On Thursday, the Northside Neighborhood House will celebrate its 95th anniversary of serving the community. The NNH started as a small settlement house, but has grown to serve over 6,000 neighbors in need each year through programs focused on supporting basic needs and education for all ages.
The NNH was founded in 1924 by a group of women who saw their neighbors living in poverty on the banks of the Tennessee River. They were living in shacks and needed bedding during the cold winter months.
Instead of just bringing blankets from their homes, the women taught those in need to quilt and opened a settlement house to meet other needs. Ninety-five years later, the NNH is still a safe space for neighbors to turn to when they are in a difficult place.
“We are excited to celebrate this milestone anniversary and continue to carry on the vision of a dedicated group of ladies determined to provide a better tomorrow for their neighbors,” says Rachel Gammon, chief executive officer of the NNH. “We are so grateful for our community's continued support of the NNH as we work to provide a hand up to our neighbors.”
Today, the NNH is comprised of two offices and three thrift stores. Service is provided to the community through three programs: Emergency Direct Assistance (help with food, utility bills, prescriptions and supplemental programs like Cooking Classes and Family Dinner Nights), Education for Children and Adults and three Thrift Stores.
The NNH’s main office is located on the Northshore and they have a second office in Soddy Daisy for neighbors living in North Hamilton County. The NNH also oversees two Community Schools, one at Hixson Middle and one at Red Bank High School. Community Schools are designed to provide wrap around support services to meet the physical, social and emotional needs of students, and also the community where the school is located.
To help celebrate the agency’s birthday, community members can make a donation to the NNH by visiting www.nnhouse.org/donate. To learn more about NNH’s thrift stores, visit www.nnhouse.org/thrifts.