“ACCESS,” A Community Center Established by the Surgent family for Society, is a new all-ages facility located on a long-neglected field, next to an abandoned school building, in Chester, PA.
The Surgent Family, with Drexel Neumann Academy’s Sister Maggie Gannon and Sister Cathy McGowan, were inspired to understand Chester’s most crucial needs. While there is a Chester Boys and Girls Club, it is on the far side of the city and focuses solely on youth; the Surgents and the Sisters understood that a center for all on this side of town would be the most beneficial for community revitalization and progress.
ACCESS consists of food cupboards and storage, a computer resource room, shower rooms, washers/dryers, meeting rooms for large group and small group instruction, gym space and a large industrial kitchen. They provide youth and adult educational and recreational programming, housing assistance through counseling and planning, a community garden, veteran services, multi-weekly breakfast, lunch and grocery distribution, weekly medical screenings, and substance abuse support services.
ACCESS continues expanding their programming and welcomes individual and group volunteers. Most important to the Surgents and the Sisters, ACCESS provides a safe and respectful environment for learning, recreation and support.
