THE FAMILY CENTER A Crisis Diversion Agency

The Good Samaritan Program

921South Beckett Street PO Box 576

Columbia, TN 38402 Phone: 931-388-3840 Fax: 931-381-7569

OCTOBER-DECEMBER AT THE FAMILY CENTER

FOOD…FOOD…AND MORE FOOD!

FOOD

INSECURITY

IN

MAURY

COUNTY!

Our residents are hungry! Food stamps equate to $3.42 per person per day…which does not cover the cost of food. Yes, there are some who abuse, but the vast majority do not. Nor can stamps be used on toilet tissue, toiletries, or cleaning products. 3,710 families were served through our pantry in 2012. Pictured above: Columbia Academy 4th grade and Zion Christian Academy upper school. 530 families received food in 12 days in December, with another 50 families receiving Christmas boxes and another 125 receiving delivered meals.

Bridging Those in Crisis

HAMPSHIRE UNIT SCHOOL

MORNING POINTE

MT. CALVARY

B

O

Y

DRY MAX CARPET CARE

S

C

O

U

T

S

MAURY CO. 4-H

CHRISTMAS AT THE FAMILY CENTER So many helped to make a memorable Christmas at The Family Center. Our thanks to the following for adopting

entire families: Dr. Andy Zsaflarski, Morning Pointe Assisted Living, Stephane Holgate Williams’ Girl Scout

Troop, Columbia Machine Works, Literacy Coaches of Maury County, TIMCO, Barbara Johnston, Lou & Joy

Bissonnette, Unique Diamonds, Dr. Heather Owens & Staff, law firm of Hardin Parks Kelley and Carter, First

Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Elk Lodge, Mike & Lojune Ford, Kings Daughters MY Circle, Pat Keaton,

Kristen Stedmon, Kathie Denson, Ester Circle FUMC, Dan & Susan Garman, St. Peters Episcopal Church, Bone

& Joint employees, Marlene Rakow, General Motors, MidSouth Surgeons, Barbara Lovell, Joanne Johnson, Jean

Balcom, Kelly Whitwell, Riverside UMC Women, Ted Huntley SS Class at First Baptist, Carol & Ricky

Broadway, Beverly & Ken Horner, and Connie & Alan Lentz.

6th Graders from

Columbia Academy saved

money received for

special errands to

purchase gifts for Santa’s

Workshop!

ROTC AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

LISA FIELDS, SANTA’S

WORKSHOP COORDINATOR ALSO THANKS TO COLUMBIA DANCE

ACADEMY, BMC METALWORKS, BECK

DENTAL, ROBYN STRICKLAND, LINDA

CRONE, CROSSFIT, 4-H, MAIN STREET,

JUNIOR AUXILIARY, SUZANNE

GOOSLBY, TERRY POTTS, TINA ADAMS,

FIRST CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN,

FARM BUREAU, DAISY TROOP 911,

MAURY HILLS, MEDICAL NECESSITIES,

SOUTHSIDE ANGELS, SOUTHSIDE

ASSASSINS, MAURY REGIONAL

CRITICAL CARE NURSES, LUTRICE

PILLOW, TOYS FOR TOTS, COSTCO,

VOCATIONAL REHAB, E ANN INGRAM,

MARSHA VARBLE, NORMA KELLY,

SHEILA GRAY, LISA REYNOLDS, AND MAURY COUNTY CAB.

CHRISTMAS TOTALS

370 YOUTH RECEIVED 5 GIFTS, A BOOK, AND A STOCKING STUFFER

FROM SANTA’S WORKSHOP. ANOTHER 93 CHILDREN AND 43

ADULTS WERE ADOPTED FOR CHRISTMAS. TOTAL 506!

EXTREME GIVERS

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

OF LATTER DAY SAINTS;

JUNIOR AUXILIARY(GIFTS

AND PRESENCE); WES &

SUNDOWN KELLEY, ROBIN

WILHITE, TN FARM

BUREAU, MCCAIN’S

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

ALEX MIRACLE, DON &

EVA JAMES CRICHTON

BMC Metalworks

Numatics

General Motors

Leadership Maury

Alumnae

Association

Lunch & Learn October: How to win the job search lottery! Taught by Angel Millet. Tips on resume’

writing, interviewing, etc. Three attendees have secured jobs! The meal was prepared by

Highland Park Baptist Church! Part II of the program was held in late November.

November: The importance of securing a college degree. Taught by

Columbia State Associate Vice President of Student Services Cecelia

Johnson and by Candace Warner, board member and Associate

Sociology Professor at Columbia State. The meal was prepared by Hal

Landers.

Upcoming Lunch & Learns January 16, Budgeting Basics. Taught by Good Samaritan Coordinator Teresa Prinzo. Snacks provided. 10-12

January 18, Spring Hill Rocks! Shelley Taylor, Director of Human Resources/Spring Hill. Opportunities in area. Meal provided by Daisy Troop 991. Noon. January 25: Anger Management. Taught by Crisis Coach Lisa Fields. Meal provided by Karen Johnson, board member. Noon. February 20: Budgeting Basics. Taught by Good Samaritan

Coordinator Teresa Prinzo. 10-12 February 15: Nutrition Basics & Budgeting. Taught by Lydia Jolley, YMCA. Meal by Karen Vest, board member. Noon. February 25: Winning the Job Search Lottery. Taught by Angel Millet. Lunch by ?? Noon. March 19: Evening Budgeting Basics. Taught by Teresa Prinzo. 6:00-8:00 These events are open to anyone at no charge. Reservations are required. Call 388-3840 to reserve a seat! We are always looking for clubs and individuals to prepare and serve meals…and rub elbows with our folks!

Salvation Army, The Family

Center & Santa!

Thanks to all who helped us ring the bells and

man the kettles! We raised over $18,700 for

Maury County (- 20%)! Our Salvation Army

Service Unit account just gives us one more

bucket to draw from as we help Maury County!

Pantry items needed: Frozen Meats, soup, Dried beans, hygiene and cleaning products. Toilet Paper, Paper Towels. Larger sized diapers.

Community Crisis Diversion October-December $27,911.93 for families for emergency assistance for rent, utilities, etc. 1,080 families served from pantry. Crises addressed: desertion, emergency medical equipment, financial distress, homelessness, fuel assistance, extreme budgeting, strategies for independent living, burnout assistance, and resource direction.

Community Crisis Diversion 2012

$120,357.85 paid out for utility, rent, eyeglass, medication, etc.

assistance in 2012…all right here in Maury County.

3,710 families fed and served through our pantry in 2012.

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR For those of us who have lost loved ones, the holidays can be tough. The good news for me is that The Family Center has been so busy, I haven’t had time to ponder. The good news for our community is that so many, many needs have been met. October was a month of preparation, and November and December were months of giving! Please know that every accolade we have received is because of you. You care…and that caring was reflected by the cartloads of food, the bundles of gifts, turkeys, ham, dollars AND presence. We are such a small staff. If it were not for volunteers and Junior Auxiliary, we could not have handled the numbers that walked through our door this December. Nor would we have fed so many from our pantry. We were still giving out food and gifts as we backed out the door at 5:30 on our final day before Christmas…and it all came from you. Yes, the Wise Men came bearing gifts...and so did you! Humbly yours,

Upcoming Events

Saturday, February 2. 7:00 Fellowship Hall, First Methodist “Mercer

Mania!” Croon to the tunes! Love offering taken.

Saturday, March 2. Maury County Historic Benefit

Ball, benefitting The Family Center, The Hope

House, and the After Breast Cancer Project.

Saturday, March 23. Reverse Raffle.