Alpha Family Center Moving to New Location Thanks to Generous Supporters

Christa Wetzel, executive director of Alpha Family Center, had a problem. Her non-profit had a big year in 2017. The group, which has long ministered to local families, saw its client base balloon to more than 250 people.

However, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was the building the Alpha Family Center was renting on East Main Street. Previously used as a florist shop, it was not equipped to effectively serve that many people. The space could only accommodate two small counseling rooms and a medical room. Everyone else had to wait in a small entryway which provided little privacy for clients in crisis.

“Our clients are often under tremendous stress when they arrive for help,” Wetzel notes. They may be experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, job loss or other family crisis. “It’s not uncommon for someone to break down and weep as they explain their circumstances.” And therein lies Wetzel’s problem: “It’s difficult to provide a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere when space is so limited,” she explains.

However, Alpha Family Center operates on a shoestring budget which made it a difficult problem to address. Wetzel credits divine intervention and open hearts as helping her find the solution.

Community Helps Answer Non-Profit’s Prayers

Despite its space constrictions, Alpha Family Center forged ahead last year in plans to offer new services to clients. In addition to providing ultrasounds, baby supplies and other support to families, the group launched GED and ESL classes last summer.

About that time, Wetzel and her team were also brainstorming ways to expand the center’s space. The Alpha Family Center’s annual banquet was scheduled for October, and she set an ambitious goal for the event, which also serves as the group’s main fundraiser for the year.

“We had been praying about taking steps to raise the funds necessary to be able to purchase a facility [and] made a large goal of $40,000 at our banquet in October,” Wetzel says. “Previously, we have only raised $14,000 so that was quite a leap for a goal.”

It was ambitious, but the community and supporters pulled through with a $40,000 commitment to the Alpha Family Center. The idea was to use that money as the down payment on the purchase of a new building, but Wetzel says God had different plans.

Right before Christmas, Wetzel contacted a friend of the ministry to see if that person could help with the down payment. “They came back with, how about we pay for the whole building for you?” Wetzel says. It was an unexpected answer to her prayers. “We were ecstatic,” she shares.

New Building is Right Next Door

When it comes time to move, the Alpha Family Center won’t have to go far. Its new building is right next door to the location it rented.

Most recently known as the RAYA Building, the new space was previously owned by Lowell First United Methodist Church and used for a variety of purposes. Prior to that, the building was the first home of Flat River Outreach Ministries.

Wetzel says the building is a good fit for Alpha Family Center for a number of reasons. “The layout of the building is perfect,” she says. The new location will have a private medical wing as well as five rooms that can be used for counseling or classrooms. Plus, there is enough space for one large classroom, a client services office, main office and children’s play area. “In addition, we will gain an excellent donation area that will work wonderfully to receive donations after hours as well as have ample space to sort and store items,” Wetzel says.

Since the building is next door to the old location, clients won’t have to worry about navigating to somewhere new in town. “We have learned that it takes a while for people to become familiar with where you are located and, we didn’t want to hinder the awareness in the community by moving locations,” Wetzel says.

Going forward, Wetzel expects the group to continue offering its current services as well as new programming such as group parenting classes. A new 2D/3D ultrasound machine is also expected to debut this year.

“Many people have not come to utilize our services because they think we just deal with unexpected pregnancies, but we are a family support center and ready to assist all families with children under the age of five,” Wetzel says. To learn more about Alpha Family Center and its services, visit its website or Facebook page.

1 Comment

  1. Congratulations Christa. It is clear to see God’s hand in this new building. God bless your efforts on behalf of families of the Lowell area.

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