Exploring Life & Business with Jill Krajicek of Complete Real Estate Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Krajicek

Hi Jill, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The food pantry started about 10 years ago by myself and two others… I was in a Bible study group and praying about what God’s will would be for our church.. Felt like I heard to start a food pantry, which I found comical for Leawood KS and didn’t understand the need… The feeling wouldn’t go away, that is how the spirit of God speaks to people… So, called Pastor Ryan and I was the third phone call about starting a food pantry within the span of a few days so pastor gave us the green light..

We, Greg, George and I (the three that called Pastor) collaborated by visiting different food pantries to determine how a pantry runs. We wanted to offer all people the ability to come in and be able to feed a family of 5 for a week

We had a $5,000 donation to start and went to the grocery store and opened the doors with the intent to serve all people as much as needed and invite them to church and pray alongside them..

The pantry had no budget to start and originally operated by $5,000 annually from the church and all others were donations, after one year we became a partner of Harvesters. Financially it always worked out which was because God always provides as it didn’t logically make sense(the financial people were initially concerned about sustainability) and we went from serving 5 families a week to now serving on average 80-100 families per week.

The pantry also receives donations weekly from Trader Joe’s and Hen house of fresh flowers, produce, bread and other misc items that are about to expire. Whole foods and Price Chopper have also made donations to the pantry.

The pantry is run by volunteers and we have local scouting and school groups do food drives around kansas city and some local businesses collect donations for the pantry as well..

The pantry was started by 3 people who God laid on their heart to love your neighbors as yourself, all people should have accessibility to food as were all brothers and sisters in Christ and we are called to Love all people and show Christ’s love and the pantry serves people with love…

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been bumps in the road… There were concerns about finances and providing financially for the needs of all who come to the pantry… The pantry on average would cost over $150,000-200K to run annually and it operates at a much smaller budget and has always been sustained by the grace of God.

Also, we have had burn out of volunteers and when Covid hit we had to change the way we did everything, we made up boxes and had people drive through to get what they needed and did the best we could to keep everyone safe.

It’s also very difficult for people to come to the pantry b/c they’re embarrassed and have to ensure making people feel very welcome…

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a volunteer that helps run the food pantry and for work I do Real Estate, I am a social worker by trade (I have my bachelors in social work) and got into real estate investing as a social worker, realizing that I can take section 8 tenants and provide good housing and make some money.. Fast forward 25 years later and my husband and I run a property management company, have investment properties and I am a realtor who specializes in helping people make max profitability on the sale of their home… In essence I help people flip their own homes and I pay for it b/c it helps people and fun and my brokerage pays for it and then gets reimbursed.

I help run the food pantry as well and have a great team of dedicated volunteers who have become like family and make it fun as volunteering and helping people brings me joy and fills my cup… As one of my favorite volunteers always states, volunteering is like chicken soup to the soul…

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future is to let the Lord guide me and my husband to do his will in our lives, we are unsure of exactly what that looks like at the moment. We truly love helping others and are very happy running the food pantry, and helping people learn how to be investors and flip their own homes.. My husband recently retired from being a hospital CFO to work alongside me & take over our property management company so I can take on some proteges in buying/selling real estate and teach them the ropes to help others as well.. So we are simplifying our lives and are enjoying what we are currently doing and looking to God to guide us into our futures..