Our Community, Our Mission

What can a chessboard teach us about serving others? In this episode, we sit down with Johnny Douglas, a Topeka Rescue Mission volunteer, to explore how serving meals, building relationships, and sharing a simple game of chess with the men's shelter guests can create opportunities for meaningful conversations, faith, and hope. Johnny shares how his faith influences his approach to serving others, from volunteering at the Topeka Rescue Mission, to chapel gatherings, campus conversations, and community outreach.We also look ahead to Christmas at TRM, the importance of community volunteers and donations, and how the Topeka Rescue Mission is preparing for the colder months through warming centers, winter safety planning, and expanded shower facilities at the Compassion Impact Center.Send us a Message!

In this episode, we explore how TRM creates moments of joy, dignity, and connection for Hope Center guests and men’s shelter guests. We also share ways the community can get involved through the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot and then we reflect on this year’s Night of Praise. From everyday moments of care to powerful testimonies of transformation, discover how walking by faith, serving with compassion, and coming together through prayer and generosity can create a lasting impact throughout our community.Send us a Message!

In this episode, La Manda Cunningham CEO of TRM and Jessyca Moreno, Deputy Director of Mission Advancement and Marketing, talk with Kirstin Williams of Fleet Feet Topeka about how the Topeka Turkey Trot grew from an expected 250 runners to around 550 in 2025, turning a Thanksgiving tradition into meaningful community support. They discuss this year’s race upgrades, including the new Forbes Field location, a USATF-certified 5K and 10K course, and Fleet Feet’s free Fit ID 3D foot scans to promote wellness and injury prevention. The conversation highlights TRM’s hands-on partnership through volunteers, race-day support, and opportunities to educate participants about its mission across Shawnee County. They also explain the food donation drive, where participants can receive 15% off registration by bringing five non-perishable food items, and clarify what foods qualify for donation.Send us a Message!

In this episode, we’re joined by Topeka Fire Department's Fire Inspector Diane Hawkins to discuss fire inspections, building safety, and what it takes to keep high-occupancy facilities like shelters and care centers code compliant. We explore the importance of communication and accountability during inspections, along with the challenges of maintaining safety systems in a 24/7 operation. Diane also shares insights into emergency response, community paramedicine, and how connecting people with resources can help reduce repeat 911 calls. We close by discussing homelessness, compassion, and the importance of collaboration between agencies to better serve our community.Send us a Message!

What does it take to keep a 24/7 nonprofit secure, stable, and moving forward? In this episode, Barry Feaker, La Manda Cunningham, and Miriam Krehbiel sit down with Kevin, CEO of Premier One, who is also one of TRM's Platinum Night of Praise sponsors, for a conversation about the technology that supports organizations like Topeka Rescue Mission. Kevin shares insight into outsourced IT, cybersecurity, identity protection, and the growing role of artificial intelligence, including ways these technologies can help nonprofits work more efficiently. The conversation also touches on the importance of being cautious about what information is shared with AI tools, particularly sensitive donor, financial, and client information. They also explore why strong technology support matters behind the scenes and wrap up with a reminder about Night of Praise and the community support that helps TRM continue its mission.Send us a Message!

In this episode, La Manda Cunningham talks about Topeka Rescue Mission’s fourth annual Night of Praise fundraiser and how prayer, financial support, and community involvement help meet the growing needs in Topeka. Then, Coach Damon Parker, Executive Director of The Jones Project, joins us for an honest conversation about teen mental health, bullying, social media pressure, and suicide prevention. Damon shares why storytelling and simply being willing to have difficult conversations can make a lasting difference—and why helping even one student choose to stick around makes it all worth it. Send us a Message!

In this episode, Molly Howey, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership, talks with Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies; La Manda Cunningham, CEO of TRM; and Miriam Krehbiel, CSO of Topeka Rescue Mission, about how real economic development in Topeka and Shawnee County means people building lives, businesses thriving, and neighbors tackling hard issues together. She unpacks the Partnership's "Better Together" model, how the Chamber, Go Topeka, Visit Topeka, and Downtown Topeka work under one roof with distinct missions, plus job growth, community benchmarks, and rising community pride. The conversation then turns to chronic homelessness. We name the downstream problems people see and the upstream causes that take time, resources, and trust to address. You'll hear why education matters, why relationships change outcomes, and how business leaders and nonprofit partners can align around solutions that protect both human dignity and a healthy local economy. Send us a Message!

Volunteers are the backbone of the Topeka Rescue Mission, helping provide everything from meals and clothing to critical support for people experiencing homelessness. In today's conversation with Suzie Paslay, Volunteer Coordinator at Topeka Rescue Mission, she shares what it takes to recruit, equip, and support thousands of volunteers, and reveals the full continuum of care that helps people move from crisis toward stability. We explore meaningful volunteer opportunities for every comfort level, along with community partnerships like the Moving Ahead Partnership (MAP) and the Nancy Perry Day of Caring. Whether you can volunteer every week or only have a few hours to give, this episode shows how one small step can make a real difference in the Topeka community.Send us a Message!

This episode tells the story behind the Compassion Impact Center, featuring guests Barry Feaker, CEO of Compassion Strategies and La Manda Cunningham CEO of Topeka Rescue Mission. It traces how the project grew out of years of community listening, pandemic-era mobile outreach through the Moving Ahead Partnership, and the conviction that no single organization can tackle homelessness services alone in Shawnee County. The conversation covers the research that shaped the center's design, a multidisciplinary team, a safer low-barrier shelter, and a "one-stop shop" model, as well as the practical and messy realities of getting there: choosing the Children's Palace as a site, navigating MOUs and leadership transitions, and balancing mission-driven commitment with healthy boundaries. The episode closes by highlighting the outcomes that make the effort worthwhile, from long-term unsheltered individuals finding housing to some returning as volunteers themselves.Send us a Message!

Leadership isn’t just about making hard decisions; it’s about staying tender while carrying the weight of serving others. In this episode, La Manda Cunningham CEO of the Topeka Rescue Mission joins us for an honest conversation about burnout, comparison, staffing challenges, and the pressures of serving neighbors facing homelessness, hunger, addiction, and mental health crises. We also talk about TRM’s Night of Praise on October 11th at Fairlawn Nazarene Church in Topeka, a free evening of worship and community impact with doors opening at 5:30pm and music at 6pm, plus an invitation to bring a non-perishable food item. Finally, La Manda shares lessons from the City Gate Network CEO Summit, including finding “peace in the middle,” letting go of the pressure to wear a mask, and making space for quiet, phone-free time with God to truly reset.Send us a Message!