New Pathways for Children began in 1990 when concerned Christians in Western Kentucky were moved with compassion and motivated by love to provide better care for neglected, abandoned, and hurting children. The first home was located in Reidland under the name West Kentucky Children’s Home. It provided a residential living area for girls and was sponsored by Tennessee Children’s Home. Two years later Eldon and Emma Belle Gardner donated 27 acres of land in Melber, Kentucky for the purpose of constructing a space to provide care for boys. In 1996, New Pathways for Children was granted their autonomy and provided care to both boys and girls at their 2 locations for many years.
Today, the Melber location consists of an administrative office building, the Gardner House with accommodations for up to 12 children and the Schmidt building which consists of a gymnasium and large kitchen. Our newest addition is Emma Belle’s Haven, a group home down the road from the main campus. It was completed in 2014 with room for 14 children. New Pathways for Children is run on a private referral basis. Their mission is to minister to the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of at-risk children in a Christ-like atmosphere.