The PARC, a downtown nonprofit that offers community, connection and daytime support for adults experiencing homelessness, marked a major milestone Tuesday with the grand opening of its new facility at 413 SW 6th Ave.
The organization’s name stands for Panhandle Adult Rebuilding Center, reflecting its mission to help adults rebuild confidence, stability and community through daytime support.
The celebration, held from 5 to 7 p.m., welcomed community members for tours, conversations with staff and board members, and an inside look at how the expanded center will strengthen the organization’s mission.
The new building represents a major investment in the nonprofit’s growth, with construction and renovation costs totaling about $1.7 million, according to Executive Director and co-founder Valerie Gooch. The space is roughly three times larger than PARC’s previous site and was intentionally designed to support classes, creative work and social connection.
PARC first opened its doors on Nov. 19, 2014, in a building that had previously served as a swingers club. Gooch said the founders saw potential where others may not have and gradually transformed the space into a welcoming daytime community for adults experiencing homelessness.
Gooch said she and her co-founder created the PARC after recognizing that many individuals had access to food, shelter or clothing, but lacked a consistent, welcoming place to spend their days. They wanted a space where people could build relationships, feel seen and remain productive.
“We saw a real gap, not just in daytime space but in opportunities for people to feel connected and capable,” she said.
Since moving into the expanded facility, PARC has rapidly increased its capacity. Gooch said daily attendance has doubled from about 30–35 people to around 60–70, with some days reaching 75. The building is designed to accommodate even more. She said the larger layout makes it possible to welcome more people while staying focused on creativity, productivity and community. The center now includes larger activity areas, multiple classroom spaces and a full coffee bar, which Gooch described as a hallmark of PARC culture.
“We may not always have everything else, but we will always have good coffee,” she said.
Gooch emphasized that the PARC does not duplicate services already offered by local shelters and agencies. Instead, it collaborates closely with organizations such as the Salvation Army, Faith City Ministries and Transformation Park. The downtown location was chosen so members can easily walk to those resources.
The PARC offers volunteer-led classes each day, ranging from recovery and financial skills to creative arts and writing. A large supply wall provides materials for members to work on crafts, art projects and other hands-on activities intended to help rebuild confidence and self-worth.
“One of the things I love is that we get to walk with people through their entire journey,” Gooch said. “We’re not a program with requirements. We can be with someone from the time they’re sleeping outside to the day they get a job or a home.”
Gooch said she hopes visitors to the grand opening walked away with a sense of the center’s purpose and the community it fosters.
“People here come from every background you can imagine,” she said. “It’s one of the most beautiful pictures of community you’ll find.”
The PARC accepts financial donations, volunteers and items from its Amazon wish list, which includes coffee supplies and creative materials. More information is available at theparc.net.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Here’s what new downtown Amarillo PARC offers for homeless adults
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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