By Payton Tholstrup

The Kansas PRIDE program (administered by K-State Research and Extension) recently rebranded and changed its name to The Kansas Community Empowerment Program (KCE). Because of this, Wakefield PRIDE will now be known as Wakefield Community Empowerment.

Created in 1970, KCE assists local governments and volunteers in growing and supporting community improvement efforts. Partners of KCE include Kansas Research and Extension, the Kansas Masons, and the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Through the program, community volunteers can come together, using resources from K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Commerce, to create a positive future for their community.

Wakefield Community Empowerment works on many projects throughout the year. Currently, they are working on the community Angel Tree and the Giving Tree. The Angel Tree is for ages 0-18, while the Giving Tree is for residents at Wakefield Care and Rehabilitation Nursing Home. The group will ensure that each family signed up for the Angel Tree receives groceries through the Wakefield Food Pantry so they can have a holiday dinner.

Betsy Liebau, Wakefield Community Empowerment President, said that Wakefield has been part of the program for several decades. “Our goal is to work together to strengthen and grow our community.”