SW Miracles Coming To Ulysses Non-Profit Organization Gives Back To Communities

It all started with just three people who wanted to make a difference. Today, they give back 100 percent to the communities they serve.

"Southwest Miracles has been established since 2009," said Terry Tanking, Chairperson. "It started with three board members who wanted to speed along the red tape for some other organizations."

The three original board members for the non-profit 501C3 were Tracy Gutierrez, Jane Eisenhower and Annette Wilson.

"Tracy stepped down two years ago and asked me to take his position and the other two (Wilson and Eisenhower) have moved on as well," Tanking explained. "We now have myself, Kim and Elyse Torres, and we have been trying to grow.

Southwest Miracles is based in Liberal, Kans., but Liberal isn't the only community it has served. They assist those within a 75 mile radius of Liberal.

The organization was formed to help those who are facing medical needs and who could use a "boost" to keep them going.

"We pride ourselves in trying to make decisions on those who apply for assistance within 24 hours," Tanking said.

Southwest Miracles assists people with medical needs such as wheelchairs, walkers,. shower chairs, gift cards to get to out of town appointments as well as a handful of other things, according to Tanking.

So why come to Ulysses?

"We are trying to get out there and get people to know our name - to help as many people as we can," Tanking said. "Since we started doing this we found out there’s nobody else in this area that does what we do."

Tanking's wife, Kim, pointed out one way the organization is different than others.

"We give back to the community at 100 percent ," she said. "We don’t give the money out to other organizations. We give back to the community through the individuals or families who need it."

When asked how much they have given out since the organization was formed, the two said, "a lot."

"We go to a local grocery store and give a big quantity of gift cards every month and that’s not including the wheelchairs we buy and shower chairs and stuff," Terry explained.

Southwest Miracles is able to do what they do in large part through a fundraiser they host once a year.

"We have a fundraiser once a year the last Saturday in February," Terry said. "It consists of a $25 ticket for a steak dinner - probably one of the best steak dinners you will ever have for $25 bucks. There is live music, entertainment, a live auction, and a silent auction."

Terry said they decided to do something different for the meals at their fundraisers, because "every benefit you go to it's a BBQ dinner."

"People get tired of that," he said. "We may do chicken next year."

Lyndon James Hartshorn has been trying to make it big in Country Music. Hartshorn is a grandson of someone familiar to the Tankings and he has been putting on shows for their annual fundraiser.

"He puts on one heck of a show for us," Terry said, to which Kim added, "two years in a row we’ve had people say 'do not get rid of this kid'."

Last year the Liberal fundraiser took place in the ag building at the fairgrounds.

"We sold 400 tickets and it was standing room only," Terry said. "There were no chairs available. It was packed. This year we went to the activity center in Liberal. We had 450 people walk through the door - it was the best year we've ever had."

Big supporters to the organization include National Beef and Joe Denoyer of KSCB, both in Liberal. And now a new one has been added - Keating Tractor.

"Keating Tractor does a tractor show every year," Terry said. "they have asked us to help them now and all their proceeds from the food they sell will go to us."

The group, all volunteers, do other things throughout the year to raise funds.

"We did one for grill it conceal it last year and we do little things throughout the year," Terry said. "We also get anonymous checks. You don’t know who it’s from and it’s huge amounts. We get memorials from the mortuarys - we get donations throughout the year."

Terry said thanks to the generosity of the community they have three storage units full of medical equipment.

"We have hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers, knee scooters," he said. "Just about anything someone would need medically. We do not give cash, although on some occasions we help people with utilities. If it's a medical reason behind it - that's why we help."

Tanking said last year they had received a number of calls for assistance from the Ulysses area. Those requests prompted them to make a move to have someone based here to help those in need.

Local residents Drew and Katrina Peters have stepped up to fill the need.

"We are going to copycat what we have been doing in Liberal and do it here," Terry said. "Drew and Katrina are going to run it for us along with their two kids, Maddie Bitter and Brandon Peters. Since we started working on this we already have a handful of other volunteers to help them out."

Kim Tanking is also originally from Ulysses.

"With her being originally from here and we are big about giving back to our communities - it means something to her and me as well to help do this here in Ulysses," Terry said.

While the Tankings were in Ulysses recently, they visited with the Ulysses City Council the Grant County Chamber of Commerce and the USD214 school board.

"We were going to donate some items to the school, but they already have some of them that they were able to get through a grant," Terry said. "We are going to purchase and donate a special needs changing table for one of the elementary schools."

The Tankings secured a local storage unit and already had a trailer full of medical equipment to fill it with for Ulysses and Grant County.

"When people need something they will call the local number and an answering service will pick up," Terry said. "The answering service will text the local representatives at 4 p.m., and they will decide on the plan of action."

Terry said they could always use more volunteers

"That’s the only way we can make this work is if we have volunteers and support of the community," he added.

If you would like to volunteer, are in need of assistance or know of someone in need in this area, you can call 620-952-3563, or send information or donations to PO Box 21, Ulysses, KS 67880.