the word out. Additional donors can help us grow.
Contact us below.
How you can donate
You can decide if you would like your donation to be used for the food pantry or for our general fund.
The general fund is used to provide other supports to those who might need help with utilities, gas to get to and from work, and housing assistance, just to name a few.
Drop off food items to our pantry at Trinity Lutheran Church, one of our mobile food events, or give us a call and one of our directors/volunteers would gladly meet or come to you. Join and “like” our Facebook page.
Smiling Hearts board members partner with the Mission Community Food Pantry volunteers for twice-monthly distributions, helping to provide nourishment and support to community members who need it most.
Bernadette
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Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family. We are a family of four and I am grateful for your very existence! The selection of foods covers all the food groups, has the “staple foods” and even has “goodies.” The volunteers are friendly and joyful. We are blessed beyond measure.
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Theresa
It’s really helpful to have the pantry around. Nowadays people can’t afford food. Everything is so high and over priced but I am happy to have a pantry near me. Thank you for being here.
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Ralph
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I am retired and when it gets to the end of the month — if it were not for the Food Pantry I wouldn’t be able to survive.
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@smilingheartskc
