Community Care Programs

Jeannie Moxley

Volunteer "Wins Friends and Influences…the Community

Jeannie Moxley is both typical and unusual among MLM’s amazing cadre of volunteers—people whose gift of time makes so many things possible for the organization.

For more than six years, Jeannie has traveled to MLM’s main center on Holmes nearly every Thursday. There, she interviews people seeking assistance…and learns about their lives.

“You see people who look like they got their last meal from the dumpster down the street,” she explained. “Then you find out they have.”

The owner of Moxley Desktop Publishing, the Overland Park resident first heard of MLM through her church, Atonement Lutheran. She admits her work has been a learning experience, but also one of making friends.

One recent acquaintance was a young woman who came with an infant, seeking food for her family of five children. Moxley soon learned that her story has been difficult.

“She’s had a tough time. But she wants to get on her feet. She just needs a little help.”

Most of Jeannie’s clients are seeking food, but others need medicine or items such as eyeglasses. Her work includes ensuring that those who seek help really need it, but she’s mostly frustrated with attitudes such as “the poor deserve what they get” because she finds that most of her clients have simply had bad luck or other challenges that could impact virtually anyone.

“People are hard on poor people,” she said. “Some have had some really bad luck with health issues or losing a job. Even those that may have made a bad decision at a young age are usually trying to better themselves.”

The young mother who visited on this day is a good example. She had held a managerial position when her place of work closed and it took her six months to find a new job. With no family or other support in the metro area, she found herself behind on all her bills and none of her creditors were willing to work with her.

“She will pay her debts because she’s that kind of person,” Jeannie said. “But they’re shutting off her gas because she can’t pay everything all at once. It breaks your heart.”

The woman had found a job washing dishes at Operation Breakthrough where the salary did not equal her previous employment, but she did find some other things. “Her co-workers recognized her birthday and she was overwhelmed. No one had ever done anything like that.”.