Irmo residents have established a neighborhood nonprofit focused on bringing people together.

The HUB, a subsidiary organization of nonprofit The Door Home, was formed this past summer in the Friarsgate neighborhood, focused on supporting and bringing the community together. 

“I truly believe that neighbors are the heartbeat of communities,” Stacey Atkinson, chair for The Door Home, said. “And that if we stand with our neighbors, our communities are going to be safer. Our children are going to fly and it will be a country, community and a city that we’re all very proud of, and very much a part of.”

Ja’nae Epps, acting chair for the HUB council,  told the Chronicle that she sees the Friarsgate neighborhood as a small town due to its size, adding that it has potential to have the community of a small town, just like Irmo.

“My idea is basically to create a sense of community as a neighborhood that is a little more engaged with each other,” she said. “We are, I think, unique in that, but as I said, Friarsgate is huge, but it’s also an older neighborhood. built largely in the late-’70s, early-’80s.”

Epps claims that they are still looking for people who want to be on the neighborhood council, with the goal being to find six or seven. She said that they want to be representative of the neighborhood, with council members from all portions of the large neighborhood so that there are multiple different viewpoints.

According to a flier shared by Atkinson, the purpose of The HUB is to “rekindle the spirit of the community, rebuild relationships, and engage residents to the neighbor next door again.”

The flier states that the initiative had private funding that supports a variety of actions including but not limited to listening and learning sessions, senior-focused gatherings, community outreach, ultra-local events with diverse members of the community.

Another provided flier proclaims the following goals:

• Support healthy, active families, youth and adults through high-quality events, programming and community projects
• Increase neighborhood access to services and opportunities through the collaboration and coordination of local schools, businesses and organizations
• Engage neighbors as citizen leaders who serve each other and use their voices to advocate for the neighborhoods needs and assets
• Establish a sense of belonging and community among Friarsgate and Irmo residents.

The HUB has hosted more than 15 events and meetings between June and August of last year, with Atkinson sharing that they have had success and failures with the events. Epps told the Chronicle about one of their most recent events, Pjs in the Park, where people in attendance watched “The Polar Express.”

She said that the event pulled people representing a variety of demographics, though it primarily drew elementary-age children, though she added that there were a few older children with their families as well.

“We enjoy the partnership with the park and we are trying to help them promote some of the things that happen at the park anyway and in turn,” Epps said. “They help us in large measure, hosting events and offering space for things. It’s a convenient location.”

Other events the organization has hosted have included the H.E. Corley Elementary Crocodile Countdown, National Night Out, a Juneteenth event, Sharing God’s Love, Inclusive Family Fun Day, Friends and Family Game Night, Sassy Senior Bingo, the Big Chill Summer Launch at Friarsgate Park, Supper with Mayor Barry Walker and more.