Saturday, September 7, 2024
SPRINGTOWN — In just a few months, the faith-based nonprofit organization Parker County Center of Hope aims to move its Springtown location from Agnes Baptist Church to the square.
Around October or November, Center of Hope’s new Springtown location will open in a building next to Wells Fargo. The center’s hours will stay the same: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Center of Hope aims to provide aid to those in need through crisis assistance in the short term and education and career development in the long term. The center has been based in Weatherford, but in 2021, the Springtown location opened thanks to a partnership with Texas Health Resources. Center of Hope Chief Executive Officer Staci Markwardt said being at Agnes Baptist Church has been good, but now, the Springtown center needs more space.
“We have been seeing just so many people; we needed a bigger location,” Markwardt said. “We just were not able to do everything we can.”
Specifically, extra space is needed for the center’s food pantry and for classes — including GED tutoring, English second language, financial management and computer training, to name a few — as well as one-on-one life coaching, Markwardt said.
In addition, being on the square as opposed to Agnes puts Center of Hope at the heart of Springtown, which may bring more awareness to it and make the center more accessible to people needing its services, Markwardt said.
“People do, especially people who are struggling, have barriers to transportation and gas money,” she said. “Us being six miles out of town really made us sit back and think, ‘Where could we be a little bit more centralized to help the community better?’”
The larger space will also allow class offerings to be expanded in Springtown. Markwardt said there are currently students who live in Springtown but drive to Weatherford for these classes. Having the new center may resolve this issue.
“If we could expand the service offerings that we have in Springtown, such as our ESL classes, they would not have to drive all the way to Weatherford to get the services that they need,” she said. “They can just go right there in their area and take ESL classes.”
The center’s new 2,000-square-foot location, which used to be a church, is being renovated before it opens, Markwardt said.
“It's nice to know you're moving into a place where there's been a lot of prayer,” the CEO said with a laugh. “They had a big area at the back where they worshipped, and so that area is going to be where our large classroom is going to be, also two other offices and a storage closet. So, we're breaking that big area down into different areas, and then the front of the building is going to be our pantry and lobby and dining room.”
Center of Hope owns the new building and will no longer have to pay rent to Agnes Baptist Church. However, Markwardt expects operation costs to go up a little because the center will have to pay for utilities as well as the extra expense related to serving more people. Markwardt estimated the renovation is costing Center of Hope about $250,000.
Though the Springtown location is moving, Markwardt expressed her gratitude for Agnes Baptist Church.
“To know that we helped thousands of people in that very small location, we're just so grateful for the church and what they allowed us to do and just to get the program started,” she said.
The CEO also thanked the Springtown community — the city, businesses and churches — for welcoming and supporting the organization.
Anyone who has feedback, ideas or partnership opportunities for Center of Hope’s Springtown location can contact Markwardt at 817-594-0266, extension 305. Those who want to volunteer for Center of Hope in Springtown can find more information at centerofhopetx.com by selecting “Volunteer” under the “Get Involved” drop-down menu.
