Advancing the Kingdom

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Advancing T he Kingdom: Kingdom House
The reason may be that redevelopment
has caused his parents to relocate, that
his teachers feel he is a disruptive force
in the classroom, or the child may,
understandably, feel out of place in a
classroom with people two to four years
younger than himself.”41
In October of 1966 a proposal
regarding a nonprofit Thrift Shop as
a means of providing the opportunity
to purchase needed clothing at modest
prices was made to the Women’s Board.
Also at this meeting, Mr. Koeppe
reported that bids would soon be taken
on the building plans. He also indicated
that one third of all residents from the
96
public housing units are being served
by Kingdom House. By March of the
following year, Kingdom House was
bursting at the seams with its many and
varied programs. Program Director Joe
Rulo reported:
There are 2440 persons registered in
activities presently, this includes 49% of
all those who live in the Darst Apartments
across the street. There are 82 group
activities each week with at least 1200
people participating each week. Some of
the groups include a band group where
mothers and sons give [a] dance to make
money for band instruments, play groups
which sponsor games of all kinds and a
park social club. Operation paint brush
is in process of setting up teams of boys
14-18 to paint apartments for elderly in the
neighborhood. Educational trips for summer
are being planned. Hope to get filling station
across street on a grant so it could be used
as training center for boys in filling station
work, also coin operated laundries in
housing project would give boys training in
this field. Such businesses for training would
qualify all drop-outs in the area...
Joe’s hope for the filling station was
realized in late spring by a $9200 grant
given by United Fund Special Fund for
this project.
Ground-breaking ceremonies for the
new building were set for June 6, 1967,
at 5:30 p.m. The desire of many since
A B
P hotos:
A/B: Breaking ground
G round-breaking
ceremonies for the new
building were set for
June 6, 1967, at 5:30
p .m. The desire of many
since 1952 was slowly
becoming a reality.