Blount County Community Action Agency
Blount County Community Action has served our neighbors since 1965. We are proud of the help we can provide our most vulnerable citizens and the support our work does to the local economy. We shop locally and collaborate with local farmers and retailers to support Smoky Mountain Meals on Wheels. Through utility assistance we infuse over a million dollars annually to local utility providers. Our Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) helps folks find a job with gas vouchers like young person seeking assistance with gas so that she could find employment. Having no other income, she was unable to drive to interviews or travel to do job searches. She did not qualify for unemployment and was desperate, but very willing to work. Community Action’s Community Services program provided her a gas card, resulting in her finding a job. Five months later, she is employed full-time, has health insurance through her employer, and is able to pay her monthly bills without worry. CSBG also provides seeds for growing a summer garden to encourage healthy eating and dental assistance to those who cannot afford dentures or emergency dental care. We supply hundreds of pounds of food those in need with Commodity distribution. Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps many keep the lights on and avoid eviction for some. The The Office on Aging provides information and education on a variety of topics, including caregiving and Medicare. It also created and manages the SMiles senior-friendly transportation program, which provides essential trips within Blount County to non-driving older adults age 60+ through volunteers who drive their personal vehicles.
Community Action is an important part of the good life here in Blount County.
Join us as we provide these vitally important services to fellow Blount County citizens. Your donation makes a big difference in our local community
2017 AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
About Us
What is Community Action?
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) promote self-sufficiency and support individuals and families striving to become economically secure while investing in the future of their local communities. This national network of 1060 agencies, funded in part by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), serves approximately 7 million families, totaling 16 million low-income persons each year. More than two-thirds have incomes at or below the federal poverty guideline.
CAAs address causes of poverty, not the symptoms, which means that:
• CAAs work to ensure their community offers everyone opportunities to become economically secure, and
• They invest in individuals and their families who are striving to develop their skills.
Local Control
The vast majority of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are private non-profits, but some are agencies of local or county government. Both types of CAAs are locally-based organizations with a longstanding community presence, a community-selected governing board and transparent management systems.
CSBG requires local and state plans to address community improvements by:
• Supporting greater civic participation
• Developing “grassroots” public-private partnerships
• Funding innovative community-based initiatives
• Establishing better linkages among government programs
Place Based Solutions
Local control allows communities to assess their own needs and prescribe place-based solutions. Local plans for using CSBG funds must reflect a well-conceived strategy for ameliorating poverty; that strategy must include approaches and activities chosen from those listed in the CSBG Act which the local agency leaders deem to be necessary and effective for their community:
The list includes services that address family and individual needs including:
• Lack of employment and education
• Better income management
• Better housing
• Sound nutrition
• Emergency services
• Health Care services
Information provided by the National Community Action Foundation.
Public Sector
Grady Caskey
Fred Metz
Ken R. White
Bob Ramsey
Tom Stinnett – Chair
Low-Income Sector
Betsy Norton – Secretary
Helen Abbott
Peggy Campbell
Ken Garland
Rosa Tellis
Private Sector
William Lyons
Gary Heath
Bill Brewer
Melanie Davis
Bryan Sandmeier
Executive Director
David Buchanan
dbuchanan@blountcaa.org
Community Services Program Director
Mitzi Long
mlong@blountcaa.org
Community Services Staff:
Linda Kirkland
Kristi Cochran
Brenda McKee
Judy Ferguson
Amanda Cooper
Senior Nutrition Director
Lynnda Manville
lmanville@blountcaa.org
Senior Nutrition Staff:
April Sullivan
Sheila Sutton
Violet Ross
Renee Jennings
Charlotte Douglas
Accounting Director
Paige King
pking@blountcaa.org
Office on Aging Director
Joani Shaver
jshaver@blountcaa.org
SMiles Manager
Linda Crawford
lcrawford@blountcaa.org.
SMiles RSVP Volunteer Coordinator
Brooke Whitehead
bwhitehead@blountcaa.org.
SMiles Receptionist
Sharon Landry
