Agency History
July 18, 1996
FCDC grand opening with a memorable start regarding our “ongoing care ministry”
Mission Statement: to see lives transformed and the life of the community enhanced by encouraging the oppressed, defending the cause of the weak, and maintaining the rights of the poor by bringing together the resources of the caring community as a demonstration of the good news of Christ.
18 of 22 area churches in the Nappanee community were part of the services FCDC began to offer to help those in need of assistance.
November 19, 1996
Christmas Jubilee is first mentioned. ‘The board discussed authorizing a donation to the planned Christmas programs for FCDC including Christmas toys to parents to give to their children.
Early 1998
Announcement of $30,000 grant from Indiana Housing Finance Authority (IHFA) Board of Directors. FCDC will hire a director, Joan Andrews.
March 27, 1999
The Elkhart Truth $288,170 IHFA funds for Elkhart County. FCDC will receive funds for rehabilitation of approximately 10 owner-occupied homes in Nappanee and Wakarusa.
August 25, 1999
Idea expressed for about 20 housing units above the Boys and Girls Club in the former Central School.
December 19, 1999
FCDC awarded $50,000 loan from IHFA for affordable senior housing for financial feasibility analysis, market study, etc. regarding Central School potential project.
April 11, 2001
“Healthy Babies” program to begin. Dr. Lisa West will provide free checkups for newborns and children up to age 2 second Wednesday of each month.
May 24, 2001
National Association of Letter carriers first time ever National Food Drive, Saturday, May 12. “Partnering with the Family Christian Development Center, Open Door and the First Church of God, postal employees.
July 15, 2001
FCDC will receive part of the Goshen Health System community donation of $75,000. FCDC’s portion ($20,000) will be used for services provided as “…wrap around services to needy families in the Nappanee area. The funds will be used to develop a ‘Healthy Babies’ type program and offer medical care, parenting skill classes, housing assistance, food assistance, etc.”
November 7, 2001
FCDC selected by WRBR/WSJV-28 and Martin’s Supermarkets “Stuff a Bus” drive. Persons are invited to fill the bus and feed families on Nov. 10.
December 19, 2001
Nappanee will receive $165,782 as part of $700,000 IHFA funds to support affordable housing programs across Indiana. FCDC’s award is for new construction and rehabilitation of a 22-unit development (Central School project).
June 19, 2002
Federal funds awarded to FCDC by Governor Joe Kernan. This is part of the Community Focus Fund (CFF) grants totaling $14.8 million this year for 36 Indiana communities. Nappanee will receive $495,000 for senior housing and the Nappanee Boys and Girls Club.
June 25, 2002
“Joan presented Medical Assistance program for the elderly which would provide emergency contact service.” (Board Minutes)
October 22, 2002
Ed (Geleske) presented the Medical Assistance Program and requested a motion to endorse this.” (Board Minutes)
November 26, 2002
Ground-breaking for Main Street Manor.
March 27, 2003
“Joan gave an update on the Medical Assistance Program or MAP. The proposed budget for 1 year is about $76,000. At this time staff is providing this service part-time and it is made known either by doctor’s referral or by word of mouth. It is unlikely that advertising will be needed. Efforts are underway to raise the funds for this program.”
July 6, 2004
FCDC receives the 2004 Program of the Year award from the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development in Indianapolis.
November 25, 2004
(Thanksgiving Day), The Truth, editorial honoring “we have a lot to be grateful for in the Elkhart County area:, FCDC “has six staff members and more than 300 volunteers who work with those who are struggling financially in Nappanee and Wakarusa. The organization helps with housing, rent and utility payments, food immunizations, medicines, Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts.
September 8, 2005
Building renovations visually spotlighted in local paper
December 10, 2005
Beds and Britches Etc. (BABE), store inside FCDC is spotlighted. Along with this, a baby shower was held December 6 for the BABE store.
July 27, 2006
“Wakarusa making a name for itself on (the) bluegrass music scene with second festival…Everything we do benefits FCDC.”
October 16, 2006
FCDC 10th anniversary celebration, encompassing its slogan “Compassion in Action.”
November 9, 2006
Indiana Achievement Awards Nonprofit Awards Luncheon. Sustainability Small, presented by the Dekko Foundation, FCDC. FCDC is one of six recipients of the Indiana Achievement Award. Each of the six received a non-restricted cash grant of $10,000. (spot lighted in Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Friday Night Facts.)
November 14, 2007
Joan Andrews accepts the Executive Director of the Year Award from United Way of Elkhart County.
February 29, 2008
Farewell luncheon for Joan Andrews.
March 27, 2008
The Advance News, FCDC announced the retirement of its founding director, Joan Andrews. “Andrews is leaving to propel an FCDC program, ‘Aim Straight Marriage and Family,’ to separate agency status.”
May 12, 2008
FCDC Board of Directors announces new Executive Director Dr. Jeff Stueve.
Fall 2008
Economic downturn (Monaco, Newmar and Keystone laying off or closing) FCDC seeks to be involved in supporting those losing their jobs.
May 7, 2009
FCDC staff invites the community to participate in a special prayer walk prior to the annual Nappanee Area Community Prayer Breakfast.
November 1, 2009
New Executive Director of FCDC, Karen Sherer Stoltzfus introduced at FCDC’s Annual breakfast.
Fall 2010
FCDC selected as winner of the lamp post decorating contest (most monetary votes) in the “Scarecrow with a Mission” contest in Wakarusa.
Fall 2011
Barabara A’Hearn contracted as an Event Coordinator to plan the first “Come to the Table.”
August 11, 2012
Come to the Table dinner and auction held at Coppes Commons Upper Room event center. 12 chefs provided various courses for the guests, and the event netted $74,000 for FCDC. Seven new freezers purchased through Fund A Need.
August 14, 2013
Second annual Come the Table also held at Coppes Commons. $73,000 raised in total, and funding for a Summer Lunch Program provided via Fund A Need.
March 2014
Karen Sherer Stotlzfus resigns her position as Executive Director of FCDC to go on Goshen College SST program in Perus with her husband.
June 2, 2014
Mark Mikel begins as Executive Director of FCDC
June 10, 2014
Summer Lunch Program begins serving lunches at Boys and Girls Club and at West Park Pavilion. West Park site also offers Bible School program each week led by community churches. 1,600 lunches are served during June and July.
August 9, 2014
Come to the Table moves to The Pond and raises $94,000 including $27,000 for a new, larger van for Food Pantry pick-up and delivery.
Summer 2015
Summer Lunch Program serves 2800 meals at Boys and Girls Club, West Park, and Recovery Park in Nappanee.
August 8, 2015
Come to the Table brings in $154,000 with a focus on the Baby Immunization Clinic. $37,600 was raised for the Clinic as a match to a $30,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.
February 2016
Meredith Laidig hired to manage the Baby Immunization Clinic. Clinic days go to two times a month with an ultimate goal of reaching four days a month.
March 2, 2016
FCDC enters a Letter of Intent with the City of Nappanee, Wa-Nee Community Schools, and Boys and Girls Club of Nappanee. The purpose of the letter is to move forward with exploring a plan for all three organizations to partner for a capital campaign to fund future facilities needs for the City, the schools, the Boys and Girls Club, and FCDC.
May 16, 2016
“Stamp Out Hunger” food drive sponsored by the Letter Carriers and United Way brings in over 2 tons of food for FCDC, Open Door, and First Church of God food pantries.
Summer 2016
Almost 3,600 lunches served to community children at four locations – West Park, Recovery Park, Boys and Girls Club, and Wakarusa Town Park.
November 5, 2016
Stuff A Bus with Martin’s Supermarket and 103.9 WRBR celebrates its 15 year of partnership with FCDC.
December 10, 2016
Christmas Jubilee celebrates its 20th Anniversary at Boys and Girls Club. 123 families representing 335 child are provided Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, hats, coats, cookies, fruits and Bibles.
March 2017
Baby Clinic adds a third day each month to provide immunizations to community children.
May 2017
WaNee Vision 2020 Campaign begins with a goal of raising $5.75 million to fund several community projects that are dependent on one another: new soccer field at Wellfield Park; new Boys and Girls Club next to Nappanee Elementary; renovation of Central School for relocation of FCDC; renovation of Elder House.
Summer 2017
Chayla Bellman, Summer Intern, oversees Summer Lunch Program providing 3,500 lunches and adding the Nappanee Public Library as a fifth site.
August 2017
Come to the Table hits six years with its third year at The Pond. $156,000 raised with Fund-A-Need providing ongoing support for the Summer Lunch Program.
April 2018
WaNee Vision 2020 exceeds its goal and raises $5.81 million in cash and pledges for the projects planned within the community.
Summer 2018
Summer Lunch Program serves 2,300 lunches at the five sites in Nappanee and Wakarusa. Brooke Murray supervises the program as a summer intern.
September 2018
Come to the Table is held at a new event center in Nappanee, Sammlung Platz (the Gathering Place). $126,000 is raised to develop a Friday Back Pack Program for Wa-Nee Students.
December 8, 2018
Christmas Jubilee is held at Boys and Girls Club. Nearly 400 children benefit from the Toys for Tots program. Generous cash donations from community members provided new coats for the children.
February 2019
Jon Andrews, son of FCDC founder Joan Andrews, is hired as a Client Services Coordinator and Event Coordinator.
May 11, 2019
Stamp Out Hunger again brings in 3,000 pounds of food from the community to help FCDC and Open Door food pantries.
Summer 2019
Chayla Bellman returns as the summer intern to manage the Summer Lunch Program. 3,600 lunches served through June and July.
August 10, 2019
Come to the Table returns to Sammlung Platz. Child Nutrition is the Fund-A-Need for this year. $53,000 raised to fund Summer Lunch Program, Milk Vouchers, and the Back Pack Program. A partnership with Cultivate, a food rescue program is developed to provide a variety of frozen, nutritious meals for Wa-Nee students in need of food on the weekends. Plans were presented for the renovation of the Central School space formerly occupied by the Boys and Girls Club. A new logo for The Center is introduced.
December 2019
Idella Chupp, Office Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for 14 ½ years retires from service at FCDC.
February 2020
Menessah Mullett, former Executive Director at Big Brothers/Big Sisters is hired to be Office Manager and Volunteer Coordinator
March 2020
Spread of the COVID-19 pandemic results in the closure of schools and non-essential businesses. The Center partners with Wa-Nee Community Schools to ensure delivery of daily lunches to students. Partnership with Nappanee Missionary Church provides volunteers to help deliver and distribute lunches to eight sites around the school district. Friday Back Packs are delivered to students’ homes with Wa-Nee Transportation and NMC volunteers working together.
Food Pantry is curbside delivery to reduce risk of spreading the virus.
Baby Immunization Clinic is shut down temporarily.
Clothing Closet is closed. No clothing donations are being accepted.
The Center is represented on the Mayor’s Task Force for the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.
May 2020
Ken Julian of Thor Industries assists The Center in procuring an RV to use to reopen Baby Immunization Clinic and minimize foot traffic in the building. Heartland RV of Elkhart provides the use of the RV.
June 2020
Baby Immunization Clinic returns to the building with precautions.
Food Pantry returns to in person shopping by clients with precautions.
FCDC oversees Nappanee Hospitality Relief funds for restaurant and hotel workers affected by COVID-19.
FCDC is chosen by United Way and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County to administer funds ($22,000) from the Thrive Grant to aid families affected by COVID-19.