(JUNCTION CITY, KS) – Konza Prairie Community Health Center is celebrating Community Care Clinic Month with a food drive to stock the Konza Cupboard & Food Pantry located at 361 Grant Ave. in Junction City.

The Konza Cupboard is a blessing box located outside the clinic and the food bank is located inside the clinic and is accessible to Konza patients during an appointment. Patients who visit the food bank can choose healthy options to help them manage their health issues.

“The Konza food pantry and food distribution center is funded primarily through donations and limited monthly grants,” said Kalie Kipp, Konza nutritionist and food drive coordinator. “Many patients I have personally helped are extremely grateful for the additional service we provide.”

The Konza food pantry feeds hundreds of people each year and donations are always welcome. The clinic has set a big goal of collecting 600 pounds of food in August. All Konza employees work together and donate food and hygiene items to help reach this goal.

The public is invited to donate food and personal care items to stock the Konza Closet. Donations can be dropped off at the Konza Clinic Medical Check-in Desk – 361 Grant Ave in Junction City.

The most needed items are:

· Canned meat

· Canned vegetables

· Canned soups and pasta sauces

· Canned beans/dried beans

· Canned fruit/dried fruit

· Dry grain

· Nut butter

· Rice/Pasta

· Long-life milk

· Personal hygiene items

o Toothbrush and toothpaste

o Shower gel and hand soap

o Shampoo and conditioner

o Deodorant

o Detergent

For more information about Konza Prairie Community Health Center, visit www.kpchc.org.

Konza Prairie Community Health Center has been serving the Flint Hills region since 1995. Konza is one of 1,400 nonprofit community health centers (CHCs) nationwide whose shared mission is to increase access to innovative, integrated care for underserved communities. Konza’s locally owned, nonprofit clinics in Junction City, Manhattan and Chapman provide high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health care to more than 13,000 patients annually, regardless of income or insurance status.