Kansas Catholic Group Donates $1K in School Supplies

When the school buses started rolling in Great Bend and Ellinwood this August, students at two Catholic schools opened their backpacks to find fresh notebooks, pencils, and supplies they might not have had otherwise. The Daughters of Isabella made it happen.

The Catholic women's organization delivered about $1,000 worth of school supplies to Holy Family School in Great Bend and St. Joseph's School in Ellinwood. They started this annual tradition when the United Way's "Stuff the Bus" program began, realizing the Catholic schools weren't included in district-wide supply drives.

"This was our version of the United Way event since the schools are not part of the school district receiving those supplies," said Shelly Arnberger, a member of the Great Bend Circle. The group also funds the Grandfriend program at Holy Family, providing stamps, crayons, and colored pencils so students can connect with elderly pen pals.

The school supplies are just the start. Circle #744 supports Kans for Kids, the Barton County Cancer Fund, ElderCare, Meals on Wheels, CASA, and the Makinna Ann Hope Foundation, which grants equipment to disabled children. They prepare three hot meals a year for CORE Community of Barton County, a nonprofit helping people escape poverty. That's often 60 to 70 people per meal.

The group also helps elderly residents pay electricity bills, supports Food Bank donations, and provides stipends to seminarians studying for the priesthood.

Founded in Great Bend in 1947, the organization now has 138 members. Their motto is unity, friendship, and charity. They fund everything through one winter raffle each February, where members auction off 30 to 40 donated items ranging from $10 to $600.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this story remarkable is the quiet consistency. For 79 years, these women have shown up for their community without fanfare or recognition. They're not waiting for someone else to fill the gaps. They're the safety net for students who need pencils, seniors who need meals, and families facing unexpected hardships.

Their work proves that lasting change doesn't always come from viral campaigns or celebrity endorsements. Sometimes it comes from a group of neighbors who meet regularly, pool their resources, and ask themselves a simple question: Who needs help this month?

The Great Bend Circle will host the Kansas State Daughters of Isabella Spiritual Conference on October 17, bringing together Catholic women from across the state to share their missions and strengthen their faith.

Seventy-nine years in, they're still finding new ways to serve.