FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Fresno’s Poverello House celebrated the grand opening of a new day room Thursday, which officials say will allow them to help people experiencing homelessness and allow unhoused families to reunite in a safe place.
The grand opening ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon. The building, named the Carl and Lulu Mitchell Family Foundation Day Center after its sponsors the Carl and Lulu Family Foundation, features nearly 1,000 square feet, which officials say will provide a desperately needed space for vital services for those in need.
Zach Darrah, CEO of the Poverello House, says the center will have multiple purposes, ranging from a cooling and warming center to a place for the house’s culinary services classes and other classes – a space they did not have available following the opening of Papa Mike’s Cafe.
He adds the center will also serve as a place where parents can read to their children, also allowing kids to be kids.
“We’ve seen more and more families that we’ve seen in the last couple of years,” said Darrah. “A place where parents can bring their kids and be in a safe place, where they can just read to their kids, and kids can just be kids.”