Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (DNS) -- Inman Christian Center, a Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)-related social services agency, cut the
ribbon on a new Inman-sponsored residential facility here July 17.
The Lasker Village apartments will house adults with disabling
conditions in 24 new independent living units.
The apartments are named for Mrs. Lasker O'Keefe Hereford, Laredo,
a long-time, consistent and generous benefactor of Inman Center
and numerous other Disciples ministries. She cut the ribbon on the
nearly completed $1.6 million facility.
The new apartment development on the east side of San Antonio was
financed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), which also will subsidize residents' rent payments. The first
residents are expected to occupy Lasker Village units in August.
Inman sponsors and manages three other HUD facilities comprising
nearly 200 residential apartments in the south Texas city.
Cynthia Leon, San Antonio-area HUD coordinator, lavished praise on
Inman Center's management of its three other residential facilities.
"You have operated them very well. Projects like this one are becoming
increasingly important," she said. The HUD official said Inman's ability
to provide high quality human services for residents make the center
an attractive government partner for projects like the Lasker Village
apartments. The new development will be the first HUD project in south
Texas that is 100 percent wheel chair-accessible.
Inman will supply residents with transportation, education, economic
counseling, nutrition services and recreation. Residents are also eligible
for dental care through Inman's dental clinic.
Ribbon-cutting day activities included an evening reception and dinner
at Central Christian Church in honor of Hereford. In addition to her
support of Inman Center, the Disciples laywoman has backed a wide
variety of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ministries.
The Rev. Lester Palmer, president of the Pension Fund and the evening's
keynote speaker, praised Hereford as a "true partner" in bringing "the
church together in its common ministry." Palmer's ultimate words of
gratitude to the honoree were simple: "We want to say thank you
for what you've done."
Hereford is a native Texan and member of First Christian Church. The
Laredo businesswoman's remarks from the podium were brief. She
gave thanks for her parents, now deceased, and other members of her
family, some of whom joined in honoring her at the banquet. She
modestly described herself as a partner with many others whose
charitable contributions and tax dollars work with hers.
When asked for an observation on responsible stewardship, she said
no more or less than "Well, God entrusts you with His goods."
Inman Christian Center, established in 1913 by the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), serves children and families in programs of health,
education, child care, counseling, social services and housing. It is
especially well-known for the Inman Residential Treatment Center,
which provides intensive supervised treatment and rehabilitation
services for teens who abuse chemical inhalants.
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