Kinship marks 20 years with dedication The Catholic Charities’ Kinship Community Residence celebrated 20 years of service Friday afternoon and dedicated its Rumsey Street home in honor of a founding father and former Executive Director Joseph Weider. By Jeffery Smith jsmith@the-leader.com Posted Sep. 18, 2015 at 6:16 PM BATH | The Catholic Charities’ Kinship Community Residence celebrated 20 years of service Friday afternoon and dedicated its Rumsey Street home in honor of a founding father and former Executive Director Joseph Weider. Kinship provides housing, educational services and support groups to men who are battling substance abuse, said Kim Robards-Smith, program director. Friday, Catholic Charities thanked Weider for his perseverance in building the center. “In an attempt to recognize all the hard work and dedication Joe gave Kinship Family & Youth Services and in light of this 20th anniversary, we the Board of Catholic Charities, have decided to
Eric Wensel/The Leader Joe Weider, former executive director of Kinship Family & Youth Services (center) cuts the ribbon with his family Christopher, Nancy and Sarah, and Residential Director Kim Robards-Smith. On the 20th anniversary of the house it was renamed the Weider House in recognition of the decades of work.
rededicate this program and house to Joe,” said Dan Wensel, a board member, during a surprise dedication. “This facility will be named The Weider House.” Weider was surprised by the honor. “I really don’t know what to say,” said Weider, who helped lead the drive to open Kinship on Sept. 18, 1995. “Weider House to me means someone more than just myself. This type of work started with my grandmother, my uncle and my brother. I think it’s something in our genes. I’m honored by this wonderful surprise.” Dr. Robert Anderson, former director of Steuben County Community Services, said Weider did all the hard work to make Kinship Community Residence a reality. “If not for Joe calling (state officials) every day, people would have forgotten about us,” Anderson said. The residence, built with $547,000 in state funding, has beds for 18 available for men battling substance abuse. Robards-Smith said referrals have increased each year since Kinship opened and it’s not uncommon to have a waiting list. The program recently reached the 3,000 referral mark, with most coming from rural-based inpatient treatment programs. The average length of stay at Kinship is 3 to 6 months. Residents graduate after completing all goals and objectives on their service treatment plans, officials said. Ismael Tirado, from Bath, stayed at Kinship in 2005. “I have 10 years of being clean and sober,” Tirado said. “This house saved my life and many others.”