Andrews – Four Square Community Action Inc. held the nonprofit’s first fundraiser in Andrews United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center on Saturday .
Executive Director Sue Lynn Ledford said at that this time of year there are many unique challenges faced by the agency, and those needs have grown during her year and a half as director.
“This time last year, we were servicing and assisting about 500 families. This year, we’re assisting over 1,000 families,” she said. “So the needs are growing seemingly almost every day and are slightly overwhelming by far exceeding both our workforce and our resources.”
Ledford deemed the fundraiser a “success” in an e-mail interview Monday, including that the funds raised Saturday will “aid several families. Families that may not fit the criteria of our other programs, which are very specific for expenditures, but who still have legitimate needs like poor housing conditions which cause immediate health problems or concerns and who are in financial need because of that.”
In an impassioned speech about the work Four Square does in the four westernmost counties, Ledford said the agency aids several differing demographics within our communities, including families with young children through Head Start programs, the disabled and the elderly by providing assistance with educational, housing, insurance and medical needs.
The fundraiser included a “mountain-style” dinner of pinto beans, fried potatoes, cornbread and cobbler. The pinto beans were catered by Julie’s Place, while the bread was handled by Mariolino’s and the cobbler was provided by Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church of Young Harris, Ga.
Also included in the evening were both live and silent auctions featuring pieces donated by local businesses and crafters as well as private individuals alike. One local pilot donated a tour flight of the mountains, with the date to be determined when local wildfires are extinguished.
“We had a wonderful range of items donated including restaurant gift cards, appliances and furniture and even a fur coat,” volunteer coordinator Michelle Updike said. “We’re excited about the community’s support and to make it an annual event.”
Ledford acknowledges that while the need for assistance in the community has grown, their need for volunteers and paid personnel as well has grown.
“Along with the doubling of assistance and needs growing, our need for paid personnel is outpacing our ability to help families in the area,” she said. “This time last year we had about 30 or so paid positions, and this year we have 60-plus. Our needs are also for people with skills for our Urgent Home Repair program.”
Updike echoed that need is urgent, as there are more than 200 people on the housing repair list. She reiterated that they’re always looking for people with skills and spare time to help the programs reach those in need in our area.
The Four Square principle consists of utilizing resources to aid those who may need help with Medicaid. Ledford is quick to acknowledge that while many of their programs already have funding sources in place via either government or non-government grants and programs Four Square is always in need of supplemental funding, which can be directed to those pieces of the program which need immediate direct funding.
“Our supplemental food box delivery program has also expanded to serve over 150 families per week,” she said. “While we also partner with Clay, Graham and Swain counties, that’s just how much the program has grown here in Cherokee County.”
Optimistic about the community’s support of Four Square, Ledford sees potential for more outreach in the area, particularly given the agency’s push to hire more staff.
The dinner and auction also had Ronnie Ledford providing soothing acoustic guitar tunes to provide an ambiance of relaxation and to underscore the imperatives when considering how many are in some form of need or assistance in our community.
One such recipient of said help is Jennifer Garrett, who gave a powerful testimony to the assistance Four Square can provide by helping her repair her home into more habitable conditions to gain custody of her four grandchildren. Garrett told how Four Square helped her find not only temporary housing, but also made the improvements and upgrades that allowed her to keep and maintain a home for her family.
Details: foursquarecommunityactioninc.com.