Eastside Community Ministry is an ecumenical ministry seeking to help people transform their lives by meeting their basic needs and offering them education, life skills training, and relationship building opportunities.
ECM strives to meet not only the basic needs of those who come to us for assistance, but to provide an atmosphere of trust and caring. To this end, staff and volunteers spend time with each individual – listening, offering suggestions, and supporting them in their efforts to manage their day-to-day lives as well as possible. When appropriate, we direct them to other community resources to help in ways that we cannot.
Our youth program is designed to teach life skills which will enable participating students to become independent, contributing members of our community.
Eastside Community Ministry began in 1958 as an outreach program of Central Presbyterian Church to the youth on the east side of the city of Zanesville, Ohio.
What began as a place for youth to take part in constructive activities has, over time, become much more. ECM currently offers an after school program for youth in grades K-12, a choice food pantry, clothing bank, and emergency relief program.
The youth program began in a small building on Marietta Street, while a small area off a stairwell at Central Presbyterian served as Eastside’s office and service area. Food pantry supplies were stored at nearby St. John’s Lutheran Church; the clothing bank consisted of tables lined with donated clothing, shoes and household goods.
In 2000, Eastside moved into its own new building located next to the youth center property, at 221 Stillwell Street.
This building houses all of our current programs. Our youth program is located on the upper level, while the lower level houses our office, food pantry and clothing bank. Over the years, ECM has been able, through generous donations, to purchase some adjoining properties which would allow for future expansion of services if and when needed.