ICS Opens New Midtown Office

On a recent blistering Saturday, Interfaith Community Services (ICS) celebrated the 2021 graduating cohort of Single Mom Scholars at our new midtown offices located on the campus of Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ. ICS staff joined the program scholars and their families as they celebrated the accomplishments of the seven graduates, who completed degrees from three different institutions.

The hybrid event was a more than a milestone for our scholars, it also represented a step forward in the opening of our new midtown location at 122 N Craycroft. The site’s opening has been happening gradually since Mid-February. Staff from Self-Sufficiency programs and Emergency Financial Assistance Case Managers have been working out of that location for the past several months. As in-person meetings become possible again, our clients will have more options to access our services.

One of the highlights of the planned opening is a new Workforce Development Center. Made possible in part from a donation from the Tucson Rotary Club, the center will help clients develop the skills and confidence to secure and retain employment.

As part of our strategic plan to eliminate barriers that limit access to services, our new location will showcase a new Mobile Food Bank. We will be able to distribute food where registered households can receive one food allotment per month (filled with basic food staples in addition to meat, produce, bread), and are then allowed to visit one more time during the month to pick up extra food items provided by the food bank. As supplies are available, ICS allows recipients to select supplemental food items to stretch their resources.

The new location was picked for a number of reasons. “A good portion of the clients ICS already serve come from this area,” says ICS Director of Outreach and Partnerships, Tim Kromer. “This will reduce their need for travel to gain access to our services.” Additionally, ICS has had a long relationship with Rincon Congregation United Church of Christ. “The generosity of this congregation is immeasurable and they have always been very focused on how they can give to the community,” says Kromer. “This is a true partnership between our two organizations.” The church echoes Kromer’s sentiment. “Rincon Congregational UCC is thrilled to share our campus with ICS,” said Moderator Elect and Interim Chair of the Justice and Witness Ministry, Beth Shelby. “We have long supported the goals of ICS and support for the vulnerable. We now see more opportunity to strengthen that relationship and to partner in service to the community. Through volunteer opportunities and future collaboration, we will seek ways to be ‘God’s heart and hands in action.’” The Rincon office complements existing ICS offices on Tucson’s northwest, eastside, and southside.

A celebration of the midtown opening is being planned for the fall.