What is OPEN M?
OPEN M is driven by a small but dedicated team of staff and volunteers who love our community and show up every day to make a difference. From handing out meals to providing medical care and job support, we work alongside our neighbors to meet their needs with care, respect and hope. Every act of giving, volunteering or partnering helps us lift families, keep children fed and support people in building stronger, more secure lives.
How and when did the non-profit get started?
OPEN M, which stands for Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry, was formed in 1968 during a time of deep inequality and unrest in Akron. What began as a ministry founded by four churches operated out of a small house on Princeton Street, where neighbors met face to face in backyards and on front porches.
As needs in the community evolved, OPEN M grew from its church-rooted beginnings into the organization it is today, maintaining strong relationships with local churches while expanding partnerships with a wide range of community organizations.
Still often referred to as “the little house” in honor of its beginnings, OPEN M continues to serve the community from the same Princeton Street location, with its current building built on the original land where it all started.
What are the mission and vision of the non-profit?
The mission of OPEN M is to provide pathways to uplift the community by feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and strengthening the community.
The vision for OPEN M is to be a community leader in breaking the cycle of poverty and transforming lives, one person and one family at a time.
What is your focus in now? Who do you help and why?
Today, OPEN M serves nearly 92,000 participants each year across Akron and Summit County. Our focus is on continuing to expand in ways that better support our community, with current efforts centered on feeding families, covering medical expenses and helping people earn enough to live.
At the same time, we are preparing to meet growing needs as looming budget cuts and changes to Medicare and Medicaid threaten access to food, care and income for many of our neighbors.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
While our core purpose remains the same, OPEN M continues to evolve to meet the real and changing challenges facing our community. We aim to deepen our impact by expanding access to care especially through our health clinic, strengthening partnerships and creating more ways for families to get what they need to survive and move forward. Our future is rooted in listening to the community and responding with compassion and practical hands-on support.
How can people get involved?
There are many meaningful ways to support OPEN M, from volunteering to donating or partnering as a business or organization. In our pantry, volunteers can help distribute food, pack lunches, join us in the kitchen to cook or provide meals for our participants.
Businesses can connect with the community by joining our job fairs or becoming employer partners, helping people find work that sustains their families. Medical personnel and healthcare providers can volunteer in our clinic or dental clinic with small commitments of time sometimes as little as four hours, making a real difference for patients in need.
Every contribution, no matter how small, helps ensure that each person who walks through our doors is met with care, dignity and opportunity.
Follow this non-profit on social media
- Facebook: OPEN M Ministry
- Instagram: @openmministry
- TikTok: @open.m.ministry
- YouTube
Want to get in contact with OPEN M? Visit the OPEN M website, send an email or call (330) 434-0110. OPEN M is located at 941 Princeton St. Akron, OH 44311.
Special thanks to LeKesha Parkman, Marketing & Events Coordinator at OPEN M, for sending organization information and providing photos.
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