Minnie Hackney Community Service Center receives $30,000 grant

(From the Minnie Hackney Community Service Center)

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Minnie Hackney Community Service Center has been awarded a $30,000 community grant from The Giving Branch, the charitable foundation of Flat Branch Home Loans, to improve accessibility and expand critical services for individuals and families in the Joplin area.

A public check presentation will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at the Flat Branch Home Loans office, 2131 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804. Members of the media and the public are invited to attend.

The grant will fund the installation of a stairlift, making the Center's second floor fully accessible for the first time to seniors, individuals with disabilities, parents with young children, and others who have been unable to use the space because of the building's staircase.

The project will also prepare the upstairs area to serve as The Giving Branch Warming & Cooling Auxiliary Center during periods of extreme weather, providing a safe, welcoming refuge for women and children. Throughout the rest of the year, the newly accessible space will support expanded community services, including medical clinic visits, a community library and reading area, office space, educational programming, support groups, and other services designed to meet the growing needs of the community.

"This grant represents far more than a building improvement," said Nanda Nunnelly, President of The Minnie Hackney Community Service Center. "It is an investment in people. Thanks to The Giving Branch, we are removing a barrier that has limited our ability to serve our neighbors. We are honored to name this new space The Giving Branch Warming & Cooling Auxiliary Center in recognition of their extraordinary generosity. Their investment will provide safety during extreme weather while creating opportunities for healthcare, education, and community connection throughout the year."

For nearly 80 years, The Minnie Hackney Community Service Center has served as a cornerstone of the Joplin community by providing meals, showers, laundry facilities, emergency assistance, and connections to housing, healthcare, and other supportive services. Opening the second floor will significantly expand the organization's capacity to serve women, children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and others seeking assistance.

"We are incredibly grateful to The Giving Branch and Flat Branch Home Loans for believing in our mission," Nunnelly said. "Their generosity will have a lasting impact on our community for generations to come. This gift is more than a stairlift—it is a pathway to greater access, greater dignity, and greater opportunity for everyone who walks through our doors."