Staff photo / Bob Coupland Niles Community Services on Vienna Avenue in Niles, which provides assistance in Niles, McDonald, Mineral Ridge and Weathersfield, has named Abigail Roberts, left, as the new director. With Roberts is Jean Williams, right, who served the agency as director for 40 years before retiring in May. Williams is assisting Roberts with the transition.

NILES — Abigail Roberts has taken the helm as director of Niles Community Services and is working with former director Jean Williams, who served 40 years for NCS.

The agency, located in Niles, serves residents of Niles, McDonald, Mineral Ridge and Weathersfield and the families of children who attend Niles schools.

Roberts, who began as director in May and has been working with Williams to become familiar with the job’s duties, said she has always wanted jobs where she is helping people in the community.

She first began working at a domestic violence shelter and after three months, she was running the shelter.

“For me, it was a huge learning experience. After that, I transitioned into working in recovery helping people at several drug and alcohol dependency rehab facilities. I learned a lot about detox and addiction. I started case management programs at three facilities,” Roberts said.

She has worked on a graduate degree in clinical/mental counseling at Youngstown State University. Roberts has a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing.

“I am learning the foundation of what Niles Community Services does. I have some very big shoes to fill with all Jean has done over the years. I look forward to keeping tradition and the legacy that has been built here. I want to present some new ideas and expand on the services provided,” Roberts said.

40 YEARS

Williams, who became director of NCS in 1986, said she served first with the American Red Cross and then Niles Community Services, working with Mary Jane Dell, who was the director until her retirement.

“After she retired, I was given the position. When I started, we saw 50 families a month and now we see between 200 and 300 families per month. The need has grown. There is more need for assistance at Christmas time. The awareness of the agency and what we can do for people has become more known over the years,” Williams said.

She said NCS provides basic humanitarian services for families.

“We try to help stabilize the whole family. It takes courage to walk in the front door,” Williams said.

She said she officially retired May 1 and is serving as a consultant to assist Roberts during the transition period.

“I will always remember the families I have assisted and their tenacity for life. Every day is a new adventure. Each day you think you have heard it all and then something new happens,” Williams said.

She said she wants to stay connected to the agency and assist Roberts where she can.

Roberts said she agrees with Wiliams that every day is different.

“Jean from day one has allowed me to get a feel of taking on this position. She has done a great job of walking me through the steps,” Roberts said.

NCS provides a food pantry, clothing, medical and utility assistance, and voter registration.

Williams said she remembers when she started in the 1980s, the NCS was located on the fourth floor of the Niles city bank building and then moved to the Vienna Avenue location in 1995.

“I remember when I started, there were no computers and we did everything by hand. We had typewriters and wrote everything out. We had beepers. I wore a beeper 24/7,” Williams said.

She said she has seen different family generations needing help and noted they are seeing more elderly people needing help.

“We do a multitude of activities,” Williams said.

NCS is a distribution site for the annual Toys for Tots and is a food assistance location.

Williams said there are food and cereal drives and the agency works with the U.S Postal Service’s letter carrier drive each May.

FUTURE PLANS

Roberts said what she is most excited about at NCS is getting to meet people and assisting them in whatever ways possible.

“There is no better feeling in the world than being able to assist people. I hope to be able to provide them with help and a glimmer of hope,” Roberts said. “People have courage to come in here. I do not want to ever turn them away. I want to help them find the resources they need.”

Roberts and Williams said that they are fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who help at NCS in many ways.