Northland nonprofit is filling gaps and building community from a church basement

Walking through the Parkville Living Center’s doors, you almost forget you’re in a church basement. Along the entrance of the space is a “Community Wall,” which Marcus Flores describes as a yearbook of those who come to the center and some community partners.

People often ask if it is a “dormitory for old people” or a senior center, but Flores, the center’s executive director, said it’s hard to place the organization in a box. He says it’s “a center that does life.”

The Parkville Living Center does a little bit of everything. Flores said people of all ages are invited to the center to learn more about the community through town halls, get information about local services, or just hang out during its open hours.

“We are the living center of Parkville and so to get to hear and respond to community needs, resources,” he said. “We keep the lights on and make the calls, and then everything else just happens.”

Terri Brittingham, 76, a Platte County resident, was first introduced to the Living Center for their tech support, an open class assisting people with using computers and other technology run by Flores. After participating in the center’s programs more, Brittingham began volunteering there.

Now, she said she’s usually there every day to either hang out or attend a class or event.

“I just like to talk to people,” she said. “You know, have in-depth conversations with interesting folks with interesting backgrounds.”

As the population in the Northland has expanded, Brittingham said she’s been able to keep up with the latest resources, business and politics through the town halls at the center such as the one about the candidates for the county commission and the Children Services Fund tax.

Filling a void

The center started as a branch of the church, with the church providing grants and hosting its programming.

But throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Flores and others quickly realized it could reach more people if it was not a part of the church’s ministry. In 2022, the center separated from the church and became a partner.

Still, the community center remains in the basement, rent-free, and often collaborates with the church. It runs on a lifeblood of volunteers, grants and also gets tax dollars from Platte County’s senior services fund.

“This has become just really amazing, not just for me to just watch and build, but for people to recognize,” he said. “It really feels good to be in a place that is intended to not be run by insurance, to not be run by administrators, to not be run by government, not be run by religion, but be run by the people.”

Throughout the years, Flores has added two additional staff members, Angie LaRose Witt, the development coordinator, and Carole Bredeson, the program coordinator.

As the organization grows its reach throughout and beyond Parkville, its leaders say they’re just scratching the surface of the services needed in the community, especially in other more rural parts of Platte County.

Platte County only has one official community center and meal program for older adults, according to the Mid-America Regional Council. Flores described the limited services as a “void.”

Now, he and the Parkville Living Center are working to expand services to fill the void.

Bridging the gap

Beyond being a place for older adults to hang out and grab a few meals, the Living Center has teamed up with Park Hill Schools, Park University, the City of Parkville and other local small businesses to build connections with members of the community who are often an afterthought or overlooked.

The Center also has a program called Gap Assistance. Oftentimes community members have, what Flores calls, a “receiving entity” as their transition during a critical time. Whether that be seeking mental health help from Beacon Mental, one of The Center’s program partners, or going to a shelter, sometimes people have a waiting period or no way to get to the receiving entity. That’s when the Parkville Living Center and its Gap Assistance program kicks in.

“This happened twice,” said Flores.” Addicts go into rehab (but) that last weekend before they go into rehab…is very hard for an addictive personality who wants to say goodbye to something and it changed their life. So we provide a space.”

The Gap Assistance program may look like a weekend hotel stay until someone can get into housing or simply a space to hang out during the day.

The Center has other programs such as the Lunch Program every Monday and Wednesday for all ages, which provides hot meals to those who make a reservation.

Park University students have also taken advantage of the meals the center provides,s especially during times like Thanksgiving Break when the university and the cafeteria services are closed down, said Alyssa Acuna, associate director of student engagement and inclusion at Park University.

Acuna said her job is to provide resources for all identities of our diverse students. For some students at Park, have never experienced how cold it can get in Missouri so the department started a donation drive for winter clothing for students and the Parkville residents. She reached out to The Living Center and they agreed to store the clothing items in the building. Acuna said the added connection from the Living Center has added a sense of community and belonging for students, a conversation that’s been ongoing in the higher education community.

“Marcus has such a great heart, and he really wants Parkville to feel supported and the people who are in need,” Acuna said. “He’s really a person’s person.”