Volunteers vital to Alpha Community Center’s success

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SIDNEY — The Alpha Community Center spent 2016 with continued emphasis on financial viability.

“Quality programs and consistent marketing strategies designed to increase our name recognition throughout the community remain in place,” said Jan Geuy, executive director. “Again this year, we prioritized our Holiday Campaign as our primary annual fundraiser. “

Her reprot continues:

In 2016, our marketing/public relations strategy continued to focus on financial viability and staying involved with important community issues that affect our clients and at risk families. In December the Alpha Community Center assumed a new role as location for the community’s Warming Center. The Warming Center provides warm shelter for the night as well as a meal, and breakfast the following morning. Volunteers man the Center, providing supervision and safety for those sheltered. Our volunteers remain crucial to providing the services we offer, giving over 6100 hours annually. The Alpha Community Center has flourished in 2016, expanding with the purchase of the property surrounding us to the east. Blessed with adequate resources, we are able to continue the programs and services so critical to the well being of those we serve.

The Alpha Center serves the community in four main ways: served meals, emergency pantry, children’s programming and emergency rent/utility payments. The community support of our meal program has been huge. I view it as one of the most vital services we offer. No other agency in Shelby County provides meal service at the level of the Alpha Center/Holy Angels Soup Kitchen. The Alpha Community Center continues to be blessed with amazing community partners. Honda of America, Emerson Climate Technologies, US Bancorp and the Community Foundation of Shelby County contribute generous grants, as well as Sidney First United Methodist, First Presbyterian, and many other churches and individuals.

With funds provided by the Shelby County United Way, we were again able to assist local families with rent and utility payments in 2016. For Christmas, our families received turkeys and other food and gift items, all donated by a generous community. During 2016, the emergency pantry assisted 639 households with canned goods, diapers, personal care items, blankets, hats, gloves and formula. The Alpha Community Center is a safe, clean environment for the children enrolled in our After School and Summer Programs. Our children, ages 6-17 years, enjoy supervised games, snacks, field trips, and Christian summer camp at Camp Union. The compassion of our donors that have a heart for the Alpha Center make our ministry possible, keeping it strong and community oriented.

In 2016 the Alpha Center Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Chairwoman Emily Neu, remained focused on financial stability and setting viable goals to move us forward into 2017. The Alpha Community Center Fund at the Community Foundation of Shelby County continues to offer emergency support for our operations while providing a foundation for economic growth. We intend to secure the Alpha Center’s financial future both through effective, successful fundraising and the prudent management of any cash reserves. Our Vision Committee will concentrate on establishing appropriate priorities, reevaluating strengths, and considering potential areas where services might expand. This process keeps us relevant, prepared, ready to accommodate increased demands, and current in pertinent policy. Our plan for 2017 continues to focus on the fundraising process, supporting those we serve, strengthening our community and implementing Board targeted goals, marketing and services.

Most of our programming focuses on basic physical needs, but equally important is the giving of knowledge, thereby, hope. The Alpha Community Center is positioned to remain a viable asset to this community. Our Board of Trustees remains dedicated to our successful operation. By offering basic services in unique ways, we live into our mission to teach, nourish and transform with solutions for today and hope for tomorrow.

Geuy
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/02/web1_GeuyJan_06.jpgGeuy

For the Sidney Daily News

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