Our Mission: To provide high quality work space, at well below market rates, to community minded non-profits.
February 7th, 2025 - Southern Star has been beyond what we can describe. Not just with the labor, and more than the check donation…If we were short a few pieces of material, they sent out for it. If we needed a tool, they went and got it and then left it here for future use. Nails, screws, work lights, extension chords, and other miscellaneous small tools were all provided. Their efforts allowed us to raise the stud walls in the first two apartments, get the wifi/security system completely operational, add the ceiling in the IT/Security room, and insulate the office. Thank you again, Southern Star!
Our Story
Our mission at Friend and Kin is simple. We purchase older buildings in need of repair and restore them for use by other community minded nonprofits.
Our first property is the old Longfellow school on south Elm Street. To date we have completed phase one, which is the restoration of the Special Education building on the south end of the block. That newly restored building is now occupied be KFAN (Kansas Family Advisory Network). KFAN is a faith based nonprofit organization that provides support by connecting the family's need with the resource regardless of income or social status.
Phase 2 and Phase 3 of construction are the remodel and renovation of the Main Building of the property. We will convert the North end of our main building into transitional housing for the homeless population in our local area by converting those five classrooms into two-bedroom apartments. When this project is completed we will have five apartments to offer residences with dignity to our neighbors. In the South end of the Main Building, we will restore eight classrooms, which we will lease to other local nonprofits at deeply reduced rates for uses such as GED assistance, After-School Safe Zone, English as a Second Language classes for our growing Hispanic population, and other necessary office space.
Previous Volunteer Days:
Past volunteer days:
