City Mission welcomes a ‘new era’ in wake of fire
A former resident and now an employee of City Mission, Peter K, addresses the crowd during ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the mission Wednesday.
Work continues under the church portion of City Mission in Washington.
A view of the new kitchen in the lower portion of the new men’s shelter at the City Mission
Jerry Oxford, left, director of mission initiatives for the City Mission, leads a tour group through the lobby of new men’s residence Wednesday.
Congressman Tim Murphy, right, looks over one of three lunch areas in the new men’s shelter at the City Mission.
One of the many men’s dorms in the new section of City Mission
Elected officials and community dignitaries gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside City Mission Wednesday morning to the symphony of power saws and hammering. Speeches were given and Scripture was recited, but construction didn’t cease, in order to stay on track with phase two of rebuilding.
“We know that it’s not about the building, it’s about what goes on inside,” said Dean Gartland, mission president and CEO. “To be able to do our work, we do need facilities. What the building was like before – we did not complain. We were very grateful. But it’s now time to move on to a new era of the City Mission.”
A fire that originated in the kitchen June 9, 2015, provided the impetus for renovating the homeless shelter and rehabilitation center at 84 W. Wheeling St. in Washington.
Phase one included dormitories for male residents, and kitchen and dining facilities. The next phase, expected to be complete by the end of this year, includes renovations of the old church building into a veterans shelter, computer labs, meeting rooms and classrooms, offices and Avis Arbor, a shelter for women and children.
The cost for the entire project is around $3 million, partially funded by a $1.5 million Federal Home Loan Bank grant.
A tour of the completed portion started in the entry, where a locked door separates the emergency shelter area from the regular population. A security officer who has access to cameras throughout the structure is posted there. The next section of the building includes living quarters for men, including entertainment areas, kitchenettes, laundry facilities and elevators, and a state-of-the art kitchen and dining area that can be partitioned into three segments.
The mission assists almost 600 men, women and children every year with shelter and rehabilitation. Every day, 300 meals are served to those who are in need.
Gartland has repeatedly praised the community for the support that poured in after the fire. He said that in the days following the catastrophe, he was uncertain what the future held for the nonprofit.
“And here we are after much planning and deliberating,” he said Wednesday. “The City of Washington has been outstanding.”
For more information, visit www.citymission.org.