(St. Louis, MO) A grand opening celebration is planned at Guardian Angel Settlement Association’s new $3-million, 18,000 square-foot Social Services Center located at 3300 S. Jefferson Ave. for October 23 beginning at 4:30 pm.

The facility includes group meeting spaces for the wide array of self-sufficiency workshops Guardian Angel offers; a state-of-the-art kitchen where nutritional workshops will be held in partnership with Operation Food Search; a food pantry; private meeting rooms for 1:1 case management and administrative offices.  The new facility will also be the new location for the highly popular Angel Boutique Resale Shop.

“The whole project is necessary,” said Jane Akers, a long-time supporter of Guardian Angel.  “Since 1859, Guardian Angel has been providing a hand-up rather than a hand-out to people in the community who sometimes need access to resources when they’re in a pinch.  This new facility will enable more people to have easier access to those resources.”

With the new facility, Guardian Angel will increase its capacity from having space for 300 people in the self-sufficiency workshops to now having capacity to serve some 2,400 people.  Individual self-sufficiency meetings will triple with the expanded space; the Client-Choice Food Pantry will now accommodate well over 5,000 visits, up over 200%.

“The Guardian Angel community rallied around this new facility because they saw the need and difference it would make in the lives of thousands of people in St. Louis,” said Jessica Brandon, President & CEO of Guardian Angel.  “Everyone from our neighbors in our new location, city and state elected officials, corporate leaders and funders – and of course, many individual donors, helped move a dream to a reality as we transformed a vacant building on an entire block of Jefferson Avenue in about two years.”

The Grand Opening event will enable everyone in the community to get a first-hand look at the new facility.  St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and 9th Ward Alderman Dan Guenther will share remarks; appetizers and a champagne toast will be available for guests.  The Grand Opening will be 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Registration is encouraged at yatess@gasastl.org.

About Guardian Angel Settlement Association

Guardian Angel Settlement Association is the first step on the path to possible for children, individuals and families in St. Louis.  Since 1859, Guardian Angel’s mission has focused on programs and services that provide economic independence for all; academic readiness for children; and self-sufficient futures for adults.