H15 Ministries turns up heat for breakfast fundraiser
Last year’s pancake and sausage breakfast at H15 Ministries Teen Center saw a packed house, which helped generate funds that will go toward the ongoing renovation process and the center’s hopes of purchasing the mortgage for the building. This year’s event will take place Saturday, Aug. 13 from 8-11 a.m.
The push to progress toward the beginning of phase two of the H15 Ministries Teen Center project comes with a sweet enticement.
H15 Ministries will host its second annual pancake breakfast fundraiser at the teen center at 34 E. Jackson St. in Millersburg on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 8-11 a.m. One change in the menu this year will be the addition of maple sausage links. That will go well with the made-from-scratch pancakes, real maple syrup, orange juice, coffee and milk.
The cost of the breakfast is by donation, and Andy Schafer, ministry director, said the event serves as a way to get a breakfast, support the ministry, see all the new additions for those who haven’t been inside the teen center and hear the opportunities that lie ahead for the ministry.
“It’s a great way for people to support the ministry but to also gain some insight into what we do here and to get a glimpse of some of the goals we have for the future,” Schafer said. “Last year we decided to invite everyone to come to H15 for breakfast and a chance to see the center. We had a wonderful time, and due to all the positive feedback we received, we decided to make this an annual event.”
Recently, Schafer said the ministry’s goals shifted when Commercial & Savings Bank agreed to provide funds that would allow H15 Ministries to buy the mortgage agreement to the two Historic Downtown Millersburg buildings.
“Our primary goal is to find a way to get a mortgage to buy the buildings, and we’ve been approved for that, and we have to get a down payment for that. We almost had enough money saved up for the roof to make the down payment, but if we did that, we wouldn’t have any money left for the roof project.”
Schafer said CSB is willing to provide a loan for the mortgage and for the roof project, should H15 come up with funds for the down payment.
Schafer said that would include raising an additional $15,000-$20,000 in addition to what they currently have, which is going to mean a lot more fundraisers.
“We’re waiting for the architect to finish the drawings so I can get final numbers. So we are currently stalled, although the hope is that will happen soon,” Schafer said.
With proceeds going to help put the roof on and purchase the buildings, Schafer said phase two of the center can begin in earnest. Phase one was completed and now serves as the home for the ongoing ministries in the facilities, which range from boards games, active games, a working model train set and even an outdoor basketball court that provides space for other activities to meaningful evenings of building faith and walking teens through some of life’s issues.
More importantly, it serves as a center for teens to connect with one another and with caring adults who want to help them grow in their lives.
“I love having the chance to let everyone see how the teen center continues to change and grow, as well as sharing how we have positively impacted the lives of the teens who attend,” Schafer said.
Once the roof is on, phase two on the western side of the center can take shape. Schafer said they have big plans for that half of the center including projects that would allow teens to invest back into the center.
“Once we get the roof on, we can get rolling on renovations inside, which is exciting,” Schafer said. “It’s going to be a process, and we will tackle it little by little. Getting that roof on will be a huge one-time financial hit for us, but we won’t have to wait for a big price tag to hit us after that. It’s taking shape, and we are trusting that God will put people in place who will help us reach our goals.”
The pancake and sausage breakfast will be part of the ongoing effort to raise the funds necessary to create a center designed to be an encouraging place for teens to gather, grow and build their faith.