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Skeels-Mathews Community Center

Our mission is to improve the educational, cultural, recreational, social, and governmental aspects of the community and surrounding areas.

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The Founding of Skeels-Mathews

In the mid-1960s, Deseree Liddell, Vernon L. Mathews, and local residents founded the Skeels Improvement Corporation to strengthen their neighborhood. By 1968, the Skeels-Mathews Community Center opened its first permanent location on Arbeco Street with support from the Portage County Community Action Council. The Center moved to its current home on Skeels Street in 1980. When funding was later cut, Deseree continued running the Center for three years without pay, while residents held monthly fundraisers to keep the doors open. Support from United Way of Portage County began in 1983 and continues today. Thanks to Community Development Block Grant funding, the Center was rebuilt and expanded in 2000, adding a kitchen, clothing room, computer lab, offices, a food pantry, and a children’s room named in Deseree’s honor. Her daughter, Sharon Sanders, began volunteering in 1980 and now serves as director.
Today, the Skeels-Mathews Community Center remains a trusted hub of hope—serving children, teens, and older adults through programs powered by volunteers, partnerships, and a commitment to helping young people grow and thrive.

Who We Serve

The Skeels-Mathews Community Center serves all ages, with a special focus on youth and seniors. The center offers a variety of community programs, including weekly congregate meals every Wednesday and Friday, activities for seniors, adult nutrition classes, and holiday dinners and special events.

Skeels-Mathews also provides a safe place for youth to go after school and during summer break where they can receive after-school tutoring, educational programming, and free meals for breakfast, lunch, and a snack. A mentoring group for youth is also offered. 

After School Programming

Skeels-Mathews Community Center offers after school programming that is open to youth of all ages in Portage County. Services include daily homework support, studying for tests, assistance with make-up work, and individual sessions as needed. 

Our program works closely with Ravenna City Schools to communicate each student’s needs, and helps to complete requested activities provided by teachers. After-school aids are composed of community volunteers and partners, including retired teachers, Kent State students, and Foster Grandparent volunteers. 

Services are available on alternating days at both Skeels-Mathews Community Center and King Kennedy Community Center. The Skeels-Mathews Community Center tutors Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00pm–6:00pm. Our goal for the after school program is to provide educational enrichment to youth that builds social and emotional skills, increases confidence, and helps youth achieve academic success.

Contact Skeels-Mathews Community Center

4378 Skeels Street, Ravenna, OH 44266

(330) 297-0192

[email protected]

Monday–Friday: 9:00am–3:00pm

Donate to Skeels-Mathews Community Center

Skeels-Mathews Community Center relies mainly on community support. We are always in need of the following donations:

  • School supplies
  • Toiletries
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Non-perishable food and snacks

Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated.

In addition to donations, Skeels-Mathews is in need of volunteers to perform tasks such as cooking, stocking shelves, sorting non-perishable foods, clerical work, weeding, cleaning, and shoveling snow. Visit the AFS Volunteer page to sign up online or if you want to contribute but have limited time, please consider hosting a food drive or sponsoring a fundraiser!

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