F.I.R.S.T. Tuesdays

Awareness Into Action:
October F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday

A morning that put early detection within reach.

Thank you for showing up for your health, and for each other.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday was about more than wearing pink. It was about what happens when neighbors have the facts, a place to ask questions and someone ready to help them take the next step.

Our team spent the morning talking with neighbors about breast health: knowing your risk factors, knowing what's normal for you, and knowing when to follow up. Those conversations matter. When breast cancer is found early, there are more options and better outcomes, and the first step is often as simple as asking a question you've been putting off.

Around those conversations, the morning looked the way F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday always does. The Mobile Health Clinic was open at our KCK location for free preventive screenings. Church of the Resurrection's Mobile Food Pantry sent families home with groceries and pantry staples. Community Impact Church and First Baptist Church of Basehor served a free lunch and prayed with anyone who wanted it. And our partners were on hand to connect neighbors to coverage, medication help and family resources, all in one stop.

If you couldn't make it, the most important part is still yours. Our Breast Health Guide covers risk factors, screening guidance and where to find care close to home. Keep it, share it with the women in your life, and come back to it.

That's F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday: Food, Information, Resources, Screenings, and Truth, free and all in one place, the first Tuesday of every month. If you've never been, November is your morning. Bring a friend, bring your family, and see for yourself.

Next Up: November F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday
Harvest of Hope

Tuesday, Nov. 3 · 10am to 11:30am
721 N. 31st Street, Kansas City, KS
First come, first served. While supplies last.

November is American Diabetes Month, and Harvest of Hope brings food support and health education together. Screenings and one-on-one guidance will focus on blood sugar management and diabetes prevention, so your family can head into the holiday season with choices that support steady glucose levels and overall wellness.

2026 F.I.R.S.T. Tuesdays Schedule

Each F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday integrates Food, Information, Resources, Screenings, and Truth into one coordinated community health initiative. Monthly focus areas align with nationally recognized health observances to ensure relevance, prevention, and long-term impact for Kansas City families.

December 1
Winter Wellness and Flu Prevention

National Influenza Vaccination Awareness Month

December focuses on protecting families during the winter months through flu prevention education and general wellness. Screenings and conversations will highlight respiratory health and strategies to reduce seasonal illness.

November 3
Harvest of Hope

American Diabetes Month

November integrates food support with education on blood sugar management and diabetes prevention. Screenings and guidance will help families navigate the holiday season with informed choices that support stable glucose levels and overall wellness.

Past Resources.

Explore previous monthly health topics and download resources.

Women choose clothing and receive free goodie bags at Mercy & Truth's F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday event in Kansas City, KS, during Stress Awareness Month.
A Mercy & Truth Community Health Worker talks with a neighbor outside the Mobile Health Clinic at May's F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday women's health event.

April 2026
Stress Awareness

May 2026
Women’s Health

May centered on women's preventive health, with screenings and education focused on cardiovascular health, emotional well-being and routine preventive care. The month honored the caregivers in our community while encouraging the women who care for everyone else to prioritize their own health first.

April focused on the impact of stress on physical and mental health. Resources highlighted the connection between chronic stress and conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and depression, along with practical strategies to build healthier coping habits and protect long term wellbeing.

June focused on the health of men and the conditions that affect them most. Resources highlighted why men are less likely to seek preventive care, along with the leading concerns like heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes that are often preventable or manageable when caught early.

July centered on mental and emotional wellness in recognition of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Resources highlighted the barriers that can keep neighbors from seeking support, like cost, language and stigma, along with reminders that caring for your mind matters as much as caring for your body.

September focused on cholesterol in recognition of National Cholesterol Education Month. Resources covered the basics of understanding HDL and LDL, along with practical steps like eating smart, moving more and knowing your fats, because small, steady choices are what actually keep cholesterol numbers in a healthy range.

September focused on cholesterol in recognition of National Cholesterol Education Month. Resources covered the basics of understanding HDL and LDL, along with practical steps like eating smart, moving more and knowing your fats, because small, steady choices are what actually keep cholesterol numbers in a healthy range.

A Community Health Worker checks a man's vitals at the Mobile Health Clinic while neighbors carry free supply bags at June's F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday.

June 2026
Men's Health

August focused on personal hygiene as families headed back to school. Resources covered the everyday basics that protect health, like handwashing, oral care and skin care, along with supplies to take home, because these habits are easier to keep when the things you need are already sitting on the shelf.

August 2026
Personal Hygiene

Neighbors join F.I.R.S.T. Tuesday in June to learn more about Men's Health, and to check out our Mobile Health Clinic at our KCK location.

July 2026
Mental Health

September 2026
Cholesterol

October 2026
Cholesterol

Mercy & Truth
721 N. 31st St.
Kansas City, KS

FREE! But always first come, first served and while supplies last.

First Tuesday
of Every Month
10 - 11:30 a.m.*

Serving the
greater Kansas City metro.

Food.
Information.
Resources.
Screenings.
Truth.

At Mercy & Truth, we believe Life-Changing Care should be accessible, preventive, and consistent.

That is why we launched F.I.R.S.T. Tuesdays, a monthly outreach initiative serving individuals and families across Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County.

F.I.R.S.T. is more than a name. It reflects the structure of each.

On the first Tuesday of every month, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at our Kansas City, KS location, we bring these five elements together in one place to reduce barriers and increase access to care.

This is practical support combined with preventive healthcare.

What You Can Expect

Why F.I.R.S.T. Tuesdays
Matter

Wyandotte County continues to face challenges in food security, chronic disease, and access to preventive care.

F.I.R.S.T. Tuesdays reduces barriers by integrating Food, Information, Resources, Screenings, and Truth into one consistent monthly event. Life-Changing Care begins with accessibility, education, and trusted relationships.

Mercy & Truth Launches FIRST Tuesday Initiative

Get Involved.

Mercy & Truth welcomes:

  • Community health partners

  • Food distribution partners

  • Volunteers

  • Organizations serving Kansas City families

Contact us to learn more about partnerships and volunteering.

Join Us.

Pick up groceries. Check your numbers. Connect with care.