A nonprofit group has opened a new community center in Newark.
Officials and volunteers with the Delaware Regional Dream Center are already providing backpacks and boxes full of snacks to students at five schools in the Red Clay and Christina School Districts.
The group is leasing a 2,700 square foot facility to use as a warehouse and as office space. It also received a donation of 35 pallets of nonperishable food from the Sacramento-based nonprofit Convoy of Hope.
The Delaware Regional Dream Center founder and CEO Rev. Chris Dito is also senior pastor of Parkview Assembly of God church. He says his church members were already engaged in community work when he decided to start a 501c3 modeled after the national “Dream Center” with locations across the country.
“We have a broad base of volunteers that come in and pack the boxes and pack the backpacks for the children,” said Dito. “And we’ll be taking in some winter clothing and socks and hats and things of that nature as colder days come upon us.”
Dito is expecting the operation to grow. He says the center will soon add an industrial refrigerator to store perishable food. He also says he’s hoping to add more community development classes at the new location.
“To help parents with such things ESL, English Second Language. Also for afterschool programs a possible computer learning program, resume building class and things of that nature,” said Dito.
He also says he hopes to eventually affiliate with the national chain of Dream Centers and add to its more than 80 locations across the country. And he is seeking a partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware.
