Neighborhood Ministries marking 100th year with celebration

Staff report

Youngstown

In recognition of 100 years of service by Neighborhood Ministries, a dinner celebration is planned Oct. 4 at Archangel Michael Center, 401 12th St., Campbell.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children and are available by calling 330-755-8696. Ticket deadline is Sept. 16. Reservations are required; no tickets will be available at the door.

The featured speaker will be the Rev. A. Roy Medley, general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA.

Special guests will include people who have fond memories of their time participating in the ministry. Alumni association information also will be available.

Neighborhood Ministries began a century ago when the Rev. Robert Hughes offered Bible studies for immigrants who had come to the area to work in the steel mills. Many did not speak English, so the ministry included English classes. The ministry has changed significantly since that early beginning.

The ministry evolved over the years and became known as Bethel House I, Bethel House II, Neighborhood House, Campbell Christian Center, The Red Building and today as Neighborhood Ministries.

In 2013, four full-time and eight part-time staff, with the help of many volunteers, provide a variety of services and assistance at three locations. They are Kirwan Homes, which started in the 1960s; Rockford Village on the East side of Youngstown, which opened in 1984; and Westside Community Center, which began in February 2009 in the former Westside Baptist Church.

Programs have expanded to include after-school and summer programming for children, health screenings, weeklong Christian camp and a summer day camp, tutoring, food and clothing distributions, community events, family case management, community technology centers and VITA Tax Preparation.

Neighborhood Ministries also is a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program, providing meals to 19 sites last summer.