Join us for the Harvesters’ Agency Conference—where connection sparks change!
This special gathering brings together representatives from our partner agencies across our 27-county service area for a dynamic day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Together, we’ll share fresh ideas, build stronger partnerships, and fuel our collective mission to nourish communities.
When and Where:
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Church of the Resurrection
The Foundry – Building B
13720 Roe Boulevard
Leawood, Kansas 66224
Please note there is construction currently underway at the Leawood Campus. Click here for a parking map and additional information.
Registration Now Open:
Registration is now closed. Thank you!
Each organization may send up to two representatives to attend.
When you fill out your registration, you’ll be asked to select your top three breakout sessions. This isn’t your final choice—just a way for us to plan room sizes and logistics so everyone has the best possible experience. Don’t worry—you’ll still have the opportunity to make changes later if you’d like.
Schedule:
8:30 a.m. – Doors Open for Agency Networking
9:30 a.m. – Welcome Address
10 a.m. – Keynote Speaker Dr. Martin
11:15 a.m. – Breakout Session 1
12 p.m. – Lunch
12:50 p.m. – Breakout Session 2
1:45 – Breakout Session 3
2:30 p.m. – Reflections/Wrap Up
Keynote Speaker
Katie Martin, PhD, is the CEO of More Than Food Consulting, LLC whose goal is to advance organizational and systems change in the charitable food system.
She is recognized as a thought leader on food security issues and has over 25 years of experience developing and evaluating programs to promote health, stability and financial wellbeing.
She gained inside knowledge working at a regional food bank for five years. Katie is also the author of the book Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger, which was published in March 2021.
Learn more at www.katiesmartin.com.
Breakout Sessions:
Fund Development:
Grants 101
Running a pantry takes heart and hustle—funding shouldn’t be another hurdle. This session breaks down the grant process step by step: finding opportunities, connecting with funders, preparing documents, writing strong applications, and managing reporting. Whether you’re new to grants or ready to grow your impact, you’ll leave with the tools and confidence to secure the support your community deserves.
Fund Development:
How to Make the Ask
Not sure where to start when it comes to inviting donor support? This session, led by our major gifts team, will walk you through building stronger donor relationships, identifying giving opportunities, and confidently making the ask. You’ll leave with practical strategies to steward your supporters and secure the resources your organization needs to thrive.
Partnering for Impact:
Expanding Volunteer Engagement with Harvesters
Strong volunteer support can transform an organization’s reach and impact. This session introduces you to CERVIS, the volunteer engagement platform Harvesters uses to simplify scheduling, recruiting, and managing volunteers. You’ll hear success stories from partner agencies already using the software and leave with a clear understanding of how it works—and how partnering with Harvesters can help you expand your volunteer capacity at no cost to your organization.
Food Drive Fundamentals:
Tools, Tips, Partnership Opportunities and Menu Offerings
Harvesters is evolving the way we approach food collection drives to make drives more impactful and efficient. In this session, you’ll learn about our new approach and how to partner with the Community Engagement team to maximize your efforts. We’ll share resources like collection barrels, flyers, and calls to action to help you boost results in your community—plus explore new menu offerings such as Healthy Family Meal Kits, Holiday Boxes, and Birthday Boxes.
Communications:
Bringing Stories to Life – How to Collect, Shape and Share Authentic Stories
Stories are at the heart of successful community engagement. They connect people to your mission, inspire action, and bring your organization’s impact to life. But how do you collect authentic, powerful stories, especially when working with neighbors, community members, or program participants? This session will provide you with a comprehensive roadmap for collecting, shaping, and sharing authentic stories that resonate with your audience and build lasting connections.
Communications:
The Power of Social Media
Social media is one of the most powerful tools we have to educate our community about food insecurity, spark collaboration, and amplify awareness through creativity and thought leadership. In this panel discussion, you’ll hear from diverse partners in our network who are using social platforms to raise awareness, inspire action, and drive lasting change. You’ll leave with fresh ideas and practical strategies to strengthen your own social media presence and deepen community engagement.
Advocacy:
How to Engage the Current Moment
This session will give you the tools and confidence to advocate effectively at both the state and federal levels. Whether you’re new to advocacy or ready to deepen your impact, you’ll learn how to amplify your voice, build relationships with elected officials, and mobilize your community to influence policies that fight hunger. We’ll explore real-world examples, highlight current legislative priorities, and share strategies to engage your board, staff, and neighbors. You’ll leave with practical steps and resources to become a stronger champion for food security.
Community Impact:
Disaster Response
Natural disasters are an unfortunate reality—but being prepared can make all the difference. Harvesters is working to build a network of pre-identified agency partners across our service area who can be ready to mobilize when disaster strikes. This session will outline our vision for coordinated disaster response, the role agencies can play, and how training and preparation now can ensure faster, more effective aid for communities in crisis.
Community Impact:
Service Insights – From Intake to Impact
New to Service Insights on Meal Connect (SIMC)? This session is for you! Get an introductory look at this free, web-based intake tool available to all Harvesters partner agencies. Learn what SIMC is, how to get started, and have your questions answered. Whether you’re considering SIMC for your agency or hearing about it for the first time, you’ll leave understanding how it helps you collect meaningful data, improve services, and showcase the impact you’re making in your community.
Community Impact:
Ending Hunger Takes More Than Just Food
Harvesters’ Food+ initiative recognizes that ending hunger means looking beyond food alone. Building a “healthy and thriving community where no one is hungry” requires collaboration to address the root causes of food insecurity. In this session, you’ll explore partnerships with a healthcare provider and an economic mobility organization to see how, with Harvesters’ support, they serve the community in innovative ways—from our Give Lunch program to a pop-up bus stop pantry—creating meaningful, lasting change for our neighbors.
Community Impact:
TEFAP Client/Neighbor Choice vs Pre-Packed
Visiting a pantry can be challenging, and volunteers play a key role in ensuring the experience is as dignified as possible. When it comes to distributing TEFAP foods, some pantries offer client choice while others provide pre-packed boxes—each with its own benefits and challenges. In this session, you’ll hear from agencies using both approaches and learn why they chose their model, offering insights to help you determine what works best for your pantry and community.