BACK
1970'S - DECADE OF INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP
In 1972, Robin E. Velte became the Executive Director of United Methodist Community House. Beginning at this time, the United Methodist Community House became increasingly involved in federal funding.
Child care continues as a premier program
This long term, ongoing program was probably best known in our community. The main focus was to provide affordable, quality childcare for working poor families. The quality of the care provided was exceptional, with small group size and low teacher to child ratio, usually 1:6, far exceeding licensing standards.
Marian Anderberg, long time Child Care Director, retired in the mid 1970s. Over the next 20 years, several different directors brought their different skills and talents into the Community House Child Care Program.
School-aged children and youth
Over the years, staffing for the youth program has been quite varied and often limited. In the mid-1970s, continuing through the early 1980s, CETA staff were very important to the program.
In 1979, the first, full-time youth director was hired to coordinate all youth activities, as well as provide direct service to youth. This focused attention had a major, positive impact on the program.
First in providing meals to seniors
In 1972, Community House began serving meals to seniors at the center. Created in response to the needs of our immediate neighborhood, this program was the first of its kind in Grand Rapids. Initially, the emphasis was on serving as many as 120 daily, hot noon meals at “the Methodist.” Between 20-30 meals a day were also delivered to homebound individuals. In 1979, service at the Center was extended to include breakfast for approximately 25 of the neediest seniors.
The Senior Meals Program was launched with private funds before government funding became available. In 1975, with the Older Americans Act, the UMCH Senior Meal Program became part of the federal network of senior citizen meals programs. Early in the program, Peggy Burns became Senior Program Director and was very important in the development of this and other senior programs. She continued with Community House for 13 years.
Two vans were purchased in 1973 and 1976 to meet the expanding need for transportation connected with UMCH programming.
In 1975, the Senior Choir was organized, providing an avenue for the participants to share their heartfelt, lively gospel music with our extended community.
1978 saw the expansion of health and advocate services. An eye clinic was begun at UMCH twice a week. In addition, a visiting nurse program started twice a month for individual health screening, consultation, referral and follow-ups. Other services included casework services to help with personal problems and concerns.
General offerings to seniors expanded to include adult basic education classes and leisure time classes of ceramics, painting, sewing, etc., as well as field trips, picnics, color tours, movies, dinner out and other fun, social activities.
Leadership in neighborhood development
Vivian Lewis, Program Director, guided a renewed focus on community organization.
Two VISTA workers spent over a year surveying the neighborhood and identifying developing program needs. Federal funds also provided Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) staff.
The Community Ombudsman Program, begun through the Fund of Reconcilement of the United Methodist Church, received two years of funding from the federal Model Cities program.
Community House’s goal was to help create viable neighborhood organizations that would ultimately become independent from UMCH. Twenty-two block clubs were organized and provided staff assistance. In 1979, the elimination of three of the four CETA workers greatly curtailed Community House’s work with the blocks.
In 1976, Conference United Methodist Women purchased a lot on an adjoining property for future expansion.