ST. LOUIS CRACKHOUSE BEING REBORN AS SAFE HAVEN FOR TEENS

Sunshine Ministries Transforming Hang Out for Drug Dealers into Club House for Life Skills Mentoring

[USPRwire, Wed Apr 18 2007] A rundown brick building on downtown St. Louis’ near North Side where drug dealers and prostitutes plied their trades is being reborn as a safe haven and learning hub for neighborhood teenagers, complete with game room, computer lab, study area, snack bar, lounge, restrooms and outdoor basketball court.

Sunshine Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit 501©3 organization, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on April 16 at the 2,000-square-foot brick building which the organization is transforming into a life skills and mentoring hub for neighborhood teens called “The Club House.” The building at 1625 North 14th Street previously served as a brothel and crackhouse. Sunshine Ministries bought the building and is renovating it a few blocks from downtown’s St. Louis’ booming Washington Avenue district.

“’The Club House’ will be a clean, comfortable and safe place for neighborhood teens to come after school and on weekends to enjoy fun activities and participate in life skills, tutoring and mentoring programs to help enhance their growth,” said Carol and Jim Clarkson, Sunshine Ministries directors.

“Not long ago, a person so inclined could buy crack and get high at that old building or meet a prostitute,” said Jim Clarkson. “This year, we will open ‘The Club House’ as a totally renovated and welcoming haven for neighborhood kids who want to stay off the streets and out of trouble – it is a very exciting initiative.”

Sunshine Ministries bought the building in December 2005 after contacting the absentee owner, who did not know about the activities occurring there. Sunshine Ministries then applied for all requisite construction permits and hired architectural firm Christner, Inc. and R.G. Ross Construction Company to develop total renovation plans for the building. Completion and grand opening of “The Club House” is set for September 2007.

Founded in 1903, Sunshine Ministries operates the oldest homeless shelter in St. Louis and six other service facilities. Its Christian-based services include rehabilitation, vocational and transitional programs for men; outreach programs for women and children; activities for inner-city teens; GED preparation; plus a summer camp for urban teens and children.

“All of Sunshine Ministries’ programs are designed to provide training and opportunities in which men, women and children can learn to be responsible, productive, self-supporting individuals with a healthy self-image of whom they are and who they can become in Christ,” said Carol Clarkson. “Our goal is to offer a hand up, not a hand out.” “Our motto,” added Jim Clarkson, “is ‘Healing from the Past … Help for the Present … Hope for the Future.’ The Club House project will reflect that.”

Carol and Jim Clarkson became directors of Sunshine Ministries in 1996 after each chose to leave behind successful business careers to work with impoverished and homeless St. Louis inner city residents.

For information about Sunshine Ministries, call 314.231.8209 or see the website http://www.sunshineministries.org. Sunshine Ministries is headquartered at 1520 North 13th Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63106.

Media contact: Jeff Dunlap @ 314.993.6925 at Powerline Public Relations, LLC.

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