Serve In The Community

Contact Ros Thorpe, Director of Outreach

Ros Thorpe

Director of Outreach

If you would like to Volunteer for any of the Opportunities below, please contact our Director of Outreach

Homelessness Ministries

Hillcrest provides transitional housing and other programs that combat homelessness by building the self-sufficiency of families.

Atonement has partnered with Hillcrest to adopt one of their apartments at the KCKS site, a mere 20-minute drive from Atonement. We also regularly provide food for their onsite food pantry and work with our apartment families to support them during their stay. 
JoCo IHN empowers homeless families by engaging people of faith by working with a network of 40 congregations to help situationally homeless families land stable jobs, find permanent homes and break the cycle of homelessness.

Atonement members partner with our host church to provide meals, volunteers, and non-perishable food and other supplies approximately every 8-10 weeks.
Project 10❤️20 is Johnson County’s only shelter for adults who are experiencing homelessness. We provide transportation to and from the shelter, a hot evening meal, and a grab-and-go breakfast in the morning. We’re a safe place to sleep and to receive care, compassion, and support. 

Atonement volunteers provide meals and other service during their ministry from December - March.

Food Insecurity

"Feed the Need" Food Drives

Since May 2020, Atonement has responded to our neighbors’ needs with regular drives, collecting non-perishable food items, as well as personal hygiene and cleaning supplies – and delivered them to local food pantries including those at Harvesters, Hillcrest Transitional Housing, Jewish Community Center, Johnson County Community College, KU Lutheran Campus Ministry Student Food Pantry, MLM, and Resurrection OP.

Members of Atonement also volunteer at the food pantries at area food pantries. In addition we regularly collect school supplies and snacks for Brookridge Elementary, and Christmas gifts for MLM.
MLM first opened its doors in 1971, and today serves those in need in the greater KC area in a variety of ways, including: its Community Care Centers, the Financial Opportunity Center, Minor Home Repair program, its annual Christmas Store, an Orchard & Garden, its Family Empowerment program, and Permanent Supportive Housing. Atonement members regularly provide volunteer hours and support.

MLM has now established a presence here in Johnson County, and is actively supporting families through its Rapid Re-Housing Program and other services; this ministry offices at Atonement.

Peace, Justice & Equality

Johnson County's Justice Ministry was born in 2020 through conversations with a variety of local congregations. It became official in 2021, and now includes over 20 interfaith communities. Atonement is an active member of the network, and has members participating in its two current issues of homelessness and the mental health crisis for county residents.

And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Who We Are

What We Have Accomplished

The Good Faith Network includes over 20 interfaith faith communities across Johnson County working together to build a collective voice so large it can't be ignored. We organize and use that voice to advocate for changes that address the root causes of our community's most pressing problems.  

Coming Up

After having hosted a series of small group community conversations for our 2022-2023 year where we shared the concerns we have regarding problems facing us in Johnson County and hear updates on the work done in 2021-2022 on homelessness and mental health crisis issues, we voted to begin an additional initiative in 2023  - affordable housing. We are now in the process of inviting GFN members to join research teams for each of the three initiatives. We invite all who wish to join us in making our voices heard – and in doing so, make Johnson County a more welcoming home for all.
In November 2021, our members voted to prioritize the mental health and homelessness crises in Johnson County. Over the next 5 months GFN members launched an extensive research process to understand the issues here and explore how other communities created solutions. We then addressed those who have the power to implement the changes we seek. On May 3rd, 2021, over 1,200 people gathered at Church of the Resurrection to voice our power for support for the solutions that we proposed. Work continued over the summer, meeting with county commissioners and others to move our plans forward. Results? As of fall of 2022, Johnson County is working to hire a Housing Coordinator, which will include addressing homelessness AND are working to open a mental health crisis stablilzation center by 2025.

Though we belong to diverse faith traditions, our members find common ground in values of justice and fairness. We build power and take direct action on problems facing our community so that all people are treated with the respect and dignity  that our faith traditions tell us they deserve.  
LGBTQ Support Ministry

LGBTQIA+ Support Ministry

The LGBTQ Support Group ministry offers encouragement, growth, and hope through thoughtful conversations and support. We meet periodically throughout the year and welcome those who would like to join us!

Other Community Ministries

Blessings Abound Thrift Store is a Christian not-for-profit serving the KC area by selling and recycling donated merchandise to provide aid to people in need.  

Atonement members volunteer regularly at the store to sort donations, arrange display, and a variety of other tasks.
Brookridge Elementary School
Brookridge Elementary School opened in 1967 and serves children and families at 9920 Lowell in Overland Park. Today, Brookridge guides more than 500 students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

Atonement volunteers serve as tutors and in-class helpers; opportunities are also available to help with school parties and field trips. We also provide classroom snacks twice a year to support the teachers and students, and offer a school supplies drive during the summer to be donated to the school.
Atonement members give “the gift of life;” your blood donations are then shared with hospitals around the Metro KC area.
We encourage members to visit the Center at 10568 Metcalf Ave, just south of the church.
Hollis Renewal Center provides “a time and place apart” for individuals, small groups, and organizations to pause and reflect on their mission.

Atonement members serve on the board for Hollis, and our groups are encouraged to use the facility for retreats and work projects.