When residents recognize a need in their community that is not being met, it’s important that they work together to ensure that it will be met in the future.
Thankfully, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center is an example of such an effort.
It opened 25 years ago in Columbus in response to the belief that many too many downtown residents struggled with poverty, domestic violence, drug addiction and homelessness, among other problems.
What followed was a grassroots effort to create an organization to help about 2,200 lower-income households — about 5,000 people — living in the Lincoln and Central neighborhoods. Organizers focused on addressing health, education, positive youth development, parent-child interaction, parent support and safety and infrastructure.
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Since 1994, the center has helped thousands of residents — adults and children — who have needed a little assistance or boost. Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center has made a positive impact in many lives.
What’s encouraging is that the center has had good support for its efforts from the community along the way. Contributions from Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, The Wylie Foundation and the City of Columbus have provided needed support. And, the concessions local moviegoers purchase at the nonprofit YES Cinema, which LCNFC operates, go toward sustaining the center’s programming that aids residents. The cinema now generates $20,000 to $50,000 in profits annually — a great help to the center’s mission.
Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center plays an important role in the lives of thousands of Columbus residents. It’s heartening to see the local support that’s helped it serve people for 25 years. We hope that as long as the center’s services are needed to assist resident that it continues to receive strong support.
