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. Through a variety of programs including; SMiles, Benefits Enrollment Center (Savings CheckUp), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, Meals on Wheels and others we serve Blount County.
Barbara is a Townsend resident who says she doesn’t know what she would do without SMiles senior-friendly transportation. She moved to Tennessee with her husband after she retired from teaching. Once her husband passed away, Barbara had great difficulty getting to necessary appointments. She drives comfortably in Townsend but is nervous about driving in Maryville where the roads are busier and quicker thinking is required.
Barbara was speaking to an exterminator and he recommended SMiles. The next day she went to her mailbox and an article about SMiles was in the newspaper. She considered this an omen, so she called and became a member. Over time, the SMiles staff and drivers have become her “friends.”
Barbara enjoys her affiliation with the Office on Aging so much that she has recently volunteered to phone a few older ladies during the week to share some laughter and conversation. Being a volunteer helps Barbara feel useful and it brings joy to her as well as those she calls.
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
2018 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
Jeff Barbra
Peggy Campbell
Vacant
Rosa Tellis
Private Sector
Debbie Sudhoff
Rob Britt
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
Gina Dluhos
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
Barbara Shropeshire
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
Jimmy Webb
jwebb@blountcaa.org
Benefits Enrollment Center Manager (Savings CheckUp)
Teresa O’Mary
tomary@blountcaa.org
