The Gap

The First Christian Church has been able to shoulder the costs in utilities that LINK uses for many years, however, their current budget suggests that they cannot absorb these costs on their own and Link’s current monthly payment is no longer adequate. Thus both FCC and the Link community have been in discussion about how to cover the increase. The projected increase raises Link’s payment to FCC to $16,200.00 per year beginning January 2026. In order to have a chance to try to make up this difference, the total amount is currently being gradually raised through December 2025, which will be total payments of $7800.00 to FCC for 2025. In 2024, Link paid $4200.00 to FCC.

The Link Community

With the exception of 2 part-time employees, Link is a 100% volunteer organization. In effect, lunch is served at Link through the generosity of a group of 300+ volunteers. Up until now lunch has been served at a manageable cost to the organization. Some groups are large and others quite small. All are dedicated to the work that Link does. Congregations (including FCC) and civic groups prepare the meal and serve it 4 times per week.

Belonging is as much a basic human need as the food is.

The Value

Link contributes substantially to the Lawrence community by stabilizing our impoverished, mentally ill, and homeless citizens through food security. When humans cannot get their basic needs met they become even more de-stabilized, which results in suffering that can lead to undesirable behavior.  

Link is one of the places in our city that not only serves food to people who want a meal, but  also is a place for them to belong.

First Christian Church (FCC) has been glad to serve as the host church for LINK for nearly forty years, and we hope to be able to continue to do so.

~Leadership Team of First Christian Church