Thelma's Kitchen
East KC’s Resilient Response: On the streets of a neighborhood facing rising poverty rates, one soup kitchen is stepping up—serving hundreds of meals daily and offering more than just food. Our ongoing investigation shows how community-driven solutions are not just fighting hunger, but empowering locals to build a stronger, more connected Kansas City.
Arriving at Thelma’s Kitchen at 31st and Troost was the most prepared I was for a job in quite some time. Thelma’s Kitchen serves the underserved in East Kansas City. My boss, Isha Jones, is one of three African American chefs who lead the newly renovated 3,500-square-foot kitchen and dining space, which serves as a symbol of welcome and warmth to people who so desperately need it. After touring the newly renovated building, my first task was simple. Serve the people what they want! Fresh food, of course! The base is a salad with croutons and fresh vegetables. That day, the chef’s special was tomato soup, rice, and delicious mushrooms. My job was to slice the mushrooms, keep them warm in a bin, and then serve customers. Thelma’s kitchen dates back to the 1970s, when a woman named Thelma Altschul served people in her neighborhood with food and a friendly ear. This blossomed when she and her husband, Pastor Father Alexii Altschul, decided to open the nonprofit. Today, Thelma’s kitchen is part of Reconciliation Services, its parent nonprofit that provides counseling in the building to people who face adverse daily challenges as a result of racism, historical redlining, systemic disinvestment, and gun violence.
I decided to join Thelma’s Kitchen for two objectives.
1) To gain a better understanding of the stories of people in East Kansas City as an investigative journalist,
2) To challenge myself to cook, providing support for those who face immense challenges.
This introductory piece serves as a foreword to the project of interviewing Thelma’s Kitchen’s coworkers and patrons.
My goal through this endeavor is to maintain an open mind and view those around me not as people with burdens, but as individuals working to change the culture of facing those challenges. It is an opportunity to challenge my ego, cultivate humility, and work through problems.
This is the foundation I have laid this summer. Now it is time to execute the vision I have of providing a platform for people who need their voices to be heard. This area serves as a four-way bus stop. Last autumn, I did a project on the importance of the bus system in Kansas City. Now connecting everything is a crucial next step. In a broader sense, this mission statement is the beginning of my project. I can tell the story of Kansas City, how it hums, and it’s a complex history. The people of Troost Avenue. What is their story? How do they live every day? What challenges do they face? How can Kansas City become an innovative city that serves its citizens in the best possible way? These are essential questions.
In an even broader sense, public media is facing funding cuts more than it ever has. Federal funding cuts to NPR and PBS disproportionately harm underserved areas, such as East Kansas City, where access to reliable, community-focused journalism is already limited. My job is more crucial than ever. This brings back great memories from my college days at Kansas State University, where I studied journalism. Now, Kansas City needs me, and I need it. This project is the largest I’ve taken on, and challenges are to be faced. Thelma’s Kitchen and its people are resilient. I’ve seen it every day I work there. Now, collectively, my work has only begun.
*In many ways, Thelma’s Kitchen is more than a place that serves meals — it is a crossroads of humanity, resilience, and hope. Standing behind the food line, listening to stories, and observing life at this busy intersection has reminded me that journalism isn’t just about headlines — it’s about heart-lines. It’s about showing up, listening closely, and amplifying the quiet strength of everyday people. As I continue this project, I carry forward the spirit of Thelma and all those who serve — not just food, but dignity as well. This project’s mission is to amplify and show how grassroots solutions do work in vulnerable communities. This is where the real work begins.
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Thelma's Kitchen's newly renovated dining room.