HISTORY
For nearly 50 Years, Jubilee has provided hope to those behind bars.
1972
In 1972, Jubilee began as a youth revival. Young people were prompted to enter the prison and witness, sharing testimony to what God had done in their lives and the freedom available to all who will claim salvation through Jesus Christ.
1977
In October of 1977, a group of Mennonite women shared a desire to open a thrift store that would supply quality, inexpensive clothes to the public and generate funds for the ministry. In 1977, the first men’s chaplain was hired in Lebanon County.
1980
In the early 1980s, the Lebanon prison was moved from the basement of the courthouse to a new facility on Walnut Street. The population was about 150 inmates. Jubilee began ministering to female prisoners.
Dozens of volunteers remodeled the thrift shop, expanding the retail space from 500 to over 2,000 square feet. Jubilee placed a chaplain in the Camp Hill Prison.
1986
In 1986, the ministry expanded to include material assistance, which offered rental, heating, transportation, medical, food, clothing, and furniture assistance to families within the community.
1993
In 1993, Jubilee tested out its first Aftercare Program – a program for inmates to enter directly after their release from prison, that would teach them essential reentry skills and provide them with work.
Mid 90s
By the mid 1990s, Jubilee had chaplains in seven correctional facilities: Lebanon County, Dauphin County, Camp Hill, Retreat, Frackville, Chester, and Mahanoy State Correctional Institutions.
1999
Jubilee began sending children of inmates and parolees to a week of Christian summer camp.
2000
Jubilee bought and renovated the old Milsan Mills factory at 235 S. 12th Street in Lebanon and opened a clothing and furniture store to support the prison ministry programs.
2003
The Palmyra thrift store opened (the picture is of the current store; occupied in 2017).
2004
The Myerstown thrift store opened.
2006
The Quaker Alloy factory, which sat just a block from Jubilee’s new main headquarters, closed its doors. In 2006, Jubilee completed renovations of the building and opened its new “house” for prison Aftercare.
2008
The Manheim thrift store location opened its doors.
2016
The Annville & Re-Build-It locations opened.
Jubilee’s first online store opened.
ShopTheJub.com
2020
2021
The Wernersville thrift store location opened in Berks County.