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Impact Ulysses has quietly made a difference in the lives of many in Grant County, but some might not realize how big that "impact" has been for the community.
Impact Ulysses Executive Director Margaret Obholz and Troy Unruh, Director of Community Engagement for Impact Ulysses, gave a presentation during last Friday’s Chamber Coffee at Grant County Health Department and outlined just some of what Impact Ulysses does.
Impact Ulysses is a health coalition focused on improving the health and wellbeing of Grant County. The organization got its start in 2017 by Ken and Judy Kuestler from Grant County Community Foundation, and in 2019 received its 501(c)3 designation.
“We have about $485,000 that was designated to Grant County with our different partners,” Obholz said.
Several of those partners were present, Friday, and spoke about how they have utilized funds they received through Impact Ulysses. Monica Walker, K-State Extension agent, explained the community garden project near Barb Dye Park that’s a partnership with the city of Ulysses, K-State Extension, and Impact Ulysses. $30,000 was designated to the project by Impact Ulysses through the Pathways Grant.
“We’re getting ready to start our second year of planting,” Walker said.
The community garden includes 24 plots ranging in size from 8x16 feet to 4x8 feet to 3x3 feet.
“We’re working with the city on getting sidewalks put in to make those gardens more accessible so it’s still kind of a work in progress,” Walker said, adding that last year there were nine pre-planted plots for rent, which helped get the gardens started. “I’m hoping maybe to be able to do that this year with maybe some pre-planted plots.”
An addition to the community garden has been two apple trees, a peach and a cherry tree planted last fall which should begin yielding fruit in the next few years. Walker began a task force for the community garden project and needs more.
“If gardening is your thing or you know of someone who gardening is their thing, call the extension office, because I need more of a coalition to help out with this, kind of overseeing the gardens, helping with education.”
Walker has two “Gardening 101” workshops scheduled, for 5:30 p.m., March 27 and 5:30 p.m., April 4 at the community gardens. The community garden is located off South Ridgewood Road adjacent to Barb Dye Park and rents for $10 per plot.
“There’s a lot that was put into this,” Obholz said, “so we appreciate Monica and the city for all the work they’ve put towards that.”
Grant County Health Department Administrator Denise James spoke about the health department’s partnership with Impact Ulysses, which funded a community health needs assessment, that was completed last summer.
“We’re still working on the process of what to do with that assessment with the guidance of Impact Ulysses and Blue Criss Blue Shield Pathways,” James said. “With that assessment, the best thing for our community is we get a community driven survey as to what we need in our community instead of some cookie cutter box model that somebody else in New York City said works for them that doesn’t apply to us out here in rural Kansas.”
According to Obholz that was a $50,000 grant and 889 residents of Grant County were surveyed.
“That was a big, big project,” Obholz said. “We’re gonna hopefully see what we can do with those results and what we can do after, doing another survey for Grant County residents.”
Kristi Anderson with Grant County Recreation said they used funds from Impact Ulysses for a Pocket Park across from Hickock Elementary School behind the recreation department’s picnic pavilion. The park should be ready soon and will include elements for handicap children, as well.
Unruh talked about a national grant that was awarded through a partnership with Grant County Health Department for vaccine and immunization awareness.
Obholz said what’s next is a prevention grant called Drug Endangered Children, which will be an alliance between several regional agencies.
Upcoming Events
Chamber Director Marieta Hauser provided a list of upcoming events:
νLocal business owners and managers meet once a month and the next meeting will be at 7 a.m., March 12 at Bear Creek Coffee.
νThe Chamber and Grant County Farm Bureau Association are working together on monthly Legislative Coffees, and the next one is at 1 p.m., March 15 at Grant County Fire Department. State Senator Bill Clifford and Representative Marty Long will be there to give an update from Topeka and answer any questions.
νThe Chamber Banquet is March 15 and Spring Fling is April 25-26 and the theme for both is Candyland Adventures.
νKnights of Columbus fish fry will be at 5 p.m. March 7 at the Civic Center South Room. A free will donation is accepted, and money goes towards youth activities and scholarships.
νBefore and Crafter March Market is March 9 at the Civic Center.
The next Chamber Coffee is at 10 a.m., this Friday at Vida Wellness, located at 121 South Main Street, just south of La Estrella Restaurant.
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