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North Country Ministry recently celebrated the grand opening of its new facility in Warrensburg. 

The new building allows the ecumenical, not-for-profit outreach organization to better meet the needs of the population it serves. NCM also has an office in North Creek.

"We have always served the people of Warrensburg," said Brother James Posluszny, CSC, executive director. "We did it from our cars, and churches and people's homes."

NCM's many services include counseling, advocacy and referrals for persons in need; twice-a-week free lunches; clothing and furniture thrift shops; resources for parents and homeowners; adult living units in a former motel for seasonal and local 
working adults; and an emergency assistance fund.

Having a building in Warrens-burg allows the organization to provide services in a location that is more convenient for some clients. NCM serves people living in a 650-square-mile region of the Adirondacks, an impoverished area with no public transportation system. Some clients had no way to get to the North Creek facility.

The organization's caseworker now has an office at the Warrensburg location, as does the parenting support worker, and the family clothing program.

Plans for the building have been in the works for four years, Brother James said. But while the agency is pleased to have the new location, work must still be done to have the facility best serve the needs of the people. 

"There are still major renovations needed," Brother James said.

However, he said that opening the Warrensburg office now was the right thing to do. "We've doubled the number of people we serve weekly," he explained.

Brother James noted that at a time when many businesses are cutting back on services to cut costs, not-for-profits like NCM must do the opposite. When the economy faces challenges, agencies like NCM find they have more people to serve and must increase their spending.

Brother James said the organization will be raising funds to add additional staff. He added that, when people visit resort areas like the Adirondacks, they should remember that many of the people serving them during their visit are in need during the off-season.

Clients of NCM often work as waitstaff during the summer and fall months and are laid off during the winter.

For more information on North Country Ministry or to make a donation, go to www.ncmadk.org or call 251-4460.[[In-content Ad]]

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