The Northside Neighborhood House will celebrate its 93rd anniversary in the community on Feb. 14. The organization started as a small settlement house, but has grown to serve thousands of neighbors in need each year, officials said. Today, they have two offices and three thrift stores but their mission remains the same: to provide a hand up not a hand out.
“In 1924, a group of local women who were concerned about the welfare of their neighbors opened a neighborhood center on the Northshore,” said Rachel Gammon, CEO of the NNH.
“They wanted to help their neighbors become self-sufficient so they taught them skills like quilting and offered education programs for children and adults. While we have grown tremendously since 1924, we continue the legacy of our founders as we evolve to meet the needs of those we serve.”
Northside Neighborhood House serves neighbors in need from seven zip codes north of the river. Service is provided to the community through three programs: Emergency Direct Assistance (help with food, utility bills, prescriptions, and supplemental programs); Education for Children and Adults; and three Thrift Stores. The NNH’s main office is located on the Northshore and they also opened an office in Soddy Daisy for neighbors living in North Hamilton County.
“Prior to opening this second site, many neighbors living in North Hamilton County didn’t have the reliable transportation or resources to travel to our main office,” said Ms. Gammon. “We are thrilled to meet them where they are and provide assistance and educational opportunities.”
The Soddy Daisy location has a case management office to see clients who need emergency direct assistance services, a community space for partner organizations (like Youth and Family Development who provides rent assistance), and a thrift store that provides revenue for the office, while providing quality and affordable resources to neighbors, officials said.
To better support neighbors, the NNH started the Healthy Families Program in 2014, thanks to a grant from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation. The program offers free Cooking and Computer Classes and Family Dinner Nights. Cooking Classes teach participants how to shop for healthier foods and stretch their food dollars. Computer Classes are available to those who want to brush up on their typing or technology skills or need help developing a resume or searching for jobs. Family Dinner Nights provide local families with a warm meal and time to socialize with their families and one another. After dinner, a local expert leads a short workshop for parents with topics such as “Child Safety” and “Handling Stress.”
To help celebrate their birthday, community members can make a donation to the NNH by visiting
www.nnhouse.org/donate. They are also encouraging offices and civic groups to collect 93 items (such as toiletries, soup, and canned vegetables) for their on-site food pantry. To learn more about how you can help the NNH celebrate, follow them on Facebook by liking “Northside Neighborhood House.”