History of Christian Social Services
In 1964, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was established to address the pressing needs of the Appalachian region. Thirteen states, containing 397 counties were encompassed in the ARC jurisdiction. A detailed report issued that year highlighted six major problems of the region: low income of families, high unemployment, the highway system was far behind national standards, 40 deficits in education, deficits in living standards, and a changing population (younger, more skilled workers were leaving the area to find work). In order to address these issues, the ARC defined eight areas of concentration for study and development: transportation, health and child development, education, community development and housing, tourism, industrial development, environment, and institutional management. While the ARC directed much of its focus to macro level issues (highways, hospitals, and sewer/water management), the more immediate physical needs of the population (food, clothing, and shelter), would be addressed in one of the most ambitious national policies ever proposed. This was President Johnson's, "War on Poverty."
As part of this initiative, the Glenmary Sisters, a group of Catholic sisters from Cincinnati, Ohio, began a small eastern Kentucky outreach for the poor in 1973. Although the Glenmary Sisters had been working in the area since the early 1950's, this particular effort marked the beginning of Christian Social Services. This mission to help the poor was spearheaded by Sister Teresa Marie Tretter.
The Glenmary Sisters recognized that despite the best efforts of the state and federal government, the unique needs of the people in the remote hills of eastern Kentucky were not being met in the traditional forms of aid. According to Sister Teresa Marie, many people were socially isolated and were unable to access the government programs (food stamps, medical care, etc.,) because of lack of transportation and lack of knowledge about how to access help.
Initially, the Sisters worked out of their private residence and then, throughout the years, rented office space at several locations in the community. One location was an upstairs room of a condemned hotel in downtown Morehead. With a staff of two, Sister Teresa Marie opened a small clothing store to meet the need of affordable clean clothing. The Center moved three years later in the winter of 1977, when a local businessman donated the use of a vacant store to be used for only one year. The Center moved nine times in the first 22 years of its existence. In 1989, shortly after moving again to a location purchased by the Glenmary Sisters, a fire consumed the building and its contents on October 9, 1989. Several homeless people, who lit a small fire in one of the outbuildings in an attempt to keep warm, inadvertently set the fire. It was a terrible loss. Everything went up in flames, just at the start of the colder months. In some ways, it was a blessing. People from all around heard about the fire, and they helped out. Help poured in from the community. During the ten months it took to rebuild, Christian Social Services continued to offer assistance to clients in a temporary location in downtown, Morehead, KY. The "new" Center was built on the old foundation with funds from foundations, a highly successful fundraiser, and an interest-free loan. The Glenmary Sisters were unable to financially contribute to the rebuilding, but made a significant contribution by donating the land on which the Center was built. The donation of land to Christian Social Services enabled the building project to be completed with very little debt being incurred in the coming years.
From the beginning, the Sisters' goal was to begin the ministry and then have the local community take ownership of it. A significant step toward the goal of community leadership came in 1980 when Sister Teresa Marie was assigned a post in Cincinnati, OH. The role of helping reach out to the poor fell to a retired couple, Bill and Sue Bruggemeyer. Then, Betty Crail, Sister Teresa Marie's secretary since 1977, helped provide stability and continuity during the transition of having the Center led by the Sisters to one that was headed by local people. Betty Crail eventually took over management of the store and outreach to the poor at the conclusion of the Bruggemeyer's time in Morehead. The philosophy and goals originally articulated by Sister Teresa Marie, a commitment to help the poor meet their material and spiritual needs, remained a guide to the new leadership. The community of Morehead supported the Center through donations of food, clothing, and money. Food, clothing, and rent/utility assistance continued to be the central function of the Center, with eligibility determined on a case-by-case basis.
In 1986, suffering from an advanced stage of cancer, which resulted in her death later in the year, Sister Teresa Marie realized that a Board of Directors was needed to continue the work of Christian Social Services. The Board (comprised of 10 members), was chosen by Sister Teresa Marie and was from varied backgrounds. Their first meeting was held February 5, 1987, with Sister Christine Beckett presiding. The Board quickly moved to establish the Center as a legal, non-profit organization. The Center was granted 501 (c) (3) status as an independent, non-profit organization and incorporation in 1987, furthering the goal of the Glenmary Sisters to develop the Center into a community-owned outreach center. By 1991, this was a complete reality.
Almost fifty years from its origination, Christian Social Services continues to develop new strategies and programs to meet the changing needs of the people it serves. With a strong network of contact and support of the local population, as well as, other sources of donations, Christian Social Services is still serving the people who were so important to Sister Teresa Marie.
As part of this initiative, the Glenmary Sisters, a group of Catholic sisters from Cincinnati, Ohio, began a small eastern Kentucky outreach for the poor in 1973. Although the Glenmary Sisters had been working in the area since the early 1950's, this particular effort marked the beginning of Christian Social Services. This mission to help the poor was spearheaded by Sister Teresa Marie Tretter.
The Glenmary Sisters recognized that despite the best efforts of the state and federal government, the unique needs of the people in the remote hills of eastern Kentucky were not being met in the traditional forms of aid. According to Sister Teresa Marie, many people were socially isolated and were unable to access the government programs (food stamps, medical care, etc.,) because of lack of transportation and lack of knowledge about how to access help.
Initially, the Sisters worked out of their private residence and then, throughout the years, rented office space at several locations in the community. One location was an upstairs room of a condemned hotel in downtown Morehead. With a staff of two, Sister Teresa Marie opened a small clothing store to meet the need of affordable clean clothing. The Center moved three years later in the winter of 1977, when a local businessman donated the use of a vacant store to be used for only one year. The Center moved nine times in the first 22 years of its existence. In 1989, shortly after moving again to a location purchased by the Glenmary Sisters, a fire consumed the building and its contents on October 9, 1989. Several homeless people, who lit a small fire in one of the outbuildings in an attempt to keep warm, inadvertently set the fire. It was a terrible loss. Everything went up in flames, just at the start of the colder months. In some ways, it was a blessing. People from all around heard about the fire, and they helped out. Help poured in from the community. During the ten months it took to rebuild, Christian Social Services continued to offer assistance to clients in a temporary location in downtown, Morehead, KY. The "new" Center was built on the old foundation with funds from foundations, a highly successful fundraiser, and an interest-free loan. The Glenmary Sisters were unable to financially contribute to the rebuilding, but made a significant contribution by donating the land on which the Center was built. The donation of land to Christian Social Services enabled the building project to be completed with very little debt being incurred in the coming years.
From the beginning, the Sisters' goal was to begin the ministry and then have the local community take ownership of it. A significant step toward the goal of community leadership came in 1980 when Sister Teresa Marie was assigned a post in Cincinnati, OH. The role of helping reach out to the poor fell to a retired couple, Bill and Sue Bruggemeyer. Then, Betty Crail, Sister Teresa Marie's secretary since 1977, helped provide stability and continuity during the transition of having the Center led by the Sisters to one that was headed by local people. Betty Crail eventually took over management of the store and outreach to the poor at the conclusion of the Bruggemeyer's time in Morehead. The philosophy and goals originally articulated by Sister Teresa Marie, a commitment to help the poor meet their material and spiritual needs, remained a guide to the new leadership. The community of Morehead supported the Center through donations of food, clothing, and money. Food, clothing, and rent/utility assistance continued to be the central function of the Center, with eligibility determined on a case-by-case basis.
In 1986, suffering from an advanced stage of cancer, which resulted in her death later in the year, Sister Teresa Marie realized that a Board of Directors was needed to continue the work of Christian Social Services. The Board (comprised of 10 members), was chosen by Sister Teresa Marie and was from varied backgrounds. Their first meeting was held February 5, 1987, with Sister Christine Beckett presiding. The Board quickly moved to establish the Center as a legal, non-profit organization. The Center was granted 501 (c) (3) status as an independent, non-profit organization and incorporation in 1987, furthering the goal of the Glenmary Sisters to develop the Center into a community-owned outreach center. By 1991, this was a complete reality.
Almost fifty years from its origination, Christian Social Services continues to develop new strategies and programs to meet the changing needs of the people it serves. With a strong network of contact and support of the local population, as well as, other sources of donations, Christian Social Services is still serving the people who were so important to Sister Teresa Marie.