Walk-In assistance from community organizations
Click the title of each group to see upcoming events when they are providing individual walk-in assistance at the library!
Community Navigator – Community Navigator volunteers through United Way of Kaw Valley will help clients to prepare paperwork, gather documentation, access community resources that might benefit and/or support their needs.
Cover KS: Heath Insurance Navigator – Get your Marketplace & KanCare health insurance questions answered at the library.
Topeka Family Legal Project – Meet with Topeka Family Legal Project staff to apply for legal assistance related to housing, educational and income-related legal issues.
TRIO Educational Opportunity Center – Discuss FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), career exploration and school selection with TRIO Educational Opportunity Center advisor Melody Lawrence.
SCORE Business Mentoring – SCORE mentors provide one-on-one advice on business best practices and resources to help your small business thrive. SCORE mentoring is free for aspiring or established owners of U.S.-based businesses.
Mental Health Screenings with Valeo Behavioral Health Care – Staff from Valeo Behavioral Health Care help community members understand their own mental health situations, the treatment options available and how to access services.
Community resources online & at other locations
Community resource & referral sources
United Way 211 – Dial 211 from any phone to speak with a referral specialist 24 hours a day about community resources and any service needs you may have. Available in English and Spanish. 211- Wellsky/Healthify – find opportunities for help in Topeka in a searchable resource
- Topeka Resource Checklist Updated April 2023
- 2021 CRC Resource Directory
Resources for food and assistance
Food Pantries and Meal Programs updated April 2023 and Spanish language: Food Pantries and Meal Programs updated April 2023- Need help finding food resources in Shawnee County? Here is a map of local food pantries, feeding sites and food giveaways. Enter your address to find resources nearby. Created and updated by Shawnee County K-State Research and Extension.
- Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging coordinates services for older adults.
- Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas serves seniors and home-bound in Shawnee, Jefferson and Douglas counties.
COVID-19 resources
- Shawnee County Health Department Information including testing options and vaccine options
- Shawnee County Covid-19 Wastewater Treatment Plant Monitoring – Scroll down to “Filter by State to View Counties” then choose Kansas, then choose the yellow “Show all” button to see Shawnee County, Kansas data. Choose “Last 6 months” or “Last 6 weeks” for more recent trends.
- The CDC COVID Data Tracker
- CDC Respiratory Virus Updates
- How to Protect Yourself and Others from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Mental health crisis lines
- Shawnee County Mental Health Crisis Line Valeo (ages 18+) Open 24/7 1-785-234-3300
- Shawnee County Mental Health Crisis Line FSGC (17 & under) Open 24/7 1-785-232-5005
Eviction prevention
Housing and Credit Counseling Inc – 800-383-0217 and 785-234-0217
Kansas Legal Services Individuals seeking legal assistance must first apply. You can apply for legal assistance by filling out the Online Application or by phone 1-800-723-6953.
Internet Resources and WiFi Access
WiFi Access in the library’s parking lot, community centers and other locations.
Consumers can apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program at AffordableConnectivity.gov
Tax Forms and Assistance
Tax Forms and Assistance links to local resources and state/federal forms.
Spanish Language Local Resources
- United Way 211 – Dial 211 from any phone to speak with a referral specialist 24 hours a day about community resources and any service needs you may have. Available in English and Spanish. 211
- Spanish version: Food Pantries and Meal Programs in Topeka/Shawnee County updated October 2022
- CRC quick reference to emergency rent/utility help, food & clothing, health & dental, etc. in both English and Spanish.
- Family Service & Guidance Center Spanish page – Mental Health Services for Shawnee County, ages 17& under
- el Seguro Social (Social Security)
- Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)(click on flags to change language)
- Kansas Department for Children and Families Self-Service Portal (click on menu in upper left to choose Language – Spanish)
- Meals on Wheels (Spanish Language Website)
- Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas – La Luz Center for Legal Assistance
- Cover Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace (Spanish Language Website)
- Community Action, Inc. (Spanish website through Google Translate)
- Shawnee County Health Department (select Language – Spanish in Google Translate at bottom of the page)
- Temas de Salud: COVID-19 Spanish Language National Institutes of Health Resources for COVID-19
Lissa Staley
Lissa Staley helps people use the library. She is a Book Evangelist, Trivia Emcee, Classics Made Modern book discussion leader, NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison, and frequent library customer. She loves her kids, being a librarian, living in Topeka, and helping people form connections and community. (She's the Community Connections Librarian!) She reads a new book every few days, but is enjoying the audiobook of "Empress of Forever" by Max Gladstone, the ebook "When We Were Magic" by Sarah Gailey and is eagerly awaiting John Scalzi's "The Last Emperox" in April!