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Peabody House looks to expand services
A dog's never too old to learn new tricks, or a
community agency to alter its course. The almost 115-year-old Elizabeth
Peabody House plans to expand the safety net for Somerville families
and launch a capital campaign this summer.
The agency reviewed upcoming changes at an open meeting Jan. 20. EPH was founded in 1896 in Boston and relocated to Somerville in 1956, according to its website.
Services are currently a food pantry, a summer camp, early childhood education, and an after-school program for 5- to 13-year-olds. But people come in "probably on a daily basis" wanting help on everything from housing to college scholarships and language classes, said executive director Selvin Chambers in an interview.
The food pantry serves over 425 people per month, Chambers said; the youth programs have a capacity of roughly 22 toddlers, 45 preschoolers, 65 grade-school students, and 100 summer campers.
In the last year, the agency kicked off a new three-year organizational plan and revised its mission statement, said new outreach coordinator Paul Kuhne.
The strategy is two-pronged: To expand the agency's own services and improve referrals elsewhere, so the agency is seen as "a safe, reliable destination for families," Chambers said.
Kuhne made connections with other agencies and compiled a resource guide "so when we make direct referrals it's not a cold call," Chambers said. In return, EPH has invited community groups to use its space; 2010 saw the renovation of a theater into a multipurpose room that's been used for English classes and meetings.
Of course, change requires cash. The capital campaign's dollar amount isn't set yet, Chambers said, and awaits the hiring of a development director. The big-ticket items are to renovate a space currently used for storage, open a community computer lab, and create programming for teens.
In the end, the idea is to enhance opportunities in Somerville, not duplicate what other agencies offer, Chambers said, "This is not about competition."
Learn more at elizabethpeabodyhouse.org.
The agency reviewed upcoming changes at an open meeting Jan. 20. EPH was founded in 1896 in Boston and relocated to Somerville in 1956, according to its website.
Services are currently a food pantry, a summer camp, early childhood education, and an after-school program for 5- to 13-year-olds. But people come in "probably on a daily basis" wanting help on everything from housing to college scholarships and language classes, said executive director Selvin Chambers in an interview.
The food pantry serves over 425 people per month, Chambers said; the youth programs have a capacity of roughly 22 toddlers, 45 preschoolers, 65 grade-school students, and 100 summer campers.
In the last year, the agency kicked off a new three-year organizational plan and revised its mission statement, said new outreach coordinator Paul Kuhne.
The strategy is two-pronged: To expand the agency's own services and improve referrals elsewhere, so the agency is seen as "a safe, reliable destination for families," Chambers said.
Kuhne made connections with other agencies and compiled a resource guide "so when we make direct referrals it's not a cold call," Chambers said. In return, EPH has invited community groups to use its space; 2010 saw the renovation of a theater into a multipurpose room that's been used for English classes and meetings.
Of course, change requires cash. The capital campaign's dollar amount isn't set yet, Chambers said, and awaits the hiring of a development director. The big-ticket items are to renovate a space currently used for storage, open a community computer lab, and create programming for teens.
In the end, the idea is to enhance opportunities in Somerville, not duplicate what other agencies offer, Chambers said, "This is not about competition."
Learn more at elizabethpeabodyhouse.org.
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