Small Nonprofit Makes BIG Move
On April 1st, Center for Healing & Hope will move from their humble digs in the basement of the Plymouth United Church of Christ to a modern medical building they can call their own. Having provided medical and advocacy services for the uninsured, vulnerable, and underserved neighbors in the community since 1999, this will be the first time Center for Healing & Hope will occupy its own space. The fact that the new location was previously used by Goshen Health as a medical office provides an added layer of turnkey readiness CHH is excited to embrace. The roughly 6,000 sq. foot multi-level brick building, located at 400 W Lincoln Ave in Goshen, is on a main thoroughfare with a bus stop, dedicated parking, bike rack, large waiting room, and will increase the Center’s care capacity from four exam rooms to nine exam rooms with updated technology and amenities.
CHH medical director Michelle Shelly explains what the move means for the clinic. “The opportunity to provide medical care in a space designed for that purpose brings tremendous advantages for staff (such as having sinks to wash our hands!). For our patients, the professional quality of the physical facility will now match the high quality of the services they are receiving.”
Acquiring the building is not something that happened overnight. A fundraising campaign last fall generated the capital to make such a move. Through grants and generous donor contributions from churches, businesses, and individuals, Center for Healing & Hope was able to raise the capital needed to cover lease payments for three years while further fundraising and legwork is ongoing with a goal to purchase the building in 2024. A corps of volunteers have also stepped up to help with painting, moving and landscaping at the new building, and at Plymouth United Church of Christ.
“First and foremost we extend our sincerest gratitude to the Plymouth United Church of Christ for being gracious hosts for the past 10 years and partnering with us to carry out our mission. We also understand none of this would have been possible without the generosity of those who chose to support our mission with gifts of prayer, time, talent, and treasure,” said Missy Schrock, executive director at Center for Healing & Hope. Having taken on the position of executive director in the early stages of the pandemic, she said the outpouring of support from the community to help those most in need was truly a blessing that can only be explained through Goshen’s track record of supporting local businesses and nonprofits. “For all of the gifts we receive at Center for Healing & Hope, we say ‘Thank you’ for trusting us with your investment in our mission. We are humbled and grateful.”
A reopen date is slated for April 12th at the new location. An Open House is planned for April 17th from 1pm-4pm for anyone wishing to get an up close look at the new building and learn more about Center for Healing & Hope’s services. Follow them on Facebook @CenterForHealingHope or their Spanish Facebook page @ElCentroDeSaludyEsperanza for details. To learn more about CHH’s services, including immigrant advocacy programs, and how to contribute to, please visit chhclinics.org.
Center for Healing & Hope’s Mission and Vision:
Our mission to care for uninsured, vulnerable and underserved neighbors in our communities has shaped our work since we began in 1999. The Center for Healing & Hope provides medical and advocacy services in a Christ-like manner to meet people’s needs in our community. We are a welcoming place for affordable health care and immigrant services, engaging volunteers and community partners to promote the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of those we serve.
