Center for Family Services, Inc.

The Center for Family Services is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout Crawford and Venango counties. Our mission is to assist, support, and strengthen our community, and everything we do is rooted in that commitment. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to build a better life, no matter where they’re starting from.

We work to address the root causes of instability by focusing on the social determinants of health—things like housing, food access, transportation, and community support. From a family in crisis to an individual reentering society after incarceration, we meet people where they are and walk alongside them as they move forward. Our vision is to create a safe, stable, and healthy community where every person has the opportunity to thrive.

The Center operates as a critical safety net in the region. When families fall through the cracks, we fill in the gaps. Our programs are designed to respond quickly to immediate needs while also focusing on long-term outcomes. We manage eight food pantries across Crawford County, offer housing support and shelter resources, and assist individuals with navigating complex challenges through one-on-one case management. We also provide reentry services for those coming out of incarceration, helping them transition back into the community with dignity and direction.

One of our greatest strengths is our ability to build partnerships and bring people together. We collaborate closely with schools, hospitals, law enforcement, churches, and other nonprofits to ensure that no one slips through the cracks. Our team works hard behind the scenes—securing grants, building community coalitions, and advocating for change—while never losing sight of the individual people we serve each day.

We are currently transforming a long-vacant commercial property in downtown Meadville into a trauma-informed community service hub. This new space will be a welcoming and inclusive environment where people can access a wide range of resources under one roof—from counseling and case management to food, housing, and educational support. It represents not just a building project, but a bold step forward in how we serve the community.

The Center has grown significantly in recent years—not only in the number of people we serve but in the impact we’re able to make. None of it would be possible without our dedicated staff, board members, volunteers, and community supporters. They are the heart of our mission, showing up every day with compassion, commitment, and a deep belief in the strength and potential of every person we encounter.

At the Center for Family Services, we believe in giving a hand up—not a handout. We believe that real change happens when people are supported, empowered, and treated with respect. And we believe in building a community that’s not only healthy and stable—but strong enough to carry one another forward.