Ruth M. Smith Center Kitchen Committee members, staff and residents broke ground last week on a project that has been decades in the making.

=It’s taken more than 20 years, but the Ruth M. Smith Center in Sheffield will soon have a new, commercial grade kitchen.

Since 2003 the center’s Kitchen Committee has been saving every penny possible to provide the center with the kitchen they need to properly and conveniently prepare and provide the home cooked meals residents receive daily.

Richly rooted in serving the community, the circa 1884 Victorian beauty was home to the C.H. Smith family beginning in 1901. Their daughter Ruth died at the age of 8 as a result of rheumatic fever. In 1922 the Smiths gave their home to the Women’s Home Missionary Society of the Erie Conference of the Methodist Church. In memory of their daughter it was to serve as an orphanage for children.

Now in its 104th year of service the Smith Center remains true to its purpose of ministering to the needs of dependent children, youth, adults and families regardless of race, religion or national origin. Home to more than 30 elderly and differently abled adults this personal care home provides gap care for those who need care and assistance beyond the ability to live independently but do not require intermediate or nursing care. The campus includes the Smith family mansion which houses offices and private residential rooms, three residential dormitories, and a large stand alone gymnasium. The center’s gym is also home to the Sheffield branch of the Warren County YMCA.

After years of selling cookies and pies at Sheffield’s annual Johnny Appleseed Festivals where the group often made up to $2,000 the festival was no longer came to an end a few years ago

“Whatever was in the jar went to the fund.” said committee member Sandy Wagner.

The Smith Center staff continued to prepare more than 30 lunches and dinners daily in one of the small kitchens of the residential dormitories where the meals are then transported to other buildings. With limited space in the kitchen the basement is utilized for pantry storage. It has not been an ideal situation.

In 2024 a concerted push was made to bring a more than 20 year dream to fruition. Architectural renderings were produced by a civil engineer and a developer was chosen through a bidding process.

“We’ve gotten more excited the further we’ve gotten into the project,” said Kitchen Committee member Linda Thayer. “We’re really looking forward to this.”

Aside from funds that had been raised slowly for two decades, monies were secured from foundation grants and individual donations including a $100,000 anonymous donation. The project, with an estimated cost of $820,000 is now only $12,000 from its goal.

Despite the shortfall the work has begun.

“We charge forward, That’s what we do,” said Kim Adams, Smith Center executive director.

Sam VanVelkenberg has taken on the task of project manager. On Oct. 1 Empire Development from Mayville, N.Y., was at the property to install temporary fencing to keep the area secure and residents, staff and community members safe while under construction. On Friday, Oct. 3, equipment arrived and ground was broken.

“It’s really happening,” said Thayer of seeing the earth being moved. “We were in awe and very emotional” commented Wagner adding “There were tears of joy.”

The newly built, stand alone building measuring 72 feet by 32 feet will be home to a large commercial kitchen and storage as well as rooms used for conferences and training and space for special events. And all of that will be on one floor.

The Kitchen Committee credits teamwork and abounding community support for bringing this decades long dream to life.

“It’s taken a lot of teamwork,” said Wagner. “We’re really excited and the residents are excited.”

Further information on the Ruth M. Smith Center can be obtained by calling 814-968-3238 or by visiting www.ruthmsmithcenter.org.