Catholic Charities Invites Community to Help “Fill the Freezers”

Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas is inviting the community to help “fill the freezers” with donations of meat to support families in need across the diocese. With new freezers now in place at all three office locations—Salina, Manhattan, and Hays—the organization hopes to expand the nutritional value of its monthly food boxes by including high-quality protein items.

Catholic Charities serves individuals and families across 31 counties, offering emergency financial assistance, food and personal care support, housing assistance, pregnancy and adoption services, mental health counseling, and more—regardless of faith background.

The goal is to fill these freezers with donated beef, pork, poultry, or venison, processed at a USDA or state-inspected facility. These items will be distributed to low-income families who qualify for monthly food assistance. Meat donations help fill a vital gap, as protein is often one of the most expensive and inaccessible items for struggling households.

Last year, Catholic Charities provided 5,800 food boxes to 1,805 households through its three offices and 26 rural outreach stops—reaching families in both larger communities and remote rural areas.

“We’re on a mission to feed those in need across all communities of the Salina Diocese,” said Megan Robl, Executive Director of Catholic Charities. “Families with tight budgets often struggle to afford meat, and we’re working to make our food boxes healthier—not just to fill bellies, but to nourish bodies. These freezers give us the opportunity to provide more well-rounded support to those we serve—but we can’t do it without help from our generous community.”

Catholic Charities welcomes meat donations throughout the year, as freezer space allows. Those wishing to donate are asked to call ahead to schedule a drop-off. To coordinate a donation or learn more, contact Jessica Allen or Megan Augustine at 785-825-0208.

This freezer expansion project was made possible through support from the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and the Heartland Community Foundation.

Together, we can fill the freezers and feed families across our diocese!