Rescue Mission's distribution center to close in December

By Kalea Hall

khall@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

After helping thousands, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley’s distribution center will soon come to an end.

The center at 2246 Glenwood Ave., which served as a warehouse on the city’s South Side, will close by Dec. 31 this year.

Jim Echement, the Rescue Mission’s executive director, said the closure was something that had to be done.

The location now will be used as an emergency shelter and for other mission recovery programs. A limited amount of resources, including a need for volunteers, led to the decision.

“It takes a lot of resources” to keep the distribution center open, Echement said.

The center has helped thousands since it was acquired by the mission in 1992. It was used to house clothing donations and household goods, which were distributed to the public.

The mission now will accept only nonperishable food, personal-hygiene items, plus blankets, pillows and sheets. Those donations can be dropped off at the Rescue Mission’s location at 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

“We can’t survive without those,” Echement said.

An increase in overnight guests and meals served to the community led the mission’s leaders to focus its resources on those needs.

On average, there are 130 guests staying overnight, up from 65 five years ago. The number of meals served each day has increased from 273 to 631.

“At this increased service level, our resources have been stretched, necessitating change,” according to a mission statement. “The mission must channel its resources toward the needs of our burgeoning overnight census: shelter, meals, educational, employment and recovery programs.”

All services will be operated from the shelter location on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The mission will partner with other area organizations that accept and distribute donations to provide those it helps with other resources.

“There’s plenty of opportunities in the Valley,” Echement said. “They will just have to go to a different address.”

Those in search of another distribution center can call 211, the help hot line.