Ministry of Concern settles into new offices in Albion

Agency moves from Visitor’s Center to Presbyterian Church

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, sits at her desk in the agency’s new offices at the First Presbyterian Church. GOMOC moved from the Albion Visitor’s Center to the church with the first day open last Thursday at the church.

ALBION – The Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern has moved into its new offices in the First Presbyterian Church of Albion and the agency is thrilled with the welcome from the church.

GOMOC left the Albion Visitor’s Center after 15 years on the third floor at 121 North Main St. The agency moved after the Village Board raised the rent by 35 percent from $1,146.67 to $1,550.96 a month. The board felt GOMOC’s rent was too cheap at 48 cents per square foot. The board raised it to 65 cents per square foot.

Jami Allport, the GOMOC executive director, said that amount was too much for the agency, and would take away funds it needs to assist people in need.

The Presbyterian Church offered space in four rooms at the lower rate that GOMOC was paying before the rent went up. The church painted two of the rooms and added electrical outlets for the new tenants and also put a wall in. The other two rooms also were recently redone following a third floor water leak that caused some damage to the rooms.

“The church worked really hard for us,” Allport said. “They have been great and very welcoming.”

The offices are accessible on the back end of the church at the entrance to the church office. There is a church parking lot on Platt Street and sidewalks leading to the entrance.

There will be an open house for the community to see the new offices on April 25 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The Ministry of Concern is known by many as “The Agency of Last Resort.” It provides services to many people in crisis, including working poor who are facing hardship.

The agency last year assisted 2,795 people with 2,192 in Orleans and 603 in Genesee.

Rose Friedl, left, and Jami Allport show one of the revamped rooms at the church which is now used by the Ministry of Concern. Friedl is the coordinator for the furniture program. Another employee, Nicole Brady, coordinates the Just Friends mentoring program.

The Ministry of Concern has in-house advocates who work on behalf of clients with utility companies, landlords and other entities as necessary. Eligible individuals and families can receive help with personal care items, short-term emergency housing and financial assistance with prescriptions. There is a room stocked with supplies named in honor of long-time board member and volunteer, Mary Grace Demarse.

The Furniture Program also accepts donations of gently used furniture and non-gas appliances which are subsequently delivered without cost to people in need. This in GOMOC’s most used program, assisting 945 people last year. Jayquan Brady and Kyle Woolston pick up furniture and appliances for GOMOC and deliver them to people who need them.

Allport has been working as the agency’s director since September. She said the agency makes a difference for many in the community.

She sees GOMOC doing even more. She has assisted some people with resumes to pursue jobs, and gave other help with health insurance and life skills. The break room also has air hockey and other games where teen-agers can come afterschool and hang out in a safe place.

Rose Friedl said she looks forward to coming to work at GOMOC four days a week. She coordinates the furniture program. She said many people get emotional when GOMOC can locate a bed, couch or even a recliner for them.

“This is a feel-good job,” Friedl said. “I put my whole heart into it.”