Community Collaboration Series Highlights KS4Vets Support Network

Dannielle Stiffler is volunteer coordinator with Gentiva Hospice and Home Care and current president of KS4Vets (Kansas for Vets).Dannielle Stiffler hands a special challenge coin to Navy veteran James Fleming with his wife Linda Fleming, left.

Community Collaboration Series highlights KS4Vets support network — from urgent needs to long-term housing plans

Reno County’s Department of Aging welcomed community members for a Thursday morning Community Collaboration Series focused on connecting local residents with real, usable resources — this time centering on veterans and the services many still don’t know how to access.

The session featured Dannielle Stiffler, volunteer coordinator with Gentiva Hospice and Home Care and current president of KS4Vets (Kansas for Vets). The tone of the conversation was practical and community-minded: programs exist, help is available, and the biggest barrier is often simply knowing where to start.

Cara Conaway, Information and Outreach Program Coordinator with the Reno County Department of Aging, shared why the topic was personal, describing family members who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam — and the emotional cost of leaving family behind. That personal link tied directly to the day’s purpose: helping more veterans and families understand what support exists in Reno County and across Kansas, and how to get connected.

Who KS4Vets is - and how it works

Stiffler described KS4Vets as a statewide organization based in Hutchinson that brings together individuals, businesses, and service partners to help veterans. She compared it to a “hub of a wheel”: veterans can come to KS4Vets with a need, and if the group can’t meet that need directly, they work through their network to connect the veteran to the right resource.

KS4Vets hosts a monthly meeting open to the public, designed to function as a consistent, in-person information exchange. The meeting is held the second Friday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at Friends Church (14th & Landon, between Lorraine and Severance). Stiffler noted the next KS4Vets meeting date will be February 13. Lunch is provided, and the gathering regularly includes partners such as the Red Cross, the VA (Wichita), and the Salvation Army, along with other organizations working directly with veterans.

Because the organization is a nonprofit with no paid positions, every role — including president and board members - is volunteer. The group does not have a brick-and-mortar office. Instead, Stiffler said much of the work happens through email, a P.O. box, and in meeting spaces (including Gentiva’s office, which she said is supportive of the volunteer work).

Dannielle Stiffler talks to the group about KS4Vets. Special challenge coins have been made by KS4Vets.
Dannielle Stiffler, left, answers questions with Cara Conaway, Reno County Dept of Aging.Dannielle Stiffler brought a variety of KS4Vets handouts. Dannielle Stiffler shared the mission and vision statement for KS4Vets.

What help looks like, week to week

Stiffler walked through the kinds of support KS4Vets can provide when a veteran presents a DD-214 and a need. Assistance can include help with mortgages, utilities, groceries, and car repairs. She also highlighted hands-on support that can dramatically change day-to-day life, including the installation of wheelchair ramps, providing or rehoming mobility scooters, and in at least one situation helping replace an artificial limb.

Last year, she said, KS4Vets assisted 42 veterans across Kansas, providing a total of just over $11,100. She noted that when a situation is larger than what KS4Vets can cover financially, the organization often relies on its partner network to help fill the gap.

Where the funding comes from — and how the public can participate

The most consistent funding source, Stiffler explained, comes from community aluminum can collections. Several can-drop sites that were once connected to the Kansas Honor Flight effort were turned over to KS4Vets — not because Honor Flight stopped, but because Honor Flight’s priority now is getting more veterans on flights and ensuring enough riders are ready for those trips. KS4Vets uses the can proceeds to keep a steady stream of funds available for emergency needs. During the session, Stiffler noted there are now six drop-off locations, including a new site opened last week in Buhler at the gas station. A volunteer collects cans weekly, cashes them in, and ensures funds come in throughout the year.

A second major effort is Dillons Community Rewards, which allows shoppers to link their Dillons account so a small percentage of purchases supports KS4Vets. Stiffler emphasized it does not reduce fuel points, coupons, or other benefits — it simply routes a small share of spending toward the organization. Their goal is to reach 100 participating households by the end of the year. 

KS4Vets also uses business sponsorship levels and hosts fundraisers, including a car show being planned for late May or early June. For ongoing updates, Stiffler encouraged residents to follow the group on Facebook — “KS4Vets” (KS number 4 Vets) — which she called their most active communication channel. She also noted the group sends a monthly newsletter to those who request to be added to the email list.

A marquee event: Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Dinner on March 29th

One of the most detailed announcements of the morning was KS4Vets’ largest annual event: the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Dinner, held on March 29, which is National Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Stiffler spoke plainly about why the night matters: many Vietnam veterans did not receive the welcome home they deserved, and the organization wants to correct that in a meaningful way.

This year’s dinner will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the HCTEA Building, 800 E. 15th Circle, located behind the Hutchinson High School area (with signs planned to help direct visitors). Stiffler said veterans do not need to RSVP — in past years, RSVP requests discouraged attendance because people worried they “couldn’t come” if they hadn’t registered. The message now is simple: just come. The dinner is free for any Vietnam veteran and one guest (most often a spouse).

A special addition this year: KS4Vets is creating custom challenge coins specifically for Vietnam veterans attending the dinner. Stiffler explained that challenge coins carry deep meaning in military culture, and the group wants to use the coin as a tangible “welcome home” symbol — something many never received when they returned.

Flyers were noted as in progress, with plans to post them around the community (libraries and other public locations) and share widely on Facebook once finalized.

Gentiva’s “We Honor Veterans” work — and a call for veteran volunteers

In addition to her KS4Vets role, Stiffler discussed her work with Gentiva Hospice and Home Care, which has earned Level 5 recognition in the We Honor Veterans program — the highest level. She said that veteran-focused hospice support includes vet-to-vet cafés, informational sessions, and “final salute” ceremonies for veteran patients. In those moments, Gentiva can provide a flag, play taps, and invite staff and others to participate as a final recognition of service.

She also issued a specific community need: Gentiva must maintain veteran volunteers as part of its Level 5 responsibilities, and veteran-to-veteran support can be uniquely powerful. She described the comfort that can come simply from having another veteran sit beside a patient — a “brotherhood” that can help people open up or feel less alone. She invited anyone who knows a veteran interested in volunteering to connect with her.

Looking ahead: Patriots Village transitional housing in South Hutchinson

The biggest long-term vision shared during the discussion was Patriots Village, a proposed transitional housing project for homeless veterans in South Hutchinson. Stiffler said KS4Vets is working in conjunction with the South Hutch VFW and other partners to develop the village.

The plan described includes a small “tiny home” community with support services — a place where veterans can work with case managers and social workers while rebuilding stability. Importantly, Stiffler said the intent is to avoid a rigid deadline for residents to move out; progress and healing take different lengths of time for different people, and the program aims to work with veterans until they’re ready to move forward.

Stiffler noted the land is already secured, and the group has access to modular buildings (previously used as schoolrooms) that could serve as an office and community meeting space — and potentially reduce construction costs by housing multiple veterans per building. The initial vision shared was about 16 units, with an estimated cost of just over $1 million, though cost-saving options are being explored. The project’s 501(c)(3) filing has been submitted, and Stiffler said she expects the public will hear more by spring as plans progress.

County: connecting residents to resources, one conversation at a time

Cara Conaway closed by reinforcing the Department of Aging’s role as a connector for the community — from Medicare and Medicaid guidance to broader resource navigation.She introduced team members in the room, encouraged attendees to take information back to neighbors and families, and emphasized that word of mouth remains one of the fastest ways to connect people with help.

The next Community Collaboration Series session was announced for February 19 (Thursday) at 9:30 a.m., featuring Jeremy McDowell of Angel’s Home Care speaking on fall prevention.

The gathering ended with thanks, refreshments, and a brief reminder to be careful as the weather was drastically changing going into the weekend — a fitting close for a program built around community, preparation, and looking out for one another.

Dannielle Stiffler talks about the many ways that they help veterans with a variety of needs including help with mortgages, utilities, groceries, and car repairs.Special challenge coins have been made by KS4Vets.

Refreshments were offered to everyone who attended. 



Cara Conaway, Reno County Dept of Aging, thanks everyone for coming and said that the next Community Collaboration Series session will be February 19 (Thursday) at 9:30 a.m., featuring Jeremy McDowell of Angel’s Home Care speaking on fall prevention.