Midland County's Casa De Amigos a friend 'throughout the lifespan' of those it serves

Established in 1964 as a pre-kindergarten program, Casa De Amigos has come a long way since then and is now working as a multi-cultural neighborhood center to improve the quality of life in Midland County. 

It serves over 3,500 people annually.

"One of the greatest opportunities at Casa de Amigos is that we start with clients 'where they are today' and help them formulate a plan for self-sufficiency and/or independence," said Tonya Eckert, executive director of Casa De Amigos, in an interview with the Midland Times. "We listen with our ears and our hearts." 

Eckert stressed that the center's aim is to help each individual reach the highest level of caring for themselves. 

"Casa de Amigos is a multi-cultural community center that serves individuals throughout the lifespan," said Eckert in the interview. "Our mission is to improve the quality of life throughout the community by helping people help themselves. Our vision is that each client will reach their highest level of self-sufficiency."  

Eckert mentioned how Casa de Amigos has impacted people in several life-changing ways and that it's difficult to pinpoint one specific instance.

"Casa de Amigos has been a part of the Midland community for 57, almost 58 years. There is so much life-changing work that happens daily at Casa de Amigos, it is difficult to put your finger on one specific consideration. If your passion is senior citizens, we provide many services to help them remain independent. If your passion is youth, ensuring a lifelong love for learning is paramount," Eckert said.

Its beginnings were humble, according to Eckert. The original pre-kindergarten program started in a small abandoned grocery store after members of St. Mark’s Methodist Church became concerned inequality in education for elementary education. Now, Casa de Amigos has grown into a 20,000 square foot facility.

Casa de Amigos is located in southeast Midland where it provides comprehensive services in four main areas: adult and youth education, social services, health and wellness, and senior services. The center provide direct services, casework, mentoring, and assistance navigating referrals to other appropriate services.

According to its website, adult education includes English as a second language, General Educational Development (GED), citizenship, financial literacy, and Take2 job skills training. The youth education program provides after-school tutoring and homework help during the school year as well as a summer literacy camp. Social services address the immediate needs of the individual and family while health and wellness provides health screenings, health education, a diabetes support group, medical clinics, and emergency dental referrals. Senior services maintain a large senior center with a balanced program of educational, social, and recreational activities. Citywide community services provides home cleaning for low-income and elderly clients.

Casa de Amigos is a United Way of Midland member agency and is also supported by several foundations, individuals, churches, and companies. The public can help the mission of Casa de Amigos through donations or volunteering.