On a mission to rebuild
The demolition, reconstruction and partial renovation of the Washington City Mission will start today, with all work expected to be completed by March 2018.
“The timeline we’re working with is to have the men’s shelter – the top floor – connecting to the church and finished by August 2017, and have the men moved in and sleeping in one of the 96 beds there,” said Dr. Sally Mounts, development director. The shelter and dining hall will be constructed in what was formerly the donation and recycling center. The work will be done in phases.
The kitchen and dining hall on the first floor will be completed by December 2017 and work on the chapel will begin in March and be completed by March 2018, she explained. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. Friday.
Nearly 60 homeless men were displaced from the shelter at 84 W. Wheeling St. after a four-alarm fire ravaged the building June 9. They are now being temporarily housed in trailer units on a site adjacent to Hidden Treasures thrift store in Washington.
To allow the $3.4 million project by Nello Construction to begin, the mission’s donation center at the rear of the building has been relocated.
“Donations can be dropped off at our four Hidden Treasures thrift stores in Monongahela, Canonsburg, Belle Vernon and the newer Washington location at the corner of Washington and Beau streets,” Mounts said.
“We just want to make sure people are donating usable items because a crush of supposed donations we’ve been receiving just end in the trash,” said Chief Executive Officer Dean Gartland. “They can’t be used or distributed.”
While the mission continues to accept used electronics, it has suspended accepting TVs. Most people are donating larger, non-LED models that are more difficult to sell and recycle, Mounts said. In addition, because the donation centers are now at the thrift stores, the TVs would take up valuable space.
“We recycle everything. So even if we get torn or stained clothing, we can reuse those items. But we obviously prefer, and can use more effectively, clothing and items people know to be usable,” Mounts said. “We’re always looking for playpens, strollers, walkers, good electronics and gently used furniture, which can either be used or sold at our stores.”
Mounts credited community members for their support of the mission since the fire.
“They’ve shown up with fully prepared meals, pallets of water, offering to volunteer,” she said. “We appreciate the enormous generosity of individuals, business and churches in this area. It’s truly a special place to live in.”