Midtown Commons, A Grand Opening

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - Aug. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Saturday August 9th Midtown Commons celebrated its “Official” Grand Opening at their East Oak Street, New Albany location. New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan was one of the many dignitaries who stopped by and shared the day with us. Midtown Commons interns, Caden Wheat and Molly Noonan shared tour duties and the day was filled with great music and joy for the volunteers and Midtowner’s as well. American Idol alum Holly Michelle Abbott was the featured music act along with Jake from the Jake Parker Band.

Volunteers Jerry Gesenhues along with Nick and Keith Meriweather manned the grill and provided hot dogs for the entire community. The Midtown Neighborhood Network Food Cooperative also donated a 21 LB pork tenderloin along with Charlotte McIntosh who made a zucchini casserole for our Midtown friends and neighbors. The Midtown Commons Cafe’ provided coffee, water and soft drinks.

Midtown Commons is the urban outreach mission for Northside Christian Church. On Mondays at 5:00pm they provide after-school tutoring (when school is in session) along with the wildly popular Kidtown at 6:00pm. Kidtown began a little over a year ago with only 6 kids and it has grown to between 30 to 35 kids each Monday evening. The Midtown kids have been the catalyst for growing the program inviting friends and family to join them.

The Midtown Commons’ coffee shop is open Monday through Thursday from 8am until 11am offering various teas and coffee from around the globe. On Tuesday’s at 6:00 pm at Ritter Park (During Daylight Savings Time March – November) Campus Pastor Preston Searcy leads a Men’s Bible Study and Prayer Walk through the Midtown community. Midtown Commons and Northside Christian have been instrumental in joining the NAFC Schools’ Mentor Mii program at S. Ellen Jones Elementary, Hazelwood, NAHS among others meeting with kids at 7:45am on specific mornings and mentoring them in school and life choices.

On every other Friday at 10:00am the Midtown Neighborhood Network Food Cooperative lead by local nonprofit Clean Socks Hope meets at Midtown Commons providing food for low income co-op members. The MNN Food Co-op is an incredible partnership with our Midtown families, Dare To Care and Midtown Commons and has had a steady 12 family benefit for over 40 adults and children since July 5, 2013. By being a member of the MNN Food Co-op we enable Midtown families to have food security through the model of food cooperatives. Through our collaborative guaranteed food deliveries members of our cooperative always know when, and how much food, they will have, allowing them to budget accordingly and avoid the slippery slope that often begins with food insecurity and lifestyle poverty. Clean Socks Hope also runs the Christmas Store – Hope for Parents program in Midtown.

And finally, each Saturday the Midtown Commons schedule invites the community to them. Every 2nd Saturday – it’s Saturday in the Park from 2 – 4PM at Ritter Park. Every 3rd Saturday – it’s Music for the Soul and every 4th Saturday – is Family Movie Night with all events except where noted starting at 6PM.

Midtown Commons is also a sponsor for the Midtown Street Fair and Hope Music Festival Saturday September 20th at Cardinal Ritter Park.

Midtown Commons is a place for friends, neighbors and coffee.