Ministry of Concern makes move to Arnold Gregory in Albion

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern’s executive director Jami Allport is all smiles in her new bright office in what used to be the maternity ward on the second floor of the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital.
ALBION – After spending 15 years in the downtown on Main Street, the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern has moved into what they hope will be their “forever” office.
According to executive director Jami Allport, the move on Aug. 5 was a smooth one. Their new office gives them 2,200 square feet (compared to 900 at their previous location in the Presbyterian Church), and allows for three bathrooms, a client interview room, four office spaces, kitchen and a designated break room.
The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern had its beginning 70 years ago as the Migrant Ministry Program, started by Medina teacher, the late Arden McAllister. He was joined by Sister Marian Adrian who was visiting Orleans County from Buffalo and saw many children without shoes and socks. Sister Marian would become a key player and in 1968, the Migrant Ministry program became Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, with an office in Batavia. That site was closed 10 years ago as a cost-saving measure.
When Sister Marian died in 2020, she left a considerable sum of money to assure the agency would continue to help those in need. It became known as “The Agency of Last Resort,” helping the neediest of the needy.
When the Village of Albion raised the rent for GOMOC’s office downtown, the agency relocated for three years to the basement of the Presbyterian Church at Main and State Street. GOMOC was running out of space when agency leaders learned of the availability of the former maternity wing at the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital, now an office complex.
“Our new space is not only bright and big, but welcoming, too,” Allport said. “It is appropriate in that this was a place which welcomed new life, and now it provides a new beginning for us.”
Not only does the new space have a corner office with two windows, but there are individual offices for an office manager, furniture coordinator, youth coordinator, a newly added homeless coordinator and a summer intern.
“This location makes us feel more professional,” Allport said.

(Left) Jami Allport, director of the Ministry of Concern, looks down the spacious hallway in their new quarters in the Arnold Gregory Complex. (Right) The new home of GOMOC allows space for a client interview room, as pointed out by executive director Jami Allport.
The Ministry of Concern is currently helping 1,000 families a year, and seeing an increase annually. During a recent week, they saw 17 youth in 15 minutes who signed up for the Back to School Program (clothing).
Allport said there was a time when the agency was in a slump, but survived because of the generosity of Sister Marian.
“I’ve been told I have a lot of the qualities Sister Marian did,” Allport said. “She was extremely aware and knowledgeable about finances. She was cautious, but still fulfilled the mission. She was definitely a rock. She created a very solid foundation for us to build on.”
The world in which GOMOC started doesn’t exist anymore, Allport said.
The agency has seen an influx people getting out of prison with no place to live and many working homeless, she said.
“Going forward we have to look for funding to meet the needs of our community now,” she said. “Many of our old problems still remain, but many are definitely different now.”
GOMOC relies on individual and corporate donations, but Allport also seeks grants to meet their needs. She has written 38 grants this year, and only a few have been funded.
“While I apply for a lot of grants, every single donation we get makes a difference,” she said.
She added that everyone is welcome and no one who comes in for help is judged.
“We are here to help,” she said.
GOMOC welcomes financial donations and donations of small furniture, such as beds, dressers, tables and chairs.
The Ministry of Concern is open Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. and see the last client at 3:30 p.m.























