Our Roots in Community: How Lee's Summit Social Services Began
Here in Lee's Summit, we're a community that looks out for one another. That spirit of neighbor helping neighbor isn't something new; it's woven into the very fabric of our history. And it is precisely that spirit that gave birth to Lee's Summit Social Services (LSSS) in 1992.
The early 90s were a time of significant change for our town. Lee's Summit was experiencing rapid growth, bringing new neighbors and new opportunities, but also, as often happens, a shift in the economy for some within our community. It was a time when the gap between those thriving and those struggling began to widen, and a need emerged for a dedicated safety net.
Enter Geneva High, a visionary with a deep love for Lee's Summit and an unwavering commitment to its people. Geneva saw the growing challenges firsthand and recognized the need for an agency that could operate with agility and compassion, free from unnecessary restrictions, to truly meet the diverse needs of our neighbors facing hardship.
Her vision resonated deeply with the Lee's Summit Ministerial Alliance, a group of local faith leaders who shared her concern and passion for community well-being. With their strong support and the collaborative spirit that defines Lee's Summit, Geneva set out on a mission to, in her own words, “help Lee's Summit, by helping Lee's Summit.”
The response from our community was nothing short of remarkable. Local grocery stores stepped up, generously donating food to stock a fledgling pantry. Residents rallied, understanding the importance of having a local resource to support those facing tough times. The initial hope was to become fully operational within a year or so, a testament to the urgency and the collective will to make a difference.
Geneva's vision wasn't limited to just putting food on the table. She understood that hardship comes in many forms. A small car repair could be the difference between someone getting to work and losing their job. An unexpected medical bill could push a family into crippling debt. A little help with a utility bill could prevent a household from facing unimaginable hardship. The goal was to provide timely intervention, addressing immediate needs to prevent families from falling further into crisis and facing even worse outcomes.
For over two decades, Geneva poured her heart and soul into Lee's Summit Social Services, serving as its steadfast Executive Director until she retired in 2016. Her leadership was characterized by unwavering dedication, deep empathy, and an unshakeable belief in the resilience of our community. She laid the foundation for the organization we are today, instilling a culture of compassion and a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Lee's Summit.
In 2016, the torch was passed to her grandson, Matt Sanning. Matt carried forward Geneva's legacy, bringing his own passion and dedication to the role. He navigated new challenges and opportunities, ensuring that LSSS continued to be a vital lifeline for our community.
Eventually, Matt moved on to pursue other opportunities, but the spirit of family and commitment to LSSS remained strong. Today, the organization is led by Megan Salerno, the current Executive Director, Matt's sister, and Geneva's granddaughter. Megan's connection to LSSS runs deep. Her journey with the organization began back in the mid-1990s, volunteering at the agency as "Soup Girl," making a game of sorting the many cans of soup that arrived during community food drives.
Megan's leadership blends a fresh approach with a deep understanding of LSSS's mission and the pulse of Lee's Summit, cultivated over eight years of learning and working alongside Matt as his Assistant Director. Her volunteerism from the organization's early days to now, as Executive Director, exemplifies LSSS’s community-driven culture and the enduring value of every act of support.
From Geneva's initial vision fueled by a growing need, to the outpouring of community support that stocked our first food pantry, to the dedicated leadership of her grandson and now her granddaughter, the story of Lee's Summit Social Services is a story rooted in Lee’s Summit's inherent kindness and our collective desire to ensure that no one in our community faces hardship alone.
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, carrying forward Geneva's original mission with the same spirit of compassion and unwavering commitment to helping Lee's Summit, one neighbor at a time. And as we look to the future, we remain deeply grateful for the continued support of our community, the very foundation upon which Lee's Summit Social Services was built and continues to thrive.
