Have a happy and blessed summer!                                            

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)

We are happy to report that, following our Lord’s instructions, we are shining our light, helping people in need. We are including here our report of services rendered from January 1st, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

When we take in consideration the services rendered ONLY on the first half of 2024, we are reporting an increase in the first half of the year of 124%. Details are as follows:

 

Total number of phone calls or texts received =  501

Requests thru the Website =  28

Legal Aid questions or referrals =  91

Referrals for work=  91

Production of documents/Notarization=  8

Helped set up a small business = 1

Pregnant Women=  37

Distribution of diapers/wipes =  166

Children clothes/shoes =  167

Rent = 54

Hygiene items = 54

Feminine items = 40

Other referrals or other services provided = 171

Hours worked with DCS:  44.5

Hours worked with School cases:  8.5

Hours worked with SCHD cases: 8

Fort Sander’s referrals:  4 cases

LeConte referrals: 1 case

As a matter of clarification, many people asking for resources (food, legal aid, medical help, etc.) also identify themselves as pregnant, having an infant child, or in need of diapers, clothes, or baby items.

OTHER SERVICES:

Services provided at Sevier County Schools:

Translation in schools = 30.5 volunteer hours

SPECIAL PROJECTS:

School Project 1. Providing 3,000 feminine products for schoolgirls. 14 volunteer hours.

School Project 2. Providing 2,800 hygiene items to school children. This project was in collaboration with SMARM. 10 volunteer hours.

Adult diapers provided for the Sevier County Food Ministry: 423 adult diapers. 2 volunteer hours.

 

EVENTS HOSTED:

Sevier County Health Fair, June 11, 2024:  We co-sponsored this Health Fair with the Sevier County Health Department. 31 vendors participated. 29 volunteer interpreters. We gave away 1,280 feminine items. 162 volunteer hours.

Hispanic Pastoral Alliance: We meet on June 4 with 15 Hispanic Pastors and Leaders to informed them about the implementation of the 287(g) law in Tennessee, the Driver’s License traffic violations, points and repercussions, the need for communicating in English, the use of our website, etc. Volunteer hours, 5 hours.

Presentation at Holy Cross Catholic Church:  Presentation to the congregation on June 29, 2024, on implementation of the 287(g) legal law, need for English language, and managing our website. Volunteer hour, 1 hour.

 

Sevier United Volunteer hours:

God’s Closet =   460 hours                                                                                    Website updates =   8 hours                                                                                Facebook =    72 hours                                                                                          Administrative =    360 hours                                                                                Translation and participation at community events =    146.5                          Special projects =  78 hours

We are very grateful to all our partners:  SMARM and Helping Mamas of Knoxville, who help us to provide for so many families in need.

 

We specially appreciate our volunteers, who make it possible for us to serve our community.  They are man and women, and sometimes, adolescents, with a genuine heart for service, who want to share their time and talent with others in need. Sincerely, we THANK YOU!.

 

You may be asking how you can help as well. We are ALWAYS in need of donations of gently used children clothes and shoes, from infant to size 14. We need infant items such as car seats, strollers, playpens, highchairs, bathtubs, etc. We need diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, etc. We also need hygiene items to take to the schools, as well as feminine items. All you have to do is collect the items and call Terry to pick them up.

 

If you have students that need community service hours, we can help them as well, as we need help at “God’s Closet,” sorting out clothes and donations.

 

Life is getting back to normal, as schools are starting. That means that we are “back to work,” helping at the schools and community events.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, August 20th, 2024, at the King Family Library at 12:30 pm and via zoom. Our guess speaker will be Mr. Robert Wardell from Red Cross. Do not miss this very interesting presentation!.

For any question, please call Terry at 865-446-0117 or email at:  terry@sevierunited.org.