Jun 22, 2018 3 min read

DONORA – Chantal Bey believes that change begins by empowering her Mon Valley community and giving hope.

A few years ago, fate intervened when the Donora resident became a stay-at-home mom. During a conversation, Bey found the Mon Valley community had many children and families in need, yet there were not many programs to fill the void.

“Many of these kids didn’t have everyday essentials or enough food to eat. I felt called to do something. It was like God was talking in my ear,” said Bey.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Bey was amazed there weren’t more resources available in this area. She decided to change that and for the past three years, has run a community outreach center in the Highland Terrace housing project in Donora called the Strive and Thrive Center of Hope. The center provides a summer lunch program and other activities for the community, but Bey wanted more room to help more people.

“I am very thankful for Highland Terrace giving us this opportunity, but I feel the need to reach more of the community. My goal is to have a center in both ends of the community to reach the communities of Monessen and the Highland site and to go all the way to Finleyville at our new site.”

When a former day care center became available for rent on Meldon Avenue in Donora, Bey decided to expand her efforts. Omar Bey, Chantal’s husband, did much of the construction upgrades to the facility.

Plans for the center encompass all ages and the Ringgold School District community and beyond. The center runs as an arm of the Beys’ nonprofit Strive for a Better Tomorrow organization, and the Beys not only put in hours of sweat equity, but used their own funds to help get the place up and running.They rely on donations to keep their efforts going.

The new site, which opens Sunday, has a learning center, full-service kitchen and recreation room. In addition to providing the summer lunch program, the center will provide enrichment classes for children.

“It is documented fact that students don’t retain all that they have learned over the summer,” she said. “We are planning STEM learning, spelling bees, arts and crafts and other learning activities.”

Bey said she hopes that center can give children and adults a sense of achievement and growth. “In the past activities we have done, the children see and say ‘Look at what I did and I accomplished.’ That feeling tends to grow and multiply.”

She added she wants the center to encompass the entire community. “This center is a diversified community outreach center. It will offer programs to meet community needs. There will be adult enrichment classes, movie nights and building rentals. The center will also be participating in the state older worker program.

Bey said she couldn’t have accomplished her goal without the generosity of the Ringgold School District and the LeMoyne Community Center in Washington for their support for the summer lunch program.

The second site of the Strive & Thrive Center of Hope will hold its grand opening from 1:15 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The center is located at 780 Meldon Ave., Donora.