By Mandy Gambrell
While it’s often the holidays that spur people to increase their giving to those in need, there’s a place in Hamilton that’s serving them all year long.
Founded in the year 2000, Serve City provides free food, clothing and shelter to those who are homeless or hungry. It got its start in the basement of a church.
Executive Director Linda Kimble says Serve City and its shelter, Chosen, stay in operation because of the support of many people, mostly in the faith community. It’s located at 622 East Ave. on the city’s east side.
“Our purpose and passion are two-fold — to serve the community with free food, clothing and shelter and to help equip the faith community to be the hands and feet of Christ,” Kimble said. “We are supported by the City of Hamilton, the State of Ohio, over 70 area churches and United Way.”
Serve City serves nearly 600 families a month … there is a huge need for help in the city. But Kimble says Serve City has a big need, too: Volunteers and donations.
“Our largest needs are volunteers for the food pantry, donations of nonperishable food and monetary donations,” she said.
Chosen houses up to 125 people coming out of homelessness, Kimble said.
“We have helped countless people move from homelessness to stable employment and housing,” she said.
Kimble is often present at the pantry and the shelter, having been the executive director since Serve City opened.
Overall, more than 20,000 people have been helped through the ministry. In the year 2018, there were 450 people who stayed there.
Serve City officials say it costs $13 per day to care for a person there, providing clothes, shelter, case management and referrals for homeless individuals.
The apartments Serve City operates to help folks transition out of homelessness have strict guidelines in order to ensure a steady path is taken. One of the facilities, Shekinah Place, requires residents to do community service. It’s a resident-managed apartment complex that means those who live there develop a sense of ownership. They even have a say in who moves in.
Hamiltonians and others in the region who want to support Serve City and Chosen may find out more about it at servecitychosen.org. The biggest needs for item donations are laundry detergent, socks, toilet paper and deodorant.
Serve City Chosen is always looking for groups of folks to prepare lunch and provide dinners at the homeless shelter.
HOW TO HELP
What: Serve City & Chosen
Where: 622 East Ave., Hamilton
Phone: (513) 737-9701
Office hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday