When Episcopal Community Services held an event marking the 10th anniversary of the current location of ECS St. Barnabas Mission, the celebration was about much more than bricks and mortar. Current and former staff, residents and alumni, volunteers, donors, government and non-profit partners and members of the community all came together, illustrating how the success of the shelter for homeless women and children depends on all of us.
“When I came here it was because we wanted to leave that dusty basement and this was my dream come true,” said Helen Allen, the retired former manager of the Mission. “All the things that are accomplished here are all thought out deeply, planned, and executed. The mothers always had their individual service plans so once we had that taken care of we could really focus on the children.”
The Mission was founded over 25 years ago, when St. Barnabas Episcopal Church opened its unused classroom space to answer the needs of Philadelphia’s growing homeless population. As the years went on, however, the space became inadequate. About a year after St. Barnabas Mission merged with ECS, the new building opened its doors.
“I remember being an analyst, coming to the old location and being very upset that the building was not in the best condition,” said Leticia Egea Hinton of the Philadelphia Office of Supportive Housing. “In the midst of that ECS was saying to me, ‘we’re going to fix this,’ and they did. The only time I get involved now is when something doesn’t work, so I haven’t been here in a long time. It’s been wonderful to see how they have evolved and all the services that have been wrapped around this program.”
Both US Representative Chakka Fattah and Mayor Michael Nutter sent official proclamations, and Joe Willard of People’s Emergency Center, a non-profit partner of ECS, presented ECS with a framed photograph taken in West Philadelphia. All will be displayed at the shelter for years to come.
