Program areas at Bethlehem Centers of Nashville
Senior services - 216 elderly or disabled adults receive a hot nutritious lunch (monday-friday) throughout the year. 40 isolated seniors participated in social, recreational, spiritual, academic and health activities three times per week. Transportation was provided to all.
Youth development - 260 youth in grades k-12 participated in afterschool and summer programs focusing on alcohol and drug prevention, violence prevention, development of positive self-esteem, character education, service learning, health and fitness education and job-readiness skills training.
Family resource center services - prevention and educational empowerment activities for program participants. Community events and services were implemented throughout the year and include holiday services and celebrations (fall festival/christmas, etc. ), a back to school rally where school supplies and necessities were distributed, a toy store for parents who live below the national poverty level and cannot afford christmas toys, a night out against crime event, financial education and empowerment, family festivals, family meals with speakers, job readiness for teens, parent trainings and workshops and connectional outreach with community resource partners and organizations. The new family collective program targets and serves north Nashville families and is designed to prevent family homelessness. The program connects families with a network of resources around housing, employment, financial stability, childcare, family counseling and other vital basic services.