Founded by United Methodist Women in 1940, the Bethlehem Center Charlotte is part of the National Mission Institutions related to the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Started in the Charlotte Brookhill community to address the need for services for inner city children, whose parents’ income was at or below the poverty level, Bethlehem Center Charlotte provided a kindergarten, activities for older children and youth, and parental classes.
In 1956, after Charlotte’s Urban Renewal Program, Bethlehem Center was relocated to the neighborhoods of Southside and Wilmore where it continues to provide quality child enrichment activities for school age children and youth, and strives to develop innovative programs to improve the quality of life for at-risk families.
We provide services to more than 1000 children, youth and seniors.
Our many programs include:
- Early Childhood Education for pre-school age children
- After-school Scolastic Programs for elementary age children and teens
- All Stars: Drug, gang and alcohol prevention/education series
- Resident Camp: Children attend a Christian camp
- Scholarship Program: Provide assistance to students in need to attend college or trade school
- 360 Degrees of Fatherhood: Monthly parenting classes to engage fathers with their children
- Teen Programs: Girl Power, Boys to Manhood
- Community Outreach Initiatives: “Stuff the Bus with School Supplies,” Holiday Sharing: “Blessing Bags” & “Star of Bethlehem” and Loaves and Fishes Reverals
- Senior Programs: Development programs including those for the visually impared