CONTACT Helpline Reassurance Program 

 Submitted by Dana Gains, CONTACT Helpline, Serving 865 Volunteer

   Karen is 81 years old and was a lively, independent widow until a heart attack occurred a year ago. While in the hospital to have a pacemaker installed, Karen was found to have high blood pressure, unstable blood sugar, poor kidney function and hearing loss. She is now on eight medications and her lifestyle has changed drastically.

   Karen's daughter, Adele, is 59, divorced, and works every weekday. She wants very much to take excellent care of her mother, who now lives with her. While Adele is at work all day, she is very concerned and preoccupied with her mother's welfare.

   Karen is in a new city, no longer drives, and is no longer able to visit with old friends. She is depressed, dealing with medication side effects, and often has only the TV for company. Karen often longs for a real conversation during the day.

   Someone at work told Adele about the free CONTACT Helpline Reassurance program. She called the CONTACT office, filled out the simple forms, and now Karen receives two phone calls daily from a CONTACT volunteer. They arranged for one call to come in at 9:00 AM soon after Adele leaves for work, and one call to come at 5:00 PM, shortly before Adele arrives home. The CONTACT Reassurance volunteer has a friendly chat with Karen and reminds her of her morning and evening medications.

   One morning Karen did not answer and Adele could not be reached. Since Karen had signed up to be an "emergency back-up" status client, the local police were sent out for a wellness check. They found that Karen had fallen and was unable to move. The police officers got her the help she needed and she did not suffer the continuing trauma of being injured, frightened and alone.

   Karen's new telephone acquaintances really brighten her day and Adele is much relieved with the new arrangement. Life is settling down nicely for the two of them and they hope for many happy years together.

   The mission of CONTACT Helpline is to provide a confidential telephone service staffed by trained volunteer listeners for people in crisis or need at their Hotline number 865.584.4424. For more information on the Reassurance program or other valuable programs that are offered, visit http://www.contact-helpline.org/ or call the office line at 865.482.5040.

A Home for the Holidays

Submitted by CASA of the Tennessee Heartland 

   Recently, one of our CASA volunteers, Tim, was visiting Nate, a young man at a group home he has been working with. While the two were talking, Nate's DCS case manager came over and asked him to make a list of items that he might like for Christmas. As conversation continued, Nate turned to Tim and said, "Do you know it's only 10 weeks until Christmas??" Tim smiled and replied, "Yeah, I know," thinking Nate was excited about Christmas gifts he might be receiving. He waited for Nate to follow up his statement with a long list of "I wants" which would include games, toys, clothes, CDs and all the other stuff kids ask for. Tim was taken aback, when very seriously, Nate looked at him and asked in a soft voice, "Will you have me a home by then?"

   Tears sprang to Tim's eyes as he began thinking about his family and friends, the gifts and food, and most of all, the warm, safe home he would have for holidays. Things were different for Nate. All he had to look forward to was spending the holidays in a group home, with the group home staff and maybe a few other kids, that don't get granted a home pass. Nate had no chance of a "home" pass, since the state of Tennessee is his parent.

   Tim looked back at him, swallowing the lump in his throat, and finally responded, "I am going to do everything in my power and work as hard as I can, to try and have you in a home by Thanksgiving. The very least you deserve is to have the holidays with a family!" Tim left that meeting with his cell phone in hand and began a flurry of calls to anyone that would listen. He was on a mission. Tim was determined to have Nate in a warm, safe home with a mom and a dad, plenty of food and gifts under a big Christmas tree, as soon as possible, so that he could feel the joys of this holiday season, much like you and me.

   Tim and Nate's story is not unique. Case referrals are steadily increasing, and our volunteers are working hard to make a difference in the lives of many children like Nate. "I feel that my kids are blessed and far more fortunate than some, I want to try and make a difference in a child's life who doesn't have the things we do. If I can help one child be blessed with a loving, nurturing home and see that they have their every need met, I can say that all my work has been worth every minute," says Crystal, one of our Scott County volunteers.

   Although our volunteers are working hard, we still do not have enough to cover every case. At any given time there are over a hundred case referrals - over a hundred children - we do not have a volunteer for. Over a hundred children who do not have a voice, an advocate, a hero. There are many ways you can help these children. Consider becoming an advocate; be a monthly supporter to help others, like Tim, to continue the work of standing up for abused and neglected children.

   This holiday season, why not make the lasting gift of a volunteer advocate to help find a child a safe and permanent home and change their life forever.

  For more information on CASA of the Tennessee Hartland, please visit http://www.casatnh.org/ or call 865.425.0888.

Small Gifts Equal Big Rewards

   Often times we hear, "I really can't give a lot. Will it really make a difference?"  The anwser is a resound YES!  

   You don't necessarily need a lot of money to make a difference....When money is used thoughtfully and efficiently, you can make a huge impact.  Here are some great examples of how your donation may be used to make lasting changes in our community.

$1 per week ($52 year)

· 32 hours of after school programming for girls in Clinton with Girls Inc.

· 3 families provided garden supplies to grow $1400 of food from Green Thumb

· 3 families provided with furnishings by the Ecumenical Storehouse 

$2 per week (approximately $100 per year)

· 5 children take part in the "Skills for the Future" program at Children's Museum

· 3 boys can experience outdoor adventure at Cub Scout Summer Twilight Camp

· 2 children can participate in the ARC summer playground for children with developmental disabilities

$5 per week (approximately $250 per year)

· 3 youth can participate in the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Ridge Educational/Social Program

· 1 child receives support and advocacy in the court system by Court AppointedSpecial Advocates (CASA)

· 1 patient receives dental exams & treatment through Anderson County Health Council

· 8 teenage offenders and their victims benefit from the VORP Program

· 1 child with Epilepsy can attend camp for a week through the Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee

· 1 elderly citizen will receive daily phone calls from Contact Helpline, Serving 865 for a year, to assure their well being and allow them to stay in their own home

$10 per week (approximately $500 per year)

· 15 days of elder day care is provided to a family on a sliding fee system by KeystoneAdult Day Care

· 14 visits to individuals requiring in-home nursing care from Clinch River Home Health

· 1 family of three provided emergency food, clothing and shelter by American Red Cross

· 20 days of drug and alcohol treatment provided by Hope of East TN

· 10 girls will be provided with Girl Scout membership, uniforms and handbooks for a year

$20 per week (approximately $1000 per year)

· 1 child and adult are matched for one year through Big Brothers Big Sisters of East TN

· 6 indigent people with mental illness are provided with medication from Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital & Center, Inc.

· 12 calls for emergency service are answered by the Anderson County Rescue Squad

· 11 victims of recent sexual assault crimes are served by Safe Haven Center

· 1 child can attend Scarboro Learning Academy's after school program

   Your next question may be, "How do I know UWAC is using my donation effectively?"  Excellent question!  One of the greatest strengths of United Way's fund distribution system is our citizen review process. Each year, United Way of the Anderson County relies on almost 45 concerned citizens to help us make decisions about what community programs and services should receive the money we raise. 

   These wonderful volunteers meet with agency executives to review budgets and evaluate programs, as well as take time to do an agency tour. 

   As you can see, gifts on any level make huge a huge impact and being the best stewards of donor gifts are a responsibility of UWAC that is not taken lightly. If you are interested in donating to United Way either through your company payroll deduction or as a single gift, we encourage you to visit the UWAC website to view our partner agencies, as well as email or call the office at 865.483.8431 with any questions.

   As a community, as a team, we CAN make a difference as we LIVE United.