Our History
The Friendly Center - 1324 N. Superior Street - Toledo, Ohio 43604
© 2012 The Friendly Center
Our History
For many generations The Friendly Center has served the residents of North Toledo, always adapting to meet the changing needs of its diverse population while remaining a stable cornerstone and steadfast beacon of hope for the community.
In 1923 with a growing immigrant population in the neighborhood, The Women’s Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Church purchased a property which would serve as an educational and social center for the neighborhood. They called it “Friendly Center” (friendly to everyone who used it, and central to the community it served).
Historical events like the Great Depression – Stock Market crash, Roosevelt’s New Deal, various world wars are examples of events which dramatically changes the North Toledo neighborhoods. The North Toledo area has been dealing for nearly 50 years with the realities of poverty, drugs, crime and despair. Recently the North Toledo Area has been challenged with the effects of high unemployment and the social ills associated with poverty (i.e. high crime rates, human and drug trafficking). The businesses, the neighbors and organizations still choose to remain in the neighborhood determined to not only “survive but strive” towards a better tomorrow.
Through the years The Friendly Center has been blessed with strong resources and support so they could continue to develop unique programs and partnerships within the community. Even today the Friendly Center depends heavily on making connections so we can connect our neighbors with resources the truly make a difference.
