United Community Centers was started by several women from what is now First United Methodist Church Fort Worth to serve low-salaried meat packinghouse workers and their families in North Fort Worth — 101 years ago.
Today, area churches and even those beyond continue to value and support this Tarrant County ministry organization that is also a mission institution of the Women’s Division of The United Methodist Church.
For decades, UCC has coped with and patched over and over again the aging Polytechnic, Bethlehem and Wesley community centers. But things are looking up for UCC as their capital campaign to upgrade facilities is about to give birth to the new Polytechnic Center that serves the community in southeast Fort Worth — near Texas Wesleyan University and the Polytechnic United Methodist Church.
The new Polytechnic Center, located on land adjacent to the current center, should open in October with bright, spacious classrooms, recreation area, kitchen and outreach ministry facilities. For many families in the Poly neighborhood (as well as the other two centers) this is a safe haven for after-school activities, a center for neighbors of all ages to develop self-sufficiency skills, and to benefit from the clothing and food distribution ministries.
Since 2006 UCC volunteers, staff and supporters have worked diligently toward the completion of the $6.5 million goal and the construction and reopening of the three centers. The Poly Center is near completion, the Wesley Center is scheduled to being in the fall, and the Bethlehem Center will be next.
Over the decades and now through the building campaign, UCC has come this far thanks to the persistence and commitment of many friends in Methodist churches and the community.
To learn more about the children’s, youth and emergency assistance programs, visit UCC at www.unitedcommunitycenters.org. To help with UCC’s urgent needs, churches, Sunday school classes, United Methodist Women or Men groups might consider one or more of the following:
• Attend the Polytechnic Center open house and dedication blessing scheduled for this Fall
• Adopt a class or activity room to help with supplies (toys, puzzles, board games, crayons and pencils, technical items, basketballs, etc.) and decorate for holidays
• Donate clothing and grocery stables for the clothing room and food bank
• Volunteer for one of the wide variety of assistance opportunities (clothing room, food bank, hospitality, computer/sewing skill development, etc.)
• Support a child for summer day camp or make a donation to the Thanksgiving basket ministry
• Support the capital fund projects at the Polytechnic, Wesley and Bethlehem community centers