ABOUT

Our Vision

To provide access to every opportunity that an individual may need to move toward a life of health and wholeness.

Our Mission

Eradicate poverty:  body (physical poverty), mind (soul poverty), and spirit (spiritual poverty).

Through the power of Jesus Christ and the participation of the individual, we provide access to opportunities that connect people to resources to create health and community sustainability in 3 ways:  reliable income, safe and affordable housing, and healthy relationships.

Our Core Values:

Some of the behaviors you will see lived out through our programs and services by our staff include the following core values:

  1. Christ centered -> We look at people and situations through the lens of Christ and then behave accordingly.

Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

  1. Relational -> Our work is delighting in the eye-to-eye moments with people and relentlessly pursuing health with them.

Matthew 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

  1. Innovative -> We are willing to try new things to creatively work inside complex systems.

Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

  1. Solution oriented -> The answer is “yes” because God’s abundance overflows from every cup, the solution is there, we get to discover it and show it off.

Psalm 50:15 “Then call on me when you are in trouble,
    and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

  1. Gritty -> Like the process of refining gold, the process of redemption gets messy and difficult before it becomes beautiful and rewarding. We find God in people’s lives, including our own, when we’re willing to walk through the difficult times, in order to see the beauty on the other side.

Joshua 1:9 “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”

James 2:14-17 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[a] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Our Staff

CEO/President


Ann Ebbert

419.214.4160

Executive Assistant


Lesley Watson

419.214.3010


Chief Operating Officer


Steve Piller

419.214.4038

VP of Programs and Services


Savannah Rayford

419.214.3713


Vice President of Operations


Kurtis Tallman

419. 214.4062

Vice President of Workforce Development


Tami Norris

567.661.0362


Program Manager


Nora Riggs

419.214.3879

Donor Relations Manager


Andrea Casteel

419.214.3312


Operations Manager


Kary Jo Gribble

419.214.3322

Guest Services Manager


Thomas Fowler

419.214.0015


Residential Housing Manager


Nick Casteel

419.214.3998

Volunteer Coordinator


Kelsey Bailey

419.214.3419

Mrs. Ann Ebbert


President & CEO
Cherry Street Mission Ministries

Mr. Joshua Rochon


Chairman
TDC Investment Advisory

Mr. John C. Wagner


Member At-Large
E.S. Wagner Company


Mr. Houston Young


Vice Chair
Owens Corning

Mrs. Janell Vickers


Secretary
Retired, Mercy Health & Owens Corning

Mrs. Tina Kern


Treasurer
Huntington National Bank


Ms. Laura Rerucha


Director
Professional EOS Implementer, EOS Worldwide

Pastor Ben Snyder


Director
Cedar Creek Church

Mr. Timothy Stansfield


Director
IET, Inc.


Mrs. Christine Sweeney


Director
Art Tatum Zone, Executive Director and The Tabernacle, Pastor

Mr. Todd Parker


Director
Owens Corning

Ms. Rachel Gagnon


Director
Lucas Metropolitan Housing


Mr. Carter Bayer


Director
Concept Rehab, Inc.

Mrs. Shirley Trail


Director
Retired, ProMedica

Humble Beginnings

Jessie and Bertha Fleck founded Cherry Street Mission Ministries in 1947, their calling was to provide people in need with sustenance for the body and nourishment for the soul. Named for its location on Cherry Street in Toledo, the mission provided meals, housing, and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the poor and homeless.

A Wide Footprint

Cherry Street serves those living in poverty throughout our region. As the largest entity acting as a homeless shelter, Cherry Street has been here of the community for generations. Within those years, our focus has expanded beyond basic needs, like food and shelter; to plan development and a continuum of care. Similarly, our area of responsibility has expanded to include more rural counties and areas outside of the central city. Simply put, poverty occurs all across northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

Hungry For Change

Cherry Street Mission Ministries is moving beyond the basics. Those served at Cherry Street need a meal, a bed, AND are still hungry. They are Hungry for Change, Hungry for Direction, Hungry for a Career, or Hungry for Success. Cherry Street has created a unique economy to incentivize personal development and positive movement forward toward stability.

Doing More Together

Cherry Street Mission Ministries is moving beyond the basics. Those served at Cherry Street need a meal, a bed, AND are still hungry. They are Hungry for Change, Hungry for Direction, Hungry for a Career, or Hungry for Success. Cherry Street has created a unique economy to incentivize personal development and positive movement forward toward stability.

To download a PDF of the 2021 Impact Report complete mail piece, click here.

Download Full Report

Our Ministry's Promise

We take your support seriously. When you give to Cherry Street Mission Ministries, you are giving to an organization that is committed to using your resources wisely and efficiently. We operate with a lean staff, relaying on volunteer labor and donated goods whenever possible, and undergo voluntary audits every year.

In 1947, Jessie and Bertha Fleck founded Cherry Street Mission Ministries, their calling was to provide people in need with sustenance for the body and nourishment for the soul. Named for its location on Cherry Street in Toledo, the mission provided meals, housing, and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the poor and homeless.

The Flecks, who should have been enjoying their retirement, instead focused on the needs of others. They sold their home and moved into the shelter. At first they provided only sandwiches. But soon grew to offer a place to sleep at night too. The original beds used at Cherry Street were a donation from BGSU dormitories.

Cherry Street Mission Ministries (CSMM) has served those experiencing homelessness or poverty in their life. The doors are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide food, clothing, shelter, and other vital services including: work force development training, resource networking, access to services and program assistance.

Throughout 2022, Cherry Street will pause to remember the past 75 years.  The year will be dotted with sharing memories, fostering fresh conversations and; of course; celebrations! Please accept our open invitation to join the revelries.