LEIPSIC — Leipsic United Methodist Church has a history of missionary work. Often it’s out of state, or even out of the country.
Now, its members found missionary work in their hometown. The “dream team,” as Pastor Steve Weatherly calls them, looked at every problem it could see in the Putnam County village and tried to do something about it.
The result was Saturday’s groundbreaking on the Leipsic Community Center, an ambitious $6 million project in downtown Leipsic that addresses community needs for health care, recreation and community gathering spaces.
“It’s been amazing. You can see God at work here,” Weatherly said.
The two-story brick building, financed by Leipsic United Methodist Church, a Caring Points Church, will be at 120 E. Main St., Leipsic. The church already has all the money raised for the project.
The ambitious project includes 34,000 square feet, including a cafe, free health clinic and associated pharmacy, a full kitchen, community youth area, gymnasium with a stage, a suspended walking track over the gym, a resource and opportunity center, classrooms and a village museum.
“I am very excited and thankful for this project,” said Cammie Flores, the event coordinator for the Leipsic Chamber of Commerce. “I know the benefit to our local community, businesses and children will be endless.”
In a village where 17.8 percent of the 1,476 people live with incomes below the federal poverty level. the programs will be a welcome infusion into the community. It’s a welcome addition to downtown Leipsic, Mayor Kevin Benton said. This building once housed a hardware store in its glory years, with a carving in the sidewalk to commemorate that.
In recent years, crews had to knock down abandoned, neglected and unsafe brick buildings dating back to the 1890s, leaving vacant lots next to historic buildings.
“Our downtown was starting to look like a hockey goalie’s smile,” Benton said jokingly.
The Leipsic Community Center Board of Directors organized as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, which will run the facility. Organizers hope to have the new facility open in 12 to 14 months.
“In 12 to 14 months, we’ll experience a transformation from the vacant lot we see today to a two-story, beautiful brick building,” said Brent Gibson, president of the Leipsic Community Center board of directors.
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