The Duluth Bethel this month celebrates 149 years of service to the Northland, making it one of the region’s oldest continuously operated nonprofits.
When people hear that the Bethel is nearly 150 years old, many can’t believe it’s true. But our organization has an inspiring story in addition to longevity.
The Bethel defined its mission in 1873 as promoting a temporal and spiritual welfare of seamen and their families … as may not have been provided for by regular religious and benevolent societies in the city and vicinity.”
As logging, mining and railroads also became major industries in northeast Minnesota, the Bethel mission expanded to include services to lumberjacks, miners and railroad workers. Eventually, those served by the Bethel were defined broadly as transient men who, because of the seasonal nature of their work or other factors, did not have steady employment or a permanent place to live.
Later, the Bethel expanded its role to provide additional help to families. Today, the Bethel exists primarily to assist those seeking to recover from substance abuse disorder or to integrate back into society through community-based alternatives to jail and prison. Some clients take part in both types of services.
Read the full history of the Bethel here. Though the Bethel is 149 years old, the needs it serves today are not much different from those the organization was created to address in 1873. Our community still needs the Bethel. Fortunately, the Bethel still shines its beacon of hope, helping people find their ways back to productive, healthy lives.