| DIAKONOS, Inc. Fifth Street Ministries Do justice...love mercy |
Diakonos, Inc., was organized in Burnsville, N.C., in September, 1988, with
the intention of providing for the basic needs of homeless and needy
persons. The word "diakonos" is the Greek word meaning "to provide for
the basic necessities of life." The founders of the organization agreed that
the basic necessities of life include nourishing food, safe shelter, freedom
from abuse, and an opportunity to reach for self-reliance.
In 1990, the organization moved to Statesville, N.C., to operate a shelter
ministry comprised of an emergency, winter, and battered women's shelter
located in the most impoverished area of the city. Because of it's primary
location at that time, the name Fifth Street Ministries was adopted as the
name under which to do business, maintaining the corporate name of
"Diakonos." Located in an 80-year-old church, shelter space was inadequate
for the needs of the ministry from the beginning. In the winter of 1991,
Diakonos moved its administrative offices, emergency shelter, and winter
shelter to a more spacious environment in on old school house five blocks
further south. Blessed with four times the space, the agency began to
burgeon. Winter shelter became night shelter and was extended to a year-
round program. The ministry took over the city's soup kitchen program in
1991 and expanded it to two community meals per day. The emergency
shelter spread out through the classrooms along the wooden hallway of the
old school. The old church, occupied only by the battered women's shelter,
became "My Sister's House."
In 1993, the Open Door Clinic was started. By 1996, a new building had
been constructed through a grant from Kate B. Reynolds and the generosity
of community volunteers led by Gerald Grant, Grady Lippard, Wayne Rogers
and Tony Waugh. The dental wing was completed in 1998. In the years
since 1993, thousands of individuals from Iredell and surrounding
communities who were without any form of health insurance have been
cared for. In 2008, the Open Door Clinic as it has been known was
transferred to a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) operated by
Gaston Family Health Services and took on a different face from a free
clinic. The dental services for the FQHC are offered from our old Open
Door Clinic building located on the campus of our new building. We
address medical and dental issues for our guests through referral to the
FQHC, mental health agencies, and others as appropriate. Our daily nurse
clinic provides ongoing monitoring of chronic disease and assessment of
acute illnesses. Health education/prevention classes are taught on a weekly
basis. Not only are the vast majority of those we serve uninsured, their
healthcare needs have gone unaddressed for too many years. We are
committed to helping those who are without healthcare creatively address
their needs in a variety of ways.
2002 was an exciting year, as it marked the completion of a new facility for
My Sister’s House. In an undisclosed location, this program addresses the
needs of those who are victims of family abuse through safe shelter,
counseling, court advocacy, etc.
April 26, 2009 was a day of great excitement as we dedicated our new
facility that houses the majority of our other programs. What a success for
this community, for Fifth Street is made possible through the generosity of
those who believe in the work that goes on here. Shelter, food, clothing,
access to healthcare, life skills training, and a wide variety of other
offerings are available for those wanting to make necessary improvements
to their lives. We're in it for the long haul!! Come join us!
| In memory of our beloved "Bossman" Though his life was one of deep pain and addiction, Bossman never left the night shelter or the soup kitchen without kind words of grateful appreciation for what was provided for him. Lessons of genuineness and acceptance were learned from him, as well as the value of being able to laugh at oneself. |
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS Charles Green Chair Bill Adams Vice-Chair Carole Hendrix, Treasurer Carolina Alexander Robin Hawes Johnny Hoover Jack King, DDS Becky Kirkman Shelda Liles Natalie Marsh Sharon McDougall Ellyn Mullis, MD Arnold Nunnery Clarence Poole Libby Purcell Ginnifer Scott Jackie Tomlin Aurora Tudela Xavier Zsarmani SENIOR STAFF Gary West Executive Director Patti West Program Director Michele Knapp Finance Officer |
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