Picking Up the Torch: CTGO’s Past and Future Come Together in Tennessee Town

Last week, the new Central Topeka Grocery Oasis (CTGO) Board gathered with members of the original board and neighbors from Central Topeka for a community potluck at Faith Temple Church in Tennessee Town, one of the nine core neighborhoods CTGO serves.

This gathering was more than a meal. It was a homecoming.

Faith Temple Church holds a special place in CTGO’s story. It was here that neighbors first came together years ago to talk about a shared problem: the closure of their local grocery store and the deep sense of loss that followed. What started as a simple meeting about food access quickly became a movement. Residents organized themselves to take on the challenge of building a grocery store for, and by, the community.

As stories were shared around the tables, the new CTGO Board listened closely to those who came before them. Former board members spoke about the early days: how they worked through setbacks, gathered community input, and kept hope alive even when the path forward wasn’t clear. They also shared about the impact that losing a grocery store had on daily life in Central Topeka, not only on where people shopped, but on how they connected. The grocery store had been more than a place to buy food; it was a gathering space, a source of pride, and a cornerstone of community identity.

The evening was uplifting for everyone.The original board members saw new energy and commitment rising to carry the mission forward. The new board members gained a deeper understanding of the history, determination, and spirit that built CTGO from the ground up.

As one person put it, it felt like passing a torch, or maybe a baton, across generations of community leadership.

With renewed perspective and inspiration, the CTGO Board is excited to continue this vital work: restoring food security, dignity, and connection in Central Topeka. Together, we honor the roots of this effort and look forward to what’s next for our neighborhoods.

A Brief History of CTGO

In 2016, the closure of a neighborhood grocery store left much of Central Topeka without easy access to fresh, affordable food. In 2018, neighbors met at Faith Temple Church to find a solution. From those meetings, Central Topeka Grocery Oasis (CTGO) was born, a community-driven effort to restore local food access and rebuild a sense of belonging. Read more here.

Our Core Neighborhoods

CTGO serves greater Central Topeka with a focus on these nine neighborhoods:

• Central Park

• Tennessee Town

• Ward-Meade

• Old Town

• East End

• Elmhurst

• Chesney Park

• Quinton Heights/Steele

• Historic Holiday Park

Together, these neighborhoods represent the heart of Topeka—diverse, resilient, and full of people working together for a stronger, healthier community.