About

MEAC’s History
In 1986, the Madisonville Education and Assistance Center (MEAC) was founded by a group of twelve community churches and the Madisonville Community Council to pool the community’s resources and better serve individuals and families with critical needs. With no organization providing direct emergency services within the 45227 zip code at that time, there were no mechanisms in place to make sure that residents did not seek help from multiple area churches, nor was there any way to ensure that the individuals would be better off in the long-term. Through MEAC’s coordinated approach, duplication of services would be eliminated and more effective planning and administration would be possible.

For over two decades, MEAC has been providing vital assistance, primarily in the form of food, clothing, rent and utility assistance to individuals and families who reside in the 45227 zip code area (Fairfax, Madison Place, Madisonville, and Mariemont), and in 2003, the neighboring communities of the East End, Hyde Park, and Oakley were added to its service area. In 2009, MEAC began offering a preschool literacy program for children ages 3-5. MEAC helps people move toward self-sufficiency by providing referrals to other community agencies for services including additional education, job training, job placement, and substance abuse counseling.

Today, MEAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the expanded support of over twenty community churches. It collaborates with the City of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati–Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) and the Freestore Foodbank – partnerships that have greatly increased MEAC’s ability to fulfill its mission.

MEAC’s Mission
To provide vital assistance primarily to people in need who reside in the Madisonville community.

MEAC’s Vision
MEAC’s vision is that all people in Madisonville are self-sufficient.

Church Sponsors
Armstrong Chapel
Beacon of Life Church
Calvary Presbyterian
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
Gaines United Methodist
Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist
Greater Liberty Baptist
Hyde Park Community United Methodist
Indian Hill Episcopal-Presbyterian
Knox Presbyterian
Korean-Madisonville United Methodist
Madisonville Church of God
Mariemont Community Church
New Life Temple
New Mission Missionary Baptist
St. Anthony Catholic
St. Mary Catholic
St. Paul Lutheran
St. Paul United Methodist

Board of Trustees
Peter Wimberg, Chair
Lainie Fertick, Vice Chair
Rev. Edward Kirkland, Secretary
Paul Gaffney, Treasurer
Mary Anne Bressler
Joselyn Cummings
James Deller
Joseph Feldhaus
Sandy Fox
Rev. Bruce Freeman
Claudia Harrod
Jennifer Henz
Thomas Maher
John Schenk
Erin Weller