The Galesburg Rescue Mission and Women’s Shelter has a buyer for its current home, and next month will move into its new home.
Darrell Grimm, executive director of the Galesburg Rescue Mission, tells WGIL the organization that provides food, clothing, shelter and counseling for those in need expects to be operational at its new location in the former Nielson Elementary School “around mid-September.”
The move will allow the Rescue Mission to nearly double its capacity of clients at the former Nielson School, 547 N. Farnham St. Grimm said there’s an agreement to sell the current location at 435 E. Third St., and local developer Rob Benedict confirms he is the buyer. Benedict said he expects to close on the sale by Dec. 1, allowing time for the Rescue Mission to complete its move.
“It’s going to be quite an undertaking to get everything moved,” Grimm said. “The clients are very excited. A few of them have been over them to help us do some work, and they’re like ‘wow, this is going to be so much better.’”
Grimm said walls have been added to the front of the classrooms at the former Nielson School, allowing for private rooms. Bathrooms have been remodeled, and the building has received a fresh coat of paint and new flooring.
New location will double capacity for Rescue Mission
The Rescue Mission will have room for 42 men and 42 women once it moves into the former Nielson School.
“We can hold 24 of each now, so we’ll almost double what we have now,” Grimm said. “We’ll be able to serve more people in need for housing, and we’ll be able to do it all on one floor. It will expand our ministry tremendously.
“I believe when we get into the new building, it’s going to open up a whole lot more opportunities for people in the community.
Grimm said there will be a community room with the new Rescue Mission, and the gym will be divided to allow for the food box program and clothing days.
The Galesburg Rescue Mission was established in 1941 and has been at its current location on Third Street since 1983.
“We are different from a homeless shelter,” Grimm said. “Our goal is to help them get a job and eventually their own apartment. It’s not just a place to come and stay and live, and live and live. We want to get them on their way.
“Like to do it in 6 months – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Grimm added, “It’s a place for people to get themselves together and figure out what they’re going to do. We try to help them all we can. We want to rescue them, instead of enable them. If they are not bettering themselves, we’re not doing them any good.”
The Galesburg Rescue Mission purchased the former Nielson School for $100,100 from District 205 on April 4, 2022.
Developer plans to demolish former school
This spring, the City of Galesburg had considered purchasing the Galesburg Rescue Mission property on Third Street and using it as a warming center and possible homeless shelter. However, the City Council tabled the issue by a 6-1 vote on May 1.
The current Rescue Mission on Third Street includes two buildings — the aging former Douglas School and a newer building to the east.
Benedict said he plans to demolish the former school.
“My goal is to tear down the school building and maximize the use of the metal building on the east side,” Benedict said. “I’ll just put it up for rent.”
