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New Year, New Home for ECKAN’s Franklin County Community Center

Ottawa—Effective February 3, ECKAN’s Franklin County Community Center is moving to a permanent location, following the flood at Don Woodward last year. ECKAN is excited to be partnering with the Elizabeth Layton Center (ELC) and will be relocating to offices within ELC’s Community Support Services building, located at 204 East 15th Street, Ottawa, Kansas 66067-0677.

ECKAN hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm.

ECKAN encourages customers to call 785-242-7515 to schedule an appointment at the center.

ECKAN’s CEO, Crystal Anderson, states “I could not be more excited for ECKAN and ELC to be strengthening an already great partnership in this way. Comprehensive behavioral health services are critical and necessary in any community – I’m excited that folks receiving ECKAN services might also benefit from this new space, and also for our staff to be gaining knowledge and insight directly from ELC’s experts.”

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Office Space for Rent

 

 

Office space at 1320 S. Ash, basement office with elevator access.

1065 sq. ft. of space, reception area and offices. $1,500 a month

(includes utilities) and is immediately available. Call 785-242-7450

to schedule an appointment to view space.

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ReStart FSS Case Management Helps Meredith Attain Financial Stability

“Going back to feeling hopeless and beaten down is not on my list of goals.”

 

When Meredith Harbison enrolled in 2017 in ECKAN’s ReStart Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, offered through the Housing Choice Voucher program, she was struggling financially and was ready for a change. Teresia Templeton, Meredith’s ReStart case manager in Franklin County, helped her set and achieve goals including budgeting classes, opening and maintaining a savings account and paying off debt to improve her credit score. Teresia also helped connect Meredith to other local support groups to help address the emotional toll of living in poverty.

As Meredith’s income grew, her monthly housing voucher assistance amount decreased. The ReStart Program deposited the difference each month into an ESCROW account. Meredith received a check for the full balance of the ESCROW account plus interest upon graduation from ReStart in July. Meredith was able to reach her final goal with the purchase of her first home through the support of the ReStart FSS Program.

“If I didn’t put time and responsibility in my job, finances, and friendships, moving forward would be impossible,” Meredith said. “Going back to feeling hopeless and beaten down is not on my list of goals.”

Click here for more information about ReStart FSS.

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ECKAN Announces Post-Flood Schedule, Location Changes

 

Volunteers clean ECKAN food storage area at Don Woodward Community Center after Aug. 1 flood, the second this summer.

 

Ottawa— ECKAN’s Franklin County Community Center, 517 E. 3rd St., in the flooded Don Woodward Community Center, is closed. ECKAN is temporarily providing services from its central office at 1320 S. Ash, Ottawa.  

Hours are 8-noon, 1-5 until September when they will change to 9-noon, 1-4. 

 The ECKAN Community Center has Salvation Army flood kits and disaster funds for food, household items or other flood-related needs for individuals impacted by the flood. Call the center at 785-242-7515 to make an appointment and learn what documentation is needed.  

Tuesday Food Distribution will resume August 13 in the Don Woodward Community Center parking lot at 9 a.m. Harvesters Food Distribution held the first Wednesday of each month, 2-4 p.m., will resume September 3, also in the Don Woodward Community Center parking lot.  

 School supply applicants who missed the Resource and Readiness Fair may pick up their shoe vouchers and backpacks at the ECKAN Community Center, 1320 S. Ash, by calling for an appointment. The United Way fill the Bus campaign, American Eagle and local donors provided nearly 500 school backpacks. ECKAN distributed backpacks remaining after the fair to school counselors at all Franklin County elementary, middle and secondary public schools.  

 “We are very grateful to the volunteers who helped the agency get through this post-flood week and for the generous outpouring of school supplies,” said Crystal Anderson, CEO.  

 ECKAN lost records, office furniture, equipment and food in the August 1 flood, the second to affect the Don Woodward building this summer. ECKAN accepts monetary donations to help with flood losses on its website or at 1320 S. Ash, Ottawa KS 66067.  

 ECKAN posts updates to www.eckan.org, Facebook (ECKANKS) and Twitter (ECKAN_CAP).  

 

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Changes to ECKAN Service Locations Following August 1 Flood

Ottawa—ECKAN services at the Don Woodward ORC Center, 517 E. 3rd St. Ottawa, which was flooded this week for the second time this summer, will change as follows:

  • 5-9, Noon, Summer Lunch Bunch moved to the Goppert Building, 705 W. 15th St.
  • The Franklin County Community Center has relocated to ECKAN Central Office, 1320 S. Ash, Ottawa, 785-242-7450. Call ahead to set an appointment. Hours: 8-11 a.m., 1:30-4:30 p.m. weekdays.
  • Aug. 6 ECKAN Emergency Food Distribution and Aug. 7 Harvester Food Distribution are canceled and will be rescheduled.– Aug. 7 Harvester distribution rescheduled to Don Woodward Center.
  • Aug. 8, 1:30-3:30 p.m., School Supply Resource and Readiness Fair moved to the Goppert Building. Please help us Fill the Bus at Walmart for families who may have lost possessions and work hours because of flooding and to replace any supplies lost at the flooded Woodward Center.

 

ECKAN posts updates to www.eckan.org, Facebook (ECKANKS) and Twitter (ECKAN_CAP).

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Franklin County Services Opening on Staggered Schedule After Flood

ECKAN services at the Don Woodward Community Center, 517 E. 3rd St. Ottawa, will resume on a staggered basis. Staff and volunteers need time to clean and reorganize after the building was flooded June 22 and 23.

ECKAN services will reopen:

  • Monday, July 1: ECKAN Summer Lunch Bunch only at noon
  • Tuesday, July 2: ECKAN Franklin County food distribution only
  • Wednesday, July 3: ECKAN Franklin County Community Center services resume including accepting school supply applications.
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Flooding Causes Closure of Don Woodward ORC Building

Ottawa—Flooding from Saturday night’s storm has closed the Don Woodward ORC Building, 517 E. 3rd St., for three to five days.

Beginning Monday, June 24, ECKAN’s Summer Lunch Bunch will move temporarily to the Ottawa Recreation Commission Goppert Building, 705 W. 15th St.

ECKAN Franklin County Community Center services will be temporarily housed at  ECKAN’s regional office, 1320 S. Ash. The Tuesday Food Giveaway must be cancelled this week, announced Teresia Templeton, ECKAN Franklin County Human Services Coordinator.

 

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Timely Help Reunites a Mother and Child

“Mandy” came into our Franklin County office very upset. DCF removed her child from her home because Mandy had fallen behind on her utility payments during a hospital stay. ECKAN worked with other agencies and the City of Ottawa to have her utilities restored. Her child is back home with her.

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