Prince of Peace Center

An emergency services program provides assistance to those in need in the areas of utilities, rent, medical, and other necessities through limited monetary amounts paid directly to vendors. This program also sponsors an educational service known as "awesome" that provides a cash payment of up to $250 for any school expense selected by students after completing courses that foster health, nutrition, finance, or family management skills. Payments are made directly to vendors chosen by the client. Approximately 500 people were served by this program during 2023.

The mission thrift store has been a part of Prince of Peace Center since its founding with the goal of providing essentials to anyone in need in the community at a very low cost. All of the items for sale in the store have been donated and all items that are unable to be sold are donated to global thrift which provides donated clothes and shoes to impoverished areas of other countries. Through the store, the Center fulfills an essential part of their mission: allowing the community one more outlet through which its people can help each other. Any money made from store sales goes directly into other Prince of Peace programs to support funding.

The "hope" (help and opportunity for personal empowerment) advocacy program is a part of the Center's family support services which provides long-term support for clients who live in established homes. This program teaches basic life skills necessary for self-sufficiency and family stability through intensive case management and monthly support groups. Individuals or families struggling with the effects of poverty are eligible providing they are committed to making a change in their lives while residing in mercer county. The "hope" program provided support to 25 individuals during 2023.

Other special programs the Center offers are a working wardrobe program, a soup kitchen, an initiative for young fathers, an initiative for young mothers in poverty, and other special programs.

The food program provides monthly bags of food to individuals and families enrolled in the Center's program. Enrollment includes an average of 210 households numbering 350 individuals. Included are 148 elderly and disabled residents spread over nine elderly housing locations in the shenango valley. While the majority of enrollees are able to come to the Center on food day, the Center utilizes two part-time staff members and a box truck for making deliveries to the elderly and disabled, as well as a full time person for handling and accounting for food brought from the community food warehouse by our truck for distributions. Salaries, vehicle expense, and administrative costs make up the majority of costs to operate the program.