Barry Feaker has held the Executive Director position at the Topeka Rescue Mission for more than three decades. During that time, his organization has made a huge impact on the community and the people that need support. He’s seen a lot of change through the years, including the most recent shift that COVID-19 has caused. Join us as we learn more about the TRM.

 

Show notes & additional resources: https://kansasbiztalk.com/podcast/ep-9-supporting-the-homeless-and-impoverished-of-topeka-with-barry-feaker/1159/ 

 

About our guest: https://www.trmonline.org/about/about-trm-ministries 

 

Today's schedule: 

1:21 – Background on our guest today, Barry Feaker  

2:53 – Why did he leave the mental health field to TRM?

6:37 – Benefits and challenges for an organization like this.  

8:16 – How COVID changed funding.  

8:59 – Has the government tried to get involved at any point?

10:54 – Every rescue mission is different.

12:06 – How many people do you shelter each year and how COVID impacted that.

14:14 – They’ve lost a lot of volunteers due to COVID as well.

15:00 – Processes they use to manage these large numbers of people.  

16:47 – The process for homeless coming in.  

24:14 – Scary moments he’s had on the job.

27:50 – Does he have a favorite failure?

31:31 – The anti-human trafficking division

33:45 – Human trafficking in Topeka

37:07 – Is there a program he’s most proud of?

40:43 – What do you wish knew early on?

42:13 – Best way to get plugged into the Topeka Rescue Mission.