“We’ve come a long way baby,” is how Lehigh Community Services Executive Director Charlotte Rae Nicely, explained the growth of her agency on Plaza Drive in Lehigh.

“Did you know that our agency will be 34 years old in May?” she asked those who attended the March 29 Lehigh Chamber luncheon.

“I’d like to give you a clue about who we are and what we do,” Nicely said. “We are a local private non-private agency with a longstanding reputation thanks to the many folks who have gone before us and paved the way.

“Last year we serve more than 10,000 needy residents of our community, paid out over $90,000 in financial help. That’s a lot of light bills,” she said.

She went on to say that this year Lehigh community Services is averaging about $12,000 a monthly in financial assistance.

She told them that the Center has moved to a site in a new building on Plaza Drive, thanks to a $400,000 grant which enabled the agency to purchase and renovate the site. The agency is located at 201 Plaza Drive in downtown Lehigh.

“If you haven’t seen our new digs, consider this your personal invitation to check us out,” she said.

She explained that Lehigh Community Services is a lead agency with the United Way and operates the UW House,. She said the agency received about 80 percent of its funding from the United Way.

“So when you give to the United Way, in essence you also are giving to Lehigh Community Services.

“But we always need more to do the things we do. Obviously we can’t do it all, but we do what we can,” she said.

A little history

Lehigh Community Services was formed in 1977 through the vision of businessman Harry Powell, the owner of Landex Corp. in Lehigh. It was established for charitable purposes to promote American ideas, to foster the best interest of people in need and to assist in furthering the welfare and well-being of those residents living in Lehigh only.

The mission statement of Lehigh Community Services is to provide emergency services to residents of the community while promoting self-sufficiency.

Food Pantry at the site

Nicely explained some of the available programs, explaining one of the newest, a “choice food pantry.”

This is when those in need of food are able to use a grocery cart and go up and down the aisles to pick out the food they want. They are given a list of a number of items they may select.

“Some people may not like peanut butter whereas before they may have gotten then. So with this new program, they can select foods their families like,” she said.

The agency has career/job search classes every Wednesday afternoon and literacy classes are available daily.

“Teaching people to read and write is very inspiring. Currently one of the clients is an attorney from Ecuador learning English to be able to receive credentials in America,” she said. The tutoring is done by the Literacy Council which is composed of local people who volunteer to be tutors.

Residents can also go to the office on Plaza Drive and apply for food stamps and get information as to other food banks in Lehigh where they can get help.

She said that every Monday morning, Southwest Florida Addiction Services hosts programs there. Lee county Human Services is available twice weekly so they do not have to drive into Fort Myers, she said.

She gave information about other services available at the agency site.

Last year, she said volunteer tax experts processed more than 200 free income tax returns and already this year, that number has been surpassed.

“We prepare taxes for those who make under $50,000 a year,” she said.

She said getting the grant to buy the larger offices, two times larger than the site on Wing’s Way off of Beth Stacey Blvd., has allowed her agency to fulfill the vision of Harry Powell. She said the agency began in a trailer on Homestead Rd. Later, Community Health Association provided space for the agency for 18 years.

“Our staff calls our new offices ‘the bomb’ because it has doubled to 3,000 square feet, Nicely said.

“Lehigh is very giving and makes us look good through the many generous donations and food drives throughout the year,” she said.