Mercy Ministries celebrates opening of second location in Reading

Apr. 18—Mercy Ministries held the grand opening Saturday of its second location, the 921 Center at 921 Walnut St.

"We're really excited about being able to officially open and expand our ministry," said Joe Andrews, a volunteer who focuses on fundraising and serves as a spokesman for the group.

The location will focus on helping Reading youth through English as a second language classes, and classes on handling relationships, healthy cooking, parenting, financial literacy and other skills to benefit families.

"When school is back to normal, Walnut Street is like a river of students and that's a segment of the population we really want to help," Andrews said. "It'll be an opportunity for them to gather and have food and learn about making good choices in their lives."

The new facility at Walnut and Moss streets was renovated from a pair row houses donated to the nonprofit in 1998, when it was known as Mercy Crisis Pregnancy Center, helping women deal with unplanned pregnancies.

The other location, 105 S. Fifth St., still has that focus, Andrews said.

Mercy decided in late 2017 to renovate the row homes and raised $325,000 for the project, Andrews said. The COVID pandemic delayed the project.

Anyone wishing to access the Mercy services can visit mercypregnancycenter.org, the nonprofit's Facebook account or email adminassist@mercypregnancycenter.org.

Plus, the phone number for the 921 Center is 610-370-7112, with 610-376-0828 as another contact number.

Or anyone can walk up to one of the locations.

"Our doors are open, whatever the situation," Andrews said.