1021 Hampshire Drive
Maryville, TN 37801
(865) 681-5420
(865) 681-5447 FAX
Director:
Rev. Lisa Blackwood
Maryville, TN 37801
(865) 681-5420
(865) 681-5447 FAX
Director:
Office Hours
Mon & Wed
9 am - 1 pm
Fri
9 am - 4 pm
updated 12/07/11
Thanks to outstanding support from local churches and the delicious offerings of chef Shawn Banks, over 200 supporters dined in style at the The Fifth Annual Good Neighbors Progressive Dinner on November 6th.
The meal began with appetizers at First United Methodist,
followed by the main entre´e in the beautiful Great Hall at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. With the large windows framing autumn trees
in full color, the room was the perfect setting for the elegant entre´e: Cider-Brined Pork Loin, cinnamon apples, wild rice and garlic
green beans
The dinner ended with a flourish at Our Lady of Fatima where sumptuous desserts and coffee rounded out the meal.
Most importantly, over $4,500 was raised to support Good Neighbors. Many local families will have heat and light this winter as a result.
A sincere thanks to everyone who attended as well as those who served, set-up, cooked, baked and cleaned.
Stay tuned for the date
of Progressive Dinner 2012!
Progressive Dinner Raises More Than $4500
Board Member Spotlight: Sandra Davis
Sandra Davis is a new board member at Good Neighbors, but she is no stranger to the needs
of those who live on the margins in Blount County.
She brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge gained after working for 26 years with United Way, the last 19 years of which were as the President/CEO of United Way of Blount County.
As a mother of a son and daughter (both married and living in Blount County) and the grandmother of four, she looked forward to having more time to spend with her family after her retirement in 2008. She also enjoys travel, hiking in the Smokies, singing in her church choir, reading and knitting.
But in addition to family time and all her other interests, it was just in Sandra’s DNA to continue to work on behalf of the underserved after retirement. Serving on the GN Board allowed her to put her years of experience to work. Why Good Neighbors? “Good Neighbors is an agency that serves many individuals and families in Blount County,” she explained. Sandra quickly jumped into the work of the Board. We are honored to work alongside Sandra and appreciate her many contributions.
Aid to Blount County drastically reduced......
FEMA funds awarded to GN for rent assistance
For the fifth consecutive year, Good Neighbors
has been awarded a portion of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Emergency Food & Shelter (EFS) grant for Blount
County. According to Executive Director Rev. Lisa Blackwood, this year’s amount of $3,000 will allow Good Neighbors to offer
one-time assistance to families facing eviction.
The amount of the award, however, represents a significant reduction over the $30,000 allocated to Good Neighbors in 2010. The reduction is due to Blount County receiving a much smaller share of EFSP funds. The current award for Blount County is based on unemployment rates. The FEMA/EFSP awards to Blount County represented a second round disbursement after communities across the country with higher unemployment had been served.
Local group addressing need for public transportation
What
social service is altogether missing in Blount County? At Good Neighbors we see people every day whose life is more difficult because
our community lacks public transportation. And a recent survey of over 400 Blount Count respondents conducted by the University of
Tennessee College of Social Work’s Office of Research and Public Policy seems to concur. Forty-seven percent (47%) those answering
cited “public transportation services” as the most unavailable public service.
For Blount County citizens who cannot afford a car,
the lack of public transportation means that it is difficult to find or maintain a job, get health care or shop for groceries, among
many other everyday tasks.
A group of concerned citizens – known as Blount County Transportation Coalition -- has begun to organize
an effort to study the problem and propose solutions. Led by local pastor Jeremy LaDuke, the group has enlisted the help of
Maryville College faculty and students to conduct a survey of citizen’s attitudes and needs for public transportation.
Everyone is
invited to complete the survey at surveymonkey.com/blounttransportation. Stay tuned for details regarding this important issue for
many of our neighbors.
Volunteer Spotlight: Walt Flood
If it’s Friday, chances are good that Walt Flood will be at the Good Neighbors office – in his
signature cowboy boots -- in a coaching session.
As a retired Air Traffic Controller, Walt understands teamwork and guidance through
critical thinking. Those skills are put to good use at Good Neighbors when Walt meets one-on-one with a neighbor in need, then works
with him/her to develop a plan to meet their need.
His relaxed, straightforward manner makes him a natural in this role.
Walt is an avid fisherman and, along with his wife, enjoys adventure traveling (ask him about his trip to see the spirit bears in
Alaska). Thank you, Walt!
Nativity Book benefits Good Neighbors
Looking for a meaningful and beautiful keepsake gift for someone on your list? Take a look at
the first-ever Good Neighbors Nativity Book, The Hope That Is In Us. This coffee-table style book features professional photographs
of nativity figures collected from cultures from around the world, as well as live nativity scenes with children and adults from churches
in Blount County. You may recognize someone in the book!
All proceeds from the sale of each book ($20) will benefit Good Neighbors,
thanks to a generous local supporter who has underwritten publication costs.
The book also represents an enormous donation of time
and expertise from three local women. Summer Webb and Emily Webb (Skybird Studios) provided all the photography and Whitney Rogers
donated layout and design. Many local church members donned Nativity costumes in August to help by acting out the live scenes.
To purchase a copy, contact
Good Neighbors at 681-5420