Eddie Nichols, director of Breakaway Ministries (the Dream Center), told the Gadsden City Council on Oct. 28 that his organization is expanding youth and family services and asked the council for help covering costs of upcoming events.

Nichols said the Dream Center's recent golf fundraiser drew 140 golfers and that the center currently works with about 80 students in an A/B honor-roll program. He described partnerships with Floyd Elementary on perfect-attendance incentives, a Family Connection Center offering free monthly services beginning in November, and plans to host JSU social-work interns in the spring to expand capacity.

Nichols also outlined immediate community events: a free soccer clinic scheduled for Nov. 8 that will use renovated fields behind the center; a Thanksgiving meal planned for Nov. 16 that will include distribution of turkeys; and a large Christmas program that historically provides gifts for students. He said the school principal told him there are "380 to 400 students" in need across the school and asked the council to consider discretionary support for meals or other non-personal-gift expenses to help offset costs.

‘‘We had a 140 golfers. It's the most we've ever had,' Nichols said during his remarks, citing the fundraiser's turnout. He described new programming and a November schedule for family services and social-work interns.

Mayor Craig Ford and several council members praised Nichols's work. Council members suggested limited, permissible ways the city could help because of restrictions on use of taxpayer discretionary funds for individual gifts. Mayor Ford told Nichols the council could consider support for meals or other creative alternatives to buying individual presents.

Why it matters: The Dream Center serves children and families in District 6 and adjacent neighborhoods with after-school programming, sports clinics, family services and holiday meal/gift programs. The center leverages volunteers and partnerships with JSU and local churches; expansion of services could reach hundreds of students and families if community support scales up.

Clarifying details and requests from the meeting

- Fundraising and participation: Nichols reported 140 golfers in the center's recent fundraiser and said about 80 Dream Center students participate in the A/B honor-roll program.

- School partnerships: Floyd Elementary will host attendance incentives and promote Dream Center services to as many as 380'400 students, according to the meeting exchange with the principal as reported by Nichols.

- Staffing and interns: Nichols said the Family Connection Center will start monthly services in November with a master's-level social worker (Renee Baloo) and that JSU expects to provide interns beginning in spring.

- Immediate events: A free soccer clinic is scheduled for Nov. 8; Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 16; and a Christmas program distributing presents later in the season. Nichols asked the council to consider discretionary funding that could offset meal or event costs, noting the city's restrictions on purchasing individual Christmas presents with taxpayer funds.

Council response and next steps

Council members and Mayor Ford thanked Nichols and praised the Dream Center's impact, acknowledging the city's limited authority to fund individual gifts. Council members suggested the city could explore allowable support such as covering meal costs or other event expenses rather than purchasing individual presents.

Ending: Nichols said a Phase 4 development for the center may be announced in spring and promised to return with updates. Council members encouraged residents to support Dream Center events and noted ways the city can provide creative assistance within funding rules.