Blackburn, Childers & Steagall is proud to support the United Way of Greene County. In 2010, the United Way of Greene County came to the aid of more than 27,000 residents.  Recipients of the largest amounts of funds include: the Greeneville-Greene County Emergency and Rescue Squad, the Greene County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Food Bank, the Foster Grandparent Program, the Boys and Girls Club, the Children’s Center Scholarship Program, Greene County Cancer Program and the Literacy Council, among many others. 

The United Way of Greene County has a budget in 2011 of $625,000, of which 99% will stay inside Greene County.  The four main focus areas this year include: helping children and families, providing basic needs, promoting health and independence, and enhancing senior lifestyles.

This week, the Johnson City office collected 342 items for Good Samaritan Ministries, and the Kingsport and Greeneville offices collected 94 items for the Indian Springs Community Chest in Sullivan County.  Our grand total was 436 items!

Sarah Wells, the director of Good Samaritan Ministries in Johnson City, mentioned how wonderful it is to be receiving food donations at this time.  She explained that many resources they rely on are tapped out right now, due to increased need in this area.

Week 2 was a huge success!  Our 3 offices collected 182 blankets, sets of linens, comforters, and sleeping bags for the Seventh Day Adventist Center in Greeneville.  In addition, we collected 51 very worn items for the Johnson City Animal Shelter for pet bedding.  

The Seventh Day Adventist Center in Greeneville serves about 500 families (a lot are single mothers) per month in Greene County, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state.  They help many families where the main earner has lost a job and has no hope of attaining a new one.

The total for all three offices reached 253 coats.  These coats benefit the homeless children and families in Johnson City and Kingsport.  Last school year, 547 children were served by the Homeless Liaisons in both school systems.

We are off to a great start, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to this effort!

From MeLissa Crockett:

Those of you who were present at the Christmas Dinner in December heard Randy Hensley of Coalition for Kids talk about the blessings of giving to the community and how by giving you will be touched, I experienced that blessing today at lunch.  The homeless coordinator for the JC Schools approached me at the Kiwanis meeting and said “I just want to thank you so much for what your firm is doing this week for the kids.  I am down to one coat in my supply closet and have families in need and because of your Firm, this week I’ll be able to fulfill those needs.”

This is what it’s all about friends.  Helping others, reaching out and giving back.  There will be several families touched by your generosity this week.  Thank you!

From Cathy Peters:

I didn’t have any used coats at my house to give so I went to a consignment shop, Just-In-Style, in downtown Kingsport on Broad Street to pick up a child’s coat.  I saw a friend in the store and happened to mention to her why I was in the store…..that our firm was participating in a coat drive.  I was looking at two different coats, having a hard time deciding which one to buy.   When I went to check out, the coat that I did not decide to buy was on the counter.  The owner of the store said that she had overheard me talking to my friend about the coat drive and wanted to contribute a coat to the cause.  So, I ended up with two coats instead of one due to her generosity and giving spirit.