Local Collaboration

Without collaboration from area agencies and organizations, Friendly House would not be able to succeed.  Below are a few of our Agency Collaborations.

  • United Way of Richland County — Nearly 25% of the Friendly House funding comes from United Way.  This money goes towards helping families pay for the Friendly House Preschool and Happy Hollow Day Camp, and towards the success of our Afterschool, Summer Fun, and Evening Programs.
  • Mansfield Police Department and Mansfield Police Athletic League — A big supporter of the Afterschool and Summer Fun Programs, the partnership between Friendly House and the Mansfield PD and PAL is a positive one for the community.  Police officers meet with children in the Afterschool Program once a week through a PAL Mentoring grant to play basketball and dodgeball, help kids with homework, and be a friendly face they can recognize in the community. PAL also sponsors the Friendly House Girls Club, and the weekly “Chicks with Sticks” knitting club on Thursday with the 3-6 grade girls, and the Polar Express Party where children in the Afterschool Program get a fun night of Christmas Magic with pajamas, pizza, soda and a showing of the Polar Express.
  • Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland — The Afterschool program partners with the Girl Scouts to offer additional opportunities to the Friendly House kids.  Girl Scouts meet weekly during the ASP and they help our young women with science, technology, engineering, and math which will help strengthen critical-thinking and problem solving skills.  There is a nominal fee to join Girl Scouts and the application material is available in the Friendly House office.
  • Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring —  (Formerly known as Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Central Ohio) MYOM offices out of the Friendly House community center.  Their mentoring programs have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring mentors children, ages 5 through 16, in communities across mid-Ohio, and have been doing so for 23 years.  MYOM’s mission is to provide youth in our community with a mentor that supports, encourages, and provides opportunities, that will help them achieve success in life.  Our vision is that all children have the help they need to succeed in life  National research has shown that positive relationships between youth and their mentors have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. Local Research shows that the kids with a Mentor show real differences in their personal and academic lives. Here in North Central Ohio, an evaluation is done every year.
  • Calvery Baptist Church — During our Afterschool and Summer Fun Programs the children are able to choose to participate in Bible Study and activities sponsored by our neighbors at Calvery.  There is no charge to the families or students who choose to participate.  Calvery is always there for Friendly House and helps our community center through charity drives and volunteers.
  • Mansfield/Richland County Public Library— Through the wonderful partnership with the MRCPL Friendly House is able to provide a branch of the library in our facility for all of the children who participate in our programs.  The library is organized by age and reading level.  The staff use the library daily to help the kids continue their education.
  • Mansfield Kiwanis Club — The local Kiwanis chapter supports Friendly House by helping sponsor the annual Coat Drive and the Christmas Parties for both the Preschool and Afterschool Programs.  The Mansfield Kiwanis Club also provides Friendly House with Camperships; scholarships that we give to Richland County children to attend Hidden Hollow and Happy Hollow Day Camp.
  • Park National Bank — Through the generous support of the Richland Bank/Park National Bank we are able to celebrate children’s birthdays year round with gifts and sweet treats.  Each month Richland Bank/Park National Bank supports a ‘birthday party’ for the kids at Friendly House.
  • The New Store — Through the New Store, Friendly House is able to provide new bookbags to participants of our Summer Fun program for the coming school year.  Volunteers from the New Store also purchase all the new coats for our annual coat drive.
  • AmeriCorps Seniors IConnect — With the leadership of Ms. Debra, the Friendly House Golden Age program has been enhanced with additional programs and activities for our local seniors through online and in person programming.  Events include computer and smart phone classes, art courses, health and wellness activities as well as local field trips.  Please contact Ms. Debra for questions or to sign up for upcoming programs – (419) 512-1221.
  • Richland Astronomical Society (Warren Rupp Observatory) — The Warren Rupp Observatory, located at Hidden Hollow Camp, has one of the world’s largest amateur operated telescopes. The observatory is operated by the Richland Astronomical Society members.