Located on Cherry Road is the recently opened Pathways Community Center, a non-profit shelter designed to provide a single point of entry for all people in need of help. The organization partners with eight different agencies and services focused on providing relief for people enduring crises such as homelessness, poverty, substance abuse and other misfortunes.
“Years ago before the project had begun, there were volunteers in town who would talk with people and ask them, ‘Why didn’t you go over there for food or assistance?’ The cry back from many clients was that they lacked transportation or that they lacked the money for transportation,” said center director for the Pathways Community Center, Grace Lewis. “There could have been services available for these people, but they were not able to access them because they wanted to save money for food or gas.”
Lewis was elected as the executive director for the Pathways project in July of 2019. She has 18 years of experience as a leader in nonprofit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of York County, United Way of York County and the Girl Scouts Carolina Peaks to Piedmont, according to her LinkedIn.
“When people are in crisis, running around town and making fifty phone calls to different service groups is the last thing anyone wants to do,” Lewis said. “That’s how our organization’s concept began: to create a one-stop shop where all the agencies can co-locate and help the community members who need it most.”
Pathways Community Center opened its doors on Sept. 16, 2019. The organization currently houses agencies such as the Manna House Food Pantry, The Haven Men’s Shelter, Hope Center and Carolina Community Actions full time.
Part-time resident agencies include services like the Keystone Substance Abuse Services, the York County Free Clinic and Catawba Mental Health Center, according to the
Pathways website.
“We’ve really worked hard to create a facility where someone in crisis, whatever their spectrum, can come in one door and meet with a case manager, receive triage so to speak, and hopefully receive assistance from one of the agencies here. If someone needs food, Manna House is right on campus. If they’re homeless and need a meal and shower, they can go to the Hope Center. For people who need help with rent and utility assistance, Carolina Community Action is here. It’s all about that person coming through that single point of entry and having multiple services available to help them,” Lewis said.
In the past year, Pathways has provided care to over 600 people within the York County area, according to the organization’s website.
Shieterrick Melton, a former client with the organization, spoke positively about her experience with the shelter in a testimony found on the Pathways website.
“Sometimes coming into places or asking for help can cause a little anxiety or unease, because I’ve usually been able to help myself,”Melton said. “Being able to walk into Pathways and not feel judged or that my experience didn’t matter was so important. Not for one second did I ever think thatPathways needed me to provide something other than myself.”
Pathways encourages Winthrop students to volunteer at the center. The organization already has Winthrop interns and receives aid from various Winthrop fraternities and sororities. Students interested
in learning more about Pathways can visit the organization’s website or contact them through email at gracel@pathwaysyc.org.
Photo by Kaily Paddie
