Degage Ministries
Degage Ministries mission statement is "to reflect the love of Christ to the poor and dispossessed in the Heartside neighborhood by providing a safe harbor where friendships are formed and community begins."
Description:
Degage Ministries is a four story ministry. A dining room is found street-level. This dining room is a welcoming environment to anyone who wishes to come. Three meals a day are provided at-cost. Purchasing food for a fee provides dignity and self-worth. There is a food for work program for those who wish to earn vouchers or bus tickets.
The Life Enrichment Center is located on the second floor. This center is more program oriented and provides services such as a mailing address, voice mail, referral service, hygiene services (showers and laundry), a hair salon, personal care product distribution, locker rental, substance abuse support, group therapy, pet therapy, a music program, speakers, and a mentoring program.
The health and fitness program is facilitated on the third floor in the gym. The food pantry is located on the fourth floor. It is a Key Pantry Partner through ACCESS. Run as a co-op those who shop in the pantry choose what will be in it, stock the shelfs and keep it clean. The food pantry is set up with aisles so that people can choose what they want rather than having it handed to them.
Wednesday through Sunday from 9pm-9am, the Open Door Women's Drop-In Center is a safe haven for women in crisis. Staff is available for counseling, referrals
and support.
History:
Degage Ministries was founded in 1967 by then-Captain Eric Britcher of the Salvation Army, and the-college student Rich Begelow. Degage was, at that time, a coffee house ministry to college students. It was housed in the basement of the Salvation Army, and it was only expected to be in existence for a few years.
Not five years after it began as a ministry, Degage moved to the second floor of the old Zondervan building on South Division. At that time, suburbs were on the rise, and our neighborhood lost many of its resources. Degage Ministries then began to focus its ministry on the surrounding neighborhood. Our beginnings offer a unique ministry focus for our current populations, and this focus has been extremely effective in individual lives. Both of our founders continue to be actively involved in our ministry today, and Eric Britcher is on our Board of Directors.
Degage Ministries has been in its current location at the corner of Division and Cherry for over eight years now. That move has allowed us to dramatically expand programming and impact here in the heart of Grand Rapids.
Contact person: Bradi Fitzpatrick, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (616) 459-7200
Address:
 |
144 S. DivisionGrand Rapids, MI 49503(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.degageministries.org
Directions:
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From I-96:
Take the 131 South exit.
Take the Wealthy exit.
At the light at the end of the ramp turn left. Proceed to Division. At Division turn left. The next major intersection is Cherry and Division. Degage is located on the Northeast corner of the intersection. On the Southeast corner is a blue Goodwill. On the Southwest corner is a gravel parking lot available for free parking. |
| Last updated on October 30, 2009 |
