GULF SHORES, Ala. — Today’s Christian Service Center facilities are a far cry from its early beginnings in 1991.

From a rented one-room home to the four-building complex that now comprises the CSC home, expansion of working space has increased to meet growing needs for emergency services on Pleasure Island. 

In between, the Center was located on West Beach in a motel room about two miles from the inter-section of Hwy. 59. When space there became inadequate, the Center moved to a building on Alabama 180 East. Then, through the generosity of the George C. Meyer Foundation, land for a permanent home was donated and construction on the main office building and a small storage facility was completed in March 2001.

By 2002, needs had again out-grown space and an Accessory Building was built and used to warehouse food items as well as storage for Christmas Cheer, Birthday Club and medical equipment. In 2009, the Erie Meyer Charitable Trust awarded a grant to expand the Accessory Building and the Food Pantry was moved there from the Main Building. By moving the Food Pantry from the Main Building, it was possible to add two private client interview rooms along with additional space to facilitate office support and record storage.

And, once again, through the generosity of the Erie Meyer Charitable Trust, a fourth building has been added to the complex. This building now provides space for the Medical Equip-ment Loaner Closet and the Birthday Club overflow as well as one of the Center’s newest initiatives, the Adult Bicycle Program.

All bicycles are donated and sometimes need to be repaired but the program has had a very positive impact on individuals wishing to become self-supporting by giving them a means to get to work.

Today, 22 years later, as needs have grown, so has the support of the Pleasure Island Ministerial Association and its members as well as that of many island individuals, businesses, civic and charitable organizations.

The work that is done here could not be accomplished without this support and that of the dedicated volunteers who serve so faithfully.