Shalom Center celebrates 1 year in new building

Two hundred pairs of feet walk into the Shalom Community Center each day.

Shalom, a non-profit resource center that provides daytime shelter and social services to the poor and homeless, celebrated its first anniversary at its new 620 S. Walnut St. location Aug. 16.

“We had a nice crowd,” said Rev. Forrest Gilmore, executive director. “I felt very spirited and positive.”

The event was open to the community and included tours of the building, as well as thanks to the supporters of Shalom.

“We’re here because of the miracle of so many people coming together...to offer their time and money to make our new home possible,” Patty Andrews, vice president of the board of directors, wrote in a press release.

At the anniversary celebration, Gilmore announced the future vision for Shalom, which would involve partnership with other sheltering agencies. He said it will also offer social services, such as employment assistance and addiction support.

“We hope to cooperate with other social service agencies to make a more complete outreach,” said Joe Emerson, president of the board. “We are [also] in the process of having more rooms that will allow us to do some educational programs.”

When Shalom opened on Jan. 24, 2000, its services were split between First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church and Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington. Services like laundry, phones and case workers were housed in church basements.

Now, all the components of Shalom are at one address.

“We’re all located in one building, so our services can interact more easily,” Gilmore said.  “We’ve expanded our services since we’ve moved.”

The new building also enabled Shalom to serve as an emergency overnight shelter for a week in April after a winter shelter closed and before a summer shelter opened, displacing about 50 people.

“Somewhere in the range of 50 people suddenly were on the street and in need of an overnight shelter,” Gilmore said. “We very quickly managed to open up our doors for that week gap.”

During the course of the next year, Shalom will continue to expand its mission as a safe, welcoming daytime resource center for the homeless and ill.

The center opens its doors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for people who need daytime shelter or need to sleep during the day. It also offers breakfast, lunch and social services to help residents with counseling and transportation to job interviews.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our supporters,” Gilmore added. “We’re looking forward to the future.”