Volland Foundation

Goal: $25,000.00

Specific Need

In June of 2015, The Volland Store re-opened as a Place for Art and Community after sitting vacant for forty years. The Store’s roof had leaked for quite some time before it finally fell in, and the interior was in complete ruin. Nevertheless, the walls were strong, and an entire renovation brought the Store back to life.

Eleven years later (last month), big winds and multiple inches of driving rain (twice in the same week) found every tiny chink in the mortar and introduced leaks into the west wall of the building. We are determined not to let the elements win this time. The history of the Store and Volland are too important to lose.

The west wall of the brick building is in need of new tuckpointing. As you can imagine, this won't be inexpensive, and it must be done right to provide protection from future storms. With your help, the building can be made watertight for another hundred years.

We invite you to play an important role in preserving the historic Volland Store, and with it, the history of Volland. We would be most grateful for your consideration.

To learn more about the rich history of Volland, scroll down and click on the green button.

Mission

Volland: A Place for Art and Community

In the heart of the Flint Hills, where the tallgrass prairie stretches to the horizon, the Volland Foundation has become a rare kind of gathering place — one that brings people together across backgrounds, geographies, and interests. Volland is grounded in history, shaped by creativity, and guided by a gentle agenda: to nourish the human spirit, build community, and support artists with the gift of time and space.

Profile

The Volland Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit with a board of directors and an advisory council. Since 2015, Volland has restored historic buildings, reopened the brick Kratzer Bros. Mercantile (a Kansas Historic Site), activated a 1920s kit house, created an outdoor performance venue known as The Ruin, built a horse arena, and developed a Nature Trail and a sculpture park. Today, Volland serves thousands through exhibitions, performances, book talks, residencies, and community events. It is a place where creative ideas are realized and shared, and community thrives.

The wide variety of events contribute to a quality of life which encourages young people to stay or return and new people to move into the community. Visitors from across the state and the country make Volland an economic driver for Alma and Wabaunsee County at large. The history of place enriches the community and all who visit.

Partnerships and collaborations have played a major role in strengthening Volland through the years: The Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum, the Native Stone Scenic Byway, the Brandt House, USD 329 (Alicia Stott’s art class field trips and Superintendent Dr. Troy Pitsch), Emil’s Red Cow, a Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum, the Museum of Art+Light, the School of Architecture, Planning, and Design at K-State, fish scientists from universities across Kansas, US Fish & Wildlife, KS Ecological Services, UMKC Conservatory, Kemper Family Foundation, Chapman Center for Rural Studies, The Nature Conservancy (Kansas), Symphony in the Flint Hills, Pioneer Bluffs, and numerous artists, authors, and curators.

The gifts of donors have helped make this possible, and, truly, we could not have done it without them. The Kansas Arts Commission has been consistently supportive, as has Humanities Kansas and many kind and generous individuals.

This is our first Alma Area Match Day, and we feel privileged to be part of a community that has so many worthy organizations doing such good work. You have many excellent choices for your philanthropy.

Making a gift to the Volland Foundation will help preserve the historic mercantile of Volland, once again the heartbeat of a thriving community. We greatly appreciate your consideration!

Are you curious about the history of Volland? Click here!