Good morning, Topeka.

Trinity Presbyterian Church is hosting drive-up and walk-up food giveaways every second Monday at noon + the event serves about 1,000 to 1,300 local residents each month who depend on groceries.

Pat Yancey, a longtime leader in church and social services, has joined Compassion Strategies as volunteer director of Donor Cultivation and Relations and will lead donor engagement at the Compassion Impact Center + former Topeka Rescue Mission Children’s Palace.

The Interfaith of Topeka Film Festival will feature three short films about Zoroastrianism and Buddha in a free event at the Topeka and Shawnee Co. Public Library on Saturday, Oct.

24 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. (refreshments and discussion will follow).

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation held Flora Lumina: A Festival of Light at Old Prairie Town on Monday, Oct.

12. The event transformed the grounds into a colorful wonderland - glowing gardens, giant lanterns, and vibrant displays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Families visited the Kansas Children's Discovery Center on Monday, Oct.

12 to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day with story time, flute demos, and hoop dancing lessons — an event that shared Indigenous history and cultural practices with the local community.

K-State College of Arts and Sciences faces a $2.6M shortfall and $13.5M debt while planning a faculty-input process that may lead to layoffs and program cuts; officials stressed that no decisions have been made yet.

Mirror Inc. outlined its jail recovery program partnership with Shawnee County Corrections at a work session and explained how peer navigators help inmates access post release support.

The partnership will continue expanding with a new recovery support center (opening in November) that connects individuals to immediate community resources.

The East Topeka community health center closed and plans to reopen a full-service grocery stalled, leaving families with fewer options for health care and fresh food.

Local nonprofits are stepping in to support residents facing these challenges (efforts focus on underserved neighborhoods).

Washburn’s Grimm twins from Sabetha are starting side by side on the offensive line as sophomores after a redshirt season, testing their high school-honed chemistry in combo blocks (they built on their past as redshirt freshmen).