Family Services Center in Ozark is in Danger of Closing

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jul 24 2015 8:03 AM

According to (WDHN) Board members renamed the Ozark-Dale County Family Services Center the Mary Hill Family Services Center. It was named after Mary Joyner, the center's director who was killed by her husband in a murder-suicide shooting. She helped open the doors of a new building, and now, all her efforts hang in the balance, as the center faces the possibility of closing.

"We were working towards bettering the community and our kids in the community, and then after Mary's passing, we're in a situation where we're without leadership and without funding," said Jeremy Varney, a board member of the center and juvenile probation officer.

Several jobs are at stake, but of more concern: the hundreds of people in need of the services they provide for children, families and the elderly. As of now, there's no money to continue these efforts, only the possibility of one $5,000.00 grant.

"That would be the only free cash flow we would have available at this time, just enough to keep the utilities on until maybe December," Varney said, painting a grim picture of less than six months before the lights go out and the doors close, for good.

"We are looking for an individual who has the spirit and the knowledge and the passion to come into this center and try and build it back up, so that we don't lose the necessary resources for our community. At this point, we are looking at by the end of the year having to shut the center down completely,” said Tabitha Brannon, chairman of the board.

It's a scenario they hope to avoid by reaching out to the public for help. It takes up to $125,000.00 a year to operate the center, and they're hoping to quickly find funding, grant-writers and volunteers to help keep the center open.

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