Blog
NMI Spotlight: Della Lamb
Inspiring a Kinder Kansas City
by Catey Miller
Della Lamb Community Services has been living out its mission of “inspiring a kinder Kansas City” since 1987, when it was founded by a group of Methodist women. Today, Della Lamb carries on those women’s legacy as a National Mission Institution in relationship with United Women in Faith. With its network of services that focus on early education, youth programming, and refugee resettlement, Della Lamb serves more than 1,500 low-income or otherwise vulnerable families in Kansas City, Missouri.
The ties between Della Lamb and The United Methodist Church remain strong. In June 2025, Executive Director Ryan Hudnall spoke at the Missouri Conference’s annual gathering, strengthening the relationship between UMC leaders and Della Lamb. The organization also reports a significant increase in United Women in Faith volunteer engagement in 2025.
Stand With Refugees
Della Lamb’s community engagement and faith-based partnership efforts are directly supported by grant funding from United Women in Faith. One result of this funding is the 2025 launch of the Stand With Refugees campaign. According to Development Director Kate Kershaw, this campaign “created new pathways for faith communities to learn about refugee resettlement, advocate for welcoming policies, and engage directly through volunteering and community support.” The timing of this campaign is significant, launching in the context of federal funding cuts to refugee efforts leaving thousands of newly arrived families at risk of losing vital support services. The Stand With Refugees campaign is one example of how Della Lamb is working to keep its services going despite this drop in funding, and it continues to grow in 2026 with a focus on additional partnerships with local faith congregations.
Another recent example of Della Lamb’s good work is the Succes family. The Succeses traveled from their native Haiti to Brazil, where they waited more than a decade for their application for asylum in the U.S. to be approved. Despite a long and dangerous journey that involved traveling mostly on foot and encountering challenges from heat exhaustion to kidnapping, the Succes parents were determined to give their children a life of safety and opportunity. After finally arriving at the U.S. border, the Succeses made their way to Kansas City, where a family member connected them with Della Lamb for housing support and resettlement resources. Today, both parents are employed in Kansas City, and their youngest child attends Della Lamb’s early childhood program.
With your support, NMIs like Della Lamb can continue showing up for their communities in bold, practical ways. Kershaw writes, “Through intentional community engagement, Della Lamb creates opportunities for volunteers, faith communities, and local partners to assist our families in respectful and dignified ways. These interactions help challenge stereotypes about immigrants and communities of color residing in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast and other marginalized areas. By fostering understanding and relationships across communities, we work to counter harmful narratives and support a more welcoming and just city for all.”
Our members help make these organizations unstoppable. We invite you to support the work of our National Mission Institutions by giving online here or by writing a check to your local treasurer with memo “National Missions #3001152.” To learn more about National Mission Institutions, contact NMI@uwfaith.org.
Catey Miller is a communications consultant with National Mission Institutions at United Women in Faith.
