HOME DEPOT Adopting Partners for Families Building...

We are so excited that Home Depot, located in King of Prussia will be adopting the Partners for Families building as their community service site. Thanks to Store Manager, Larry Mulligan who's taken personal ownership in this project.

"It's nice that Home Depot has helped improve playgrounds in the suburbs, but after seeing this site here in Norristown, this is the kind of organization we'd like to help and would feel we're making a difference in the community" says Larry Mulligan, Home Depot Manager

The objective for phase one with the rennovation project is to give a makeover to our downstairs kitchen & meeting room, gymnasium recreation room and hallway entrance. These rooms are the highest priority right now. Once they're upgraded we can start with these meeting spaces for our planned programs we have for the 2008-09 school calendar year.

On March 2008, John Jayne and friends began with our main office. Talk about fine craftsmanship, we have been so honored to have John Jayne spend endless hours making improvements to this room with showroom level quality. Our prayer is that the churches and community would continue to partner with us toward the common mission of serving Norristown families so that individuals will be empowered with choices to live out God’s plan for their lives in good health, education, success, and wholeness. All the time and sweat equity put into this endeavor demonstrates each volunteers fingerprint as a token of support and commitment with the anticipation to see hearts & lives transformed... "one person at a time!"

Read more: Renovations

The headquarters of Partners for Families is a Norristown landmark, a 100-year-old building located on Main Street. This site has long been a gathering place for community celebrations, theatre and cinematic presentations. Soon after it was acquired in 1983, the building was turned over to an area church, which used it as a ministry center for children and teens. At “The Lamb’s Center,” as it was known then, children and young teens were engaged with tutorial assistance, life skills and fun activities. Some of these recreational activities are still offered by Partners for Families today.

In 1996, the organization became a non-profit 501(c)(3) and its name was changed to Side by Side, indicative of its mission to partner with neighborhood parents and guardians. Side by Side, Inc. was dedicated to the educational, social, physical and spiritual empowerment of the families and youth of Norristown through promoting Biblical principles, and the organization served as a lighthouse to youth in the East End of Norristown.

In 1997, we oversaw several improvements to the building and obtained grants and summer college interns to assist in Side by Side’s development. The Board also embarked on a reorganization and expansion plan.

In June 2004, the building was leased out to the Norristown Ministerium, which is made up of more than 40 Norristown churches and pastors who have come together to serve the community. Partners for Families (PFF), as it is now named, is the non-profit outreach arm of the Norristown Ministerium. We provide opportunities for community events, loving service, social concern, fellowship and prayer. Continuous programs have included an after-school homework tutorial program (Club JAM), a basketball ministry, the distribution of free clothing and food baskets, and referral services to family resources.