Heartside Ministry was founded in the summer of 1983 as a non-profit organization to serve the needs of the homeless and otherwise marginalized persons living in the near-downtown neighborhood of Grand Rapids known as the Heartside.

In its 18 year history, Heartside Ministry has been instrumental in creating many new ministries and collaborative programs:

• St. Mary’s Heartside Clinic, offering medical care and social work services

• In the Image, providing free clothing, furniture and housewares to people in the neighborhood

• Faith Inc., providing employment services for the unemployed

• The Recuperation Center, a residential program for the temporarily medically fragile

• Child Care Coalition, supporting day care funding for children at risk

• educational programs focusing on GED preparation and adult literacy concerns

• arts programs and writers’ club

• the Heartside Neighborhood Computer Center, a computer training facility

• free long and short-term counseling with a choice of counselors

• Heartside provides space for others such as the Hard Times Café, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Rose Haven Ministries, the Heartside Arts Market, Free Legal Consultation, and Heartside Neighborhood Agencies

The Mission of Heartside Ministry… Inspired by Jesus Christ, Heartside Ministry partners with Heartside Neighborhood residents in worship, education, advocacy, and creative expression, and calls the larger community to respond to both the challenges and contributions of their Heartside Neighbors.