About Us

Children, Teens, Community, Faith

Our History

The Best Community for Kids and Teens

Where it all began

When Dave Carver, pastor at the First United Presbyterian Church in Crafton Heights, first came to the church 35 years ago, he immediately noticed something. “The neighborhood was filled with children and teenagers and there was not any programming, ” Carver remembered. So, he decided to do something about it. He started a street hockey league in 1983 that revealed lots of enthusiasm for youth recreation in the area, and in 1987, he took the next step by starting an organization called The Open Door.

The first step? Finding a building. They settled on a structure down the street on Stratmore Avenue that had once housed a movie theater. “The building itself had been vacant for more than 20 years and it was in horrible disrepair,” said Carver.

Carver needed to both buy the building and pay for the repairs, but the church was short on cash. So he had to look elsewhere for the funds.



I essentially wrote letters, every month, to everybody I knew, asking them to send money to the church, “ said Carver. Once the building had been purchased and was ready to be redone, the community pitched in. Local parents and kids, some as young as 5th grade, showed up. Labor unions, meanwhile, sent their apprentice plumbers, carpenters and cement masons to lend a hand and gain experience.

Overall, Carver estimates that the church spent about $27,000 on the project, while in-kind donations and volunteer work covered almost $100,000 in costs. “There was the rehabilitation of the structure, but there was also a re-engagement in the neighborhood and there was an establishment of community that had not existed," Carver said. "And in some ways, the structure was the vehicle for that establishment of community."

Today, The Open Door remains a staple of that community. The main room near the entrance still has a stage, where the movie screen once sat. The space where the elevated rows of seats used to be has been cleared out to make room for a gym floor, with a basketball hoop, the original projector space has been replaced with a room for arts and crafts, and now there's a game room off of the stage.

Our History

Grounded in principles of the Christian faith, and open to all, The Open Door Youth Outreach exists to improve the lives of neighborhood youth through programming that supports strong self-identity, resiliency and behavioral competence. We are intentional in purposeful community engagement through positive relationships in academic assistance, social interaction and athletics with caring adult volunteers in an environment of safety and fun.

Who we are and what we believe

The Open Door exists to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to neighborhood young people and families through intentional relationships with caring adults in an environment of safety and fun.

Mission

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Vision

Where kids whom God loves meet adults who love God.

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We Hear You

Have Any Questions?

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