Servant’s Heart Expands into Franklin with Free Trade Training Programs
Based on reporting by Dave Smith for The Advertiser-News South (Straus News).
FRANKLIN, NJ — Servant’s Heart Ministry, the volunteer-based nonprofit that began in the late 1980s in Wyckoff, has expanded into Franklin with a new training center dedicated to free trade education for young adults and other members of the community.
Founded by a group of tradesmen from a Baptist church who wanted to help people in need, Servant’s Heart Ministry has grown from a small volunteer effort into a program supported by more than 40 volunteers offering practical services and instruction. Its newest location — a converted warehouse on Route 23 North — began development in late 2024 and now serves as both a training site and a community resource center.
The program’s classes are aimed primarily at adults ages 18 to 26, though participants of other ages are welcome as well. Enrollment is intentionally limited, with organizers keeping classes to roughly 15 students so instruction stays hands-on. According to development coordinator Ron Vreeland, the first class was scheduled to graduate on May 12, with 24 students completing the program.
Current offerings include introductory courses in woodworking, construction, and plumbing, designed to give students the foundational skills for a possible career in the trades. Every class is taught by volunteer tradesmen, with an instructor-to-student ratio of about one to every two students. Students attend Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. over 12 to 13 weeks, and receive a hard hat, tool belt, basic tools, boots, and a shirt at no cost. All classroom materials are donated, and a hot meal is served during a scheduled break each evening through the site’s commercial kitchen.
Organizers say plans are underway to add culinary training, along with welding and automotive repair programs, later this year. Beyond the classroom, Servant’s Heart Ministry also assists local nonprofits with skilled trade projects, including construction and plumbing work.
The organization continues to welcome donations of materials, services, and financial support, as well as new volunteers to help the program grow.
This recap is based on reporting by Dave Smith for The Advertiser-News South (Straus News), published March 28, 2026. Read the original article for the full story.
Get involved: To volunteer, donate materials, or support the trade-training program, contact Servant’s Heart Ministry or make a donation.
