Salvation Army to hold open house for new community center renovations

PETOSKEY — The Salvation Army of Petoskey has acquired a building for their new community center.

The organization will be taking over 2350 Mitchell Park Dr. from the Red Cross, who relocated to Traverse City.

Salvation Army officials said the building is 35 years old and in need of repairs before it can open. The estimated cost is $1.2 million and the Salvation Army is hoping to have it open by spring.

The current community building at 712 Pleasant St. in Petoskey has been occupied by the Salvation Army for 25 years. According to director of community resource development Amy Evans, the size and layout of the Pleasant Street building has restricted the organization’s ability to grow.

She said the building does not meet the accessibility needs of many volunteers and community members who look to the organization for resources.

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“We've outgrown it in both space and, I guess, feasibility. It’s not barrier free, so if we have any kids that have mobility challenges, or we see a lot of seniors that have mobility challenges. We can’t get them into our upstairs program, where the kids are. Our pantry is downstairs and all of our volunteers are (age 50 or older),” Evans said.

The building doesn’t have a loading dock for bringing supplies into the food pantry, a green space for outdoor activities or a kitchen with commercial equipment for preparing community dinners.

More:Salvation Army unveils plans for Petoskey’s new Community Center

With the new center, the Salvation Army hopes to expand their child care programs, transportation, food pantry and other programs.

An open house will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Mitchell Park Drive location. The public is encouraged to tour the facility and examine blueprints on display demonstrating the projected renovation projects, which include commercial kitchen features and a new playground.

The open house will include activities for kids, food, music played by Tim Nixon of Lite 96.3, prizes and more. Prizes will be drawn all day and include gift cards from Walmart, J.W. Filmore’s and a new electric EGO Leaf Blower from Meyer Ace.

A mini thrift shop will be open and bubble tea and frozen yogurt will be available for purchase. From 4-6 p.m., attendees will be able to purchase a pie for $2 to throw in the face of community leaders like Mayor John Murphy, Pastor Envoy Greg Irwin, Petoskey Middle School Principal Jon Wilcox, St. Michael Academy Headmaster Andy Moe, Northern Knights President “Murph,” EMS director Brian Patten and Michigan Community Service State Trooper Corey Hebner.

— Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @Tess_Petoskey.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Salvation Army to reveal plans for new community center at open house