The mission of Gather the Spirit for Justice (Gather the Spirit) is to “strengthen community in Allison Hill, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.” Most of our neighborhood folks are low-income and many are homeless. For the census tract immediately surrounding the community center, census data shows an estimated 2020 median family income of only $35,306 and a minority population of 88%. Gather the Spirit’s Common Ground Community Center provides a safe, comfortable place for our neighbors to gather for classes, weekly community breakfasts, gardening and special events. We offer services that help them improve their opportunities for employment and personal growth (e.g., English as a Second Language classes, cooking classes) and we assist with basic personal needs (e.g., toiletries, food, cleaning supplies).
Gather the Spirit began operation at the Shared Ministry on Market Street in Harrisburg in the 1970s and later also partnered with the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, The open door of the community center was closed during the worst part of the Covid pandemic; March of 2020 through 2022. Post-pandemic, Gather the Spirit re-opened its Common Ground Coffee free community breakfasts in January 2023 — initially to a much-reduced weekly attendance, which has since steadily risen to between 70 and 85 in recent weeks as news of our reopening spread.
Now we are back in full operation, offering not only breakfasts, but a toiletries closet, English as a Second Language for Latinos classes, financial assistance obtaining photo IDs/driver’s licenses/birth certificates, a community garden and occasional special events.
