South Street Ministries

10/08/2026

South Street’s Bike Shop is about the community and family from the Usner family, Dave and his son, to each family that comes and is empowered to earn their own bike.

The Bike Shop, a local nonprofit in Summit County is working to make sure everyone has a chance to earn their wheels.

10/07/2026

South Street Ministries exists because of CCDA and John Perkins! The Christian Community Development Association meets annually for a conference of development, encouragement, worship, and community. Joe Tucker has had the privilege of serving on the CCDA board of directors (pictured) and members of the South Street team are en route to Richmond, VA for this year’s conference. Prayers for the whole team this week!

09/29/2026

📣 South Street is hiring!

We’re looking for a dedicated individual to join our ReDirection team and play a pivotal role in helping neighbors successfully transition home after incarceration.

This position will be an important part of our team, supporting individuals as they navigate reentry and reconnect with their communities. Justice-impacted individuals are encouraged to apply, and preference will be given to candidates who live in or very close to Akron.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share this post!

Interested in applying? Visit our website to learn more and submit your application. 💚

09/24/2026

🍽️ NEW DATES, SAME LINK! 🍽️

Our 2027 Reentry Meal Signup dates are LIVE! 🎉

Each and every week, we are blessed by the many groups, churches, and individuals who step up to provide a meal for our weekly group. ❤️

Throughout 2026, we’ve welcomed quite a few new groups who have joined us in supporting their neighbors returning home from incarceration with something as simple—and meaningful—as a meal. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who cooks, serves, donates, or purchases a meal for our group each week!

We’re also excited to share that all of our remaining 2026 meal dates are covered! 🙌

And now, 2027 dates have been added to SignupGenius! 🎉

Ready to get your group on the calendar? Click the link below to sign up for a 2027 meal date!

Thank you for continuing to show up, serve, and remind our neighbors that they are welcomed and supported. 💙

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4EA9AF28A7F8C70-60373595-2026

09/22/2026

🚲☀️ Bike Shop Summer 2026 was AMAZING! ☀️🚲

This summer, across all of our locations:

🚲 564 bikes were earned
🔧 219 repairs were completed
🙌 496 volunteer hours were donated

And we are feeling incredibly grateful. ❤️

A HUGE thank you to AMHA in Summit Lake, 915 in North Hill, and Summit Cycle Center in downtown Akron for welcoming us and allowing us to host Bike Shop sites with you all summer long!

To our incredible volunteers — we truly could not do this without you. Thank you for showing up, putting in the work, and sharing your time and talents.

To the churches and individuals who donated bikes, thank you for helping put wheels under so many people this summer. 🚲

To the communities who welcomed us in, thank you for making Bike Shop part of your summer.

And finally, the biggest thank you to our amazing staff — the people who dream, sweat, problem-solve, and work harder than anyone to make all of this happen. We are so grateful for everything you do. ❤️

What a summer! We’re already looking forward to doing it all again.

We can’t wait for next year! 🚲☀️🙌

09/15/2026

Day of Change 🔥

This Friday from 12-3 join South Street and dozens of other providers at Morgan Park. The Day of Change is a community resource fair and community fest to encourage growth, change, and wellbeing in our community.

Come out to enjoy the fun be in community together!

A huge thank you to our partners in this event Goodwill, Akron Parks Collaborative, and Just In Time Staffing!

09/12/2026

⛳️A huge thank you to all of our incredible sponsors and participants who made the Charity and Beyond Golf Classic such a success! We had an amazing day filled with great golf, delicious food, and, most importantly, a wonderful sense of community.

We’re so grateful for your generosity, support, and enthusiasm. Together, we build a stronger community, especially for our kids and youth.

Thank you for being part of the day and for supporting us. We can’t wait to see you again next year!

09/10/2026

🎉 Welcome, Dana Baylor! 🎉

We’re excited to welcome our new Youth Director and Connector, Dana Baylor, to the South Street Ministries team! 💙

Want to get to know Dana a little better? Learn more about her, her heart for ministry, and what she hopes to bring to South Street below!

What role do you serve in the ministry?

Hi, my name is Dana Baylor, and I serve as the Youth Director and Connector here at South Street Ministries. My role is to serve the youth of Summit Lake and South Akron by creating safe spaces where they can connect, grow, and find meaningful ways to engage within their neighborhoods and throughout the city.

I also help connect people with opportunities to serve at South Street while fostering collaborative partnerships with other community-based organizations.

What do you want people to know about you?

I am a lifelong resident of Akron who brings over a decade of experience in Christian education, along with a passion for leadership, creativity, youth development, and community engagement. I care deeply about building relationships and creating opportunities for people to feel connected, valued, and empowered within their community.

What words of wisdom do you have for people who want to get involved in South Street?

To me, the heart of South Street is serving people with love and grace. If you truly have a servant’s heart and a desire to love people well, I believe there is a ministry at South Street with a spot that has your name on it. ❤️

📖 A word that centers Dana:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11

Please join us in giving Dana a warm South Street welcome! We’re so grateful to have her on the team and excited to see how God will use her gifts, experience, and heart for our community. 🙌

09/08/2026

🚲🚂 Thank you to all the sponsors and participants who made our 13th Annual Trails N Rails event so special!

We’re incredibly grateful for such a fun and beautiful day together—riding along the Towpath Trail, enjoying a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and sharing a delicious lunch from Swenson’s at the Mustill Store. ❤️

Most of all, we loved spending time with YOU and celebrating the amazing community that South Street brings together.

Your support makes it possible for kids to find a safe place to grow and learn, justice-impacted neighbors to find second chances, and our whole community to experience connection, restoration, and hope.

And so much more.

Thank you for riding alongside us and for being part of the South Street community. We’re so grateful for each and every one of you! 💙