Living Waters is a trusted option that truly helps connect Latino families to the support they need in Kansas.

Wichita Kansas | January 12, 2026

By Claudia Amaro | Planeta Venus

Volunteers at the Living Water food ministry prepare to welcome people who come to pick up their food supplies. Photo by Claudia Amaro - Planeta Venus

Has it ever happened to you that you need help for your health, to feed your family, or to understand a legal procedure, but you don't know where to go or whom to trust? You're not alone. In Kansas, many Latino families feel the same way, not because they lack resources, but because information doesn't come in Spanish, through people they trust, or in a culturally relevant message. Today we want to talk about this disconnect and show how help between neighbors and humane treatment are achieving what brochures and websites do not: bringing families closer to the help they deserve.

The situation is clear: A recent Planeta Venus survey shows that between 57% and 71% of Latino respondents have never heard of important legal, business, or housing support services. The main problem is not that these services do not exist, but that many people do not know they exist, are afraid of their immigration status, or cannot find clear information in Spanish. Pointing out this gap is not enough; We must talk about solutions that already work. Living Waters, a community pantry, has removed bureaucracy, enabling our community to let go of fear and access the resources it needs, always with dignity.

To find the solution, you first have to see the problem as it is. Many organizations use websites and emails in English, but our community prefers recommendations from family members, text messages, social media, and Spanish-language radio. This difference leaves many families without information. Even so, there are initiatives that have been chosen to prioritize trust over advertising.

A good example is Living Waters, a food pantry in Wichita that has been helping the community for 25 years and is now in a renovated building to give its clients better access. Unlike other large institutions that do advertising campaigns, Living Waters serves about 175 people per week, thanks, above all, to recommendations between neighbors.

Lindsay Rasmussen, community liaison for Living Waters. Photo taken from the Living Waters website.

Lindsay Rasmussen, a community ally with Living Waters, says the pantry's success isn't due to the ads but to the humane treatment. In a recent interview, Rasmussen commented:

"We don't do any advertising. That's very intentional because we have a large group of customers who are very good at spreading the word. When you live in a community where you know your neighbors need a lot of help, you're going to tell them where they can go to get it."

This method of neighborly help is key because it removes fear, one of the biggest barriers, according to the survey. At Living Waters, the dignity of people is always respected. They know that asking for help is not easy and that many fear being asked for documents. That's why they only ask for proof of address and basic identification, without asking for Social Security or proof of income. In addition, the signs and information on site are in English and Spanish, which makes everyone feel welcome, as one customer who preferred not to share his name told us.

The signs outside Living Waters and the information shared inside are available in English and Spanish. Photographs by Claudia Amaro - Planeta Venus

Rasmussen stresses that the most important thing is that people feel welcome and not judged:

"I think for a lot of our customers, it's just having someone say 'hi' to them, to recognize them and listen to them when they speak, to have the opportunity to come to a place week in and week out where they feel like they're accepted and that people want to see them, it means a lot.

The Living Waters model also allows families to choose their own food rather than receive a ready-made bag, giving them more control and dignity. Today, almost 40% of those who attend only speak Spanish. Although the organization seeks to have bilingual volunteers, more support in Spanish is still needed to continue closing the gap.

If you or someone you know needs help with food in a safe and dignified place, Living Waters is a real option available now. There are people who go often and others who only come when they have to choose between paying the rent and buying food. This help may be just what they need.

Living Waters Community Food Pantry offers a wide variety of food items, including fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables. Photo by Claudia Amaro - Planeta Venus

The pantry is open every Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 431 S Lulu, Wichita, KS 67211. You don't need legal status or Social Security, just an ID and proof of address. If you want to help make more Latinos feel at home, Living Waters is looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers on Wednesdays. Reach out, either for help or to offer it. At Planeta Venus, we believe that sharing information strengthens us.

This article has been produced as part of the 2025 Fellowship of AltaVoz Lab, a nonprofit organization that mentors, trains, and empowers local journalists to produce impactful, collaborative, accountability-oriented, and public service journalism projects in media outlets serving historically disadvantaged communities across the United States.