By Bryanna Britten

According to BLOC’s website, “BLOC is One to One; (Believing and Living One Christ).” Bloc Ministries, whose charitable work is familiar throughout the Price Hill community, operates in Price Hill and Cleves. BLOC’s founder and director, Dwight Young, started on the west side of Price Hill about 20 years ago. Now there are 35 buildings housing services located in Cleves and Price Hill. Lower Price Hill has eleven buildings, and East Price Hill has seven buildings.

Young, who has a doctorate in Ministries, says he felt that God was calling him to help out neighborhoods that were in need. Thanks to foundations that donate to BLOC Ministries, people can get the help that they need. Young says JTM Hamburgers Company is the number one donor to BLOC Ministries, and the Riley Foundation is also a major contributor.

Sue Dickens, who volunteers as the art teacher at BLOC’s Arts Program in Lower Price Hill, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in fine arts. Three years later, she helped BLOC open an art program for kids of all ages at the BLOC Fine Arts building, at Neave and Staebler Street in Lower Price Hill. She says she volunteered because she and her husband were downsizing and had a lot of art supplies and not much space. So, she says, she lucked out with the opportunity to use space in the arts building. Now she gets donations from big companies and from others who want to help. She even puts her own money into supplies the kids need. Dickens said, “We don’t shut the doors on anyone.” The Art Program is open on Mondays and Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m, and available to anyone. But on Thursday, only high school kids can come, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lisa Jones, who also volunteers in a BLOC program, moved here from the D.C. area to join the work of BLOC Ministries. Jones, who came with her husband and children, runs an all-girls group called “Girls Wanted.” She also wants the program to be there so that the younger girls “can get closer to God” and so that they don’t feel neglected. Girls Wanted meets each Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m., but, she says, girls are welcome to help set up as early as 5:15, and just hang out until they eat together at 6 o’clock.
She says that she has a message she wants all girls to know: I am nobody’s property. I am a child of God. I have a hope and a future. I am beautiful. And so are you. The “Girls Wanted” program is open to girls ages 1218. All girls in that age range are welcome.