Today we’d like to introduce you to Shay Jefferson.
Hi Shay, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was a divorced mom of 4, struggling to make ends meet despite being gainfully employed. I made too much money to qualify for government assistance programs but not enough money to get off the “living paycheck to paycheck” rollercoaster. I started as just a neighbor who simply wanted to make sure families never had to face hunger alone. What started as small acts of kindness—sharing meals, organizing food drives, and connecting struggling families to resources—grew into a bold community mission.
Seeing the gaps in local services, I founded the Family Resource Center of Cass County (FRCCC) and its flagship program, Bridge Over Troubled Water Food Pantry, to provide food, housing assistance, health connections, and other critical supports. Over the years I have launched creative initiatives such as the Mobile Market/Grocery Bus, A Place to Call Home affordable housing program, and Resource One Health Connection, all aimed at removing barriers for families, seniors, and individuals in crisis.
Today, I lead FRCCC an organization known for turning everyday challenges into innovative programs that feed, house, and empower hundreds of people across the metro. My journey is one of persistence, compassion, and a belief that one person’s commitment can spark change.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, not at all—and I wouldn’t expect it to be. When I first started the Family Resource Center of Cass County, we were working out of a small space with more need than we could have anticipated. The first few years we serve 30-35 families a year, 1 year later we were serving 30-35 families a month. Within 4 years we were serving 30-35 families a day. Now we serve double or triple that a day. Some days the shelves were nearly bare, and I had to figure out how to stretch every dollar while still greeting families with dignity and hope.
Funding is a constant uphill battle but the community has been extremely supportive. With any sort of community outreach, there will be challenges. Working towards a dream no one can see but you is never easy. When we transformed an old gas station into a grocery store style food pantry many thought it was impossible. People said our efforts were overzealous and far reaching. We opened Bridge Over Troubled Waters Food Pantry despite the doubts and it is such an asset to the community. If you believe in something enough you will often juggling late nights and make many personal sacrifices. If you truly believe in your vision you won’t stop until you’ve accomplished what you set out to do.
Most recently, we experienced a significant loss of funding for our flagship program, Bridge Over Troubled Water Food Pantry. This obstacle forced us to get creative. We forged new partnerships, launched fundraisers, and turned limited resources into innovative programs to better serve our community. Every setback has been a chance to prove that compassion and persistence can outlast any shortage.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER OF CASS COUNTY INC?
The Family Resource Center of Cass County is a grassroots organization dedicated to feeding families, connecting neighbors to essential resources, and creating lasting pathways to stability. What began as a small community effort to help single mothers and has grown into a multi-program organization recognized across Cass County and the Kansas City metro for its innovation and heart.
What We Do & Specialize In
Bridge Over Troubled Water Food Pantry – A welcoming, choice-based pantry that provides groceries and household essentials to families and seniors in need.
The Spot Pay If You Can Cafe
Mobile Market / Grocery Bus – A first-of-its-kind mobile grocery store that brings fresh, healthy food directly into neighborhoods where access is limited.
A Place to Call Home – Affordable housing initiatives that help families transition from crisis to permanent, stable living.
Resource One Health Connection – Health navigation services that link residents to medical care, screenings, and wellness
programs.
Heart of Our Community Senior Outreach- Reduces food insecurity among low-income seniors in Cass, Jackson, and Johnson Counties by delivering nutritious groceries and essential household supplies directly to their homes.
Emergency & Seasonal Assistance – Utility help, holiday meals, back-to-school drives, and rapid-response programs during community crises.
Every program was born from listening to Cass County residents and designing services around their needs and struggles. Instead of a one-size-fits-all model, FRCCC meets people where they are and removes barriers such as transportation, paperwork, and stigma. FRCCC’s brand stands for trust, compassion, and innovation. We are a resource hub where food is the entry point to housing, health, and hope. Donors and volunteers consistently remark on the welcoming atmosphere, the clean and cheerful spaces, and the way FRCCC treats every guest with dignity and love.
Our service model is founded on the belief that everyone who walks through our doors is a part of our family and we treat them like family.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The single quality that stands out most is relentless, solutions-oriented love and compassion.
It’s more than kindness—it’s heart and grit. It’s the willingness to turn empathy into action with the persistence of a Mississippi mosquito.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mofamilyresource.org/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shay.jefferson.1
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/shay.jefferson.7
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-jefferson-38135b107
