News

Western Kansas Community Foundation

GARDEN CITY – Western Kansas Community Foundation (WKCF) will join in a nationwide celebration, Nov. 12-18, to recognize the increasingly important role that community foundations play in strengthening localities and mitigating social issues like food insecurity, or strengthening vital community resources related to health, education and social services.

For more than a century, philanthropic institutions have served as a trusted partner and resource whose effect can be seen in the lives of millions and in the vibrant neighborhoods that continue to thrive through their mission-driven work. During this annual celebration, community foundations convene to share and reflect on the stories of impact from their recent work.

Artesian Valley Health System

MEADE – Meade District Hospital is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas (CFSWK).

This funding will support Project Mobilizing Care: Enhancing Clinical Access at the Point of Care.

The initiative aims to improve clinical efficiency and overall quality of care by equipping the hospital’s nursing and surgical departments with Workstations on Wheels.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

One of the job fields being hit particularly hard in modern times is nursing, and there has been much work done to figure out how to prevent that from happening.

“Right now, the U.S. is amidst a national healthcare professional shortage, and Kansas faces a severe statewide nursing shortage, with recent data showing a decline in the number of registered nurses since 2019,” Emmi Sosa, director of clinical services at MedPro Healthcare Staffing, said. “The number of registered nurses has dropped 9.6 percent from 2019 to July 2025. Rural areas are hit hardest, as burnout drives nurses out and physicians are forced to fill roles they weren’t trained for, and these pressures are delaying care and putting entire communities at risk. As a nurse myself, and directly from my role at the patient's bedside and now in the corporate sector, the shortage of nurses seems to be getting worse. What I've noticed is fewer nurses and sicker patients, which ultimately turns into a patient safety issue. And it's becoming not just a trend but a significant issue that needs addressing, so now, with my role in the corporate sector, one of my main goals is to come up with some creative solutions to help with this issue.”

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

The annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations have concluded and this year, a former Liberal student brought that tradition to his current home.

McPherson College senior and former Liberal student Fabian Camacho received a grant from the McPherson College Horizon Fund to build an ofrenda to celebrate Día de los Muertos, which took place Nov. 1. An ofrenda is a shrine created to honor family members and loved ones who have died. Ofrendas often include photos, candles, marigolds, and decorations, and Camacho's ofrenda featured all those elements, along with spaces for anyone to display a photo of a loved one or even a pet.