For The Raymore Journal
Uplift Garden facing down times.
When asked how she builds relationships with Kansas City's homeless community, Kathy Dean responded that there's no better way to get to know someone than to simply sit down, share a conversation, and a tomato that she has grown in her garden.
Dean has worked with the Uplift Organization for roughly 15 years now it has been president for half of that time.
On most days you can find her driving a truck downtown or working in the organization's warehouse providing food and other necessary goods to folks experiencing homelessness.
“Homelessness has a horrible connotation,” Dean says. “Oftentimes their displacement is a result of mental health issues or addiction, but that doesn't make them bad people. Sometimes you just need help. No one is too far from homelessness, things can happen and even stable people can be on the streets.”
Dean describes herself as someone always willing to give and lend a helping hand, even if that means putting others first.
“If someone needs something and ask me for it I will give them what I have if I can,” Dean says. “the other day I found myself completing my route downtown without reading glasses because one of the individuals I was helping didn't have any and I knew their need was greater than my own.”
Last year alone the UpliftOrganization fed nearly 60,000 people that's roughly 400 people a night and an 11,000 person increase from the year before with these escalating numbers comes the need for increased supplies and even greater funds. So Dean came up with a creative solution to help make ends meet.
“Since 2009 my husband Leo and I have been planting the Uplift Community Garden located on our property in Raymore and a 2-acre stand of sweet corn,” Dean says.
The garden's production has proved to be bountiful, supplying enough produce to sell and leftovers helping those hungry or in need.
“Last year we sold 4200 pounds of tomatoes and donated 2500 pounds of tomatoes and 80,000 years of corn,” Dean says. “I sell the tomatoes for a dollar a pound and donate what's left to food pantries or the homeless shelter downtown the money earned goes to Organization and is a great way to compensate for some of our extra needs, like refrigerators and biodegradable packing.”
Every growing season Dane and her husband would find themselves tending to the garden for 20 Dash 25 hours a week but one particular piece of machinery made the task much easier and reduce the physical burden.
“We bought the tractor to help work the garden and without it, the tilling process alone can take 18 hours,” Dean says. “That's just too much for us to do by hand physically it's just exhausting.”
Roughly 4 weeks ago Dean showed up to her garden to make a stifling discovery. The tractor that enabled them to feed so many people fresh produce and raise funds for the Uplift Organization was stolen, bringing this year's garden planting to a screeching halt.
“Knowing that the tractor was stolen just take the air out of me, I fell flat that Day says Dean I'm just appointed that there will be no garden this year and I'm disappointed in the actions of those who stole it. Our insurance will not cover a replacement and it will be far too expensive to buy outright.”
Dane describes herself as feeling defeated and knows that the community members who come to buy her tomatoes will share her feelings.
“The people in Raymore will be upset, it made them happy to come by the produce,” Dean says. “They got great produce for an affordable price and it was a way for them to help the homeless community without a huge time commitment..”
Lately, Dean has noticed some changes when it comes to selling and collecting payment for her produce.
“Before I sold the produce on an honor-based system,” Dean says. “I set up a table near the garden with bag produce in a jar to collect payment. It wasn't until about the past two years though that I have started to notice money missing or people taking the produce without paying.”
Although the feelings of disappointment and mistrust are still present from the tractor robbery for Dean, she has no plans to stop helping the marginalized communities she has grown to love.
“The Uplift Organization will go on, things might just be a little tighter,” Dean says. “Many of these people depend on me and the work Uplift us for them I love them and I will continue to do anything I can to help them.”
Apart from the impact the robbery will have on the people fed by Dean's garden, she describes the worst part as missing the implement that was attached to the tractor. The implement held significant sentimental value for Dane and her family. Deans late father-in-law passed down to implement to her from the family farm to help her work her garden and continue feeding the hungry.
To learn more about the Uplift Organization or how you can help, please visit www.uplift.org.