Center needs help

Pandemic has struck blow to income

  • Eric Morris is a client who has been participating in the Mineral Springs Center, Inc. fun virtually through Medicaid’s Disaster Aid Plan.
    Eric Morris is a client who has been participating in the Mineral Springs Center, Inc. fun virtually through Medicaid’s Disaster Aid Plan.
  • Amanda King shows off her Valentine’s Day craft made at the Mineral Springs Center, Inc.
    Amanda King shows off her Valentine’s Day craft made at the Mineral Springs Center, Inc.
  • The Mineral Springs Center, Inc. hosted Tim Tebow’s charity event, “Night to Shine,” privately at their facility as the event itself was held virtually due to COVID-19. Shown is Michael Elliott during the center’s private event.
    The Mineral Springs Center, Inc. hosted Tim Tebow’s charity event, “Night to Shine,” privately at their facility as the event itself was held virtually due to COVID-19. Shown is Michael Elliott during the center’s private event.

    Unknown to many, the Mineral Springs Center, Inc. was founded in 1973 as a day center for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    Marking their 48th year this coming March, the center currently provides services to 22 individuals from ages 21 to 80; however, resources have been limited as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The facility is currently operating on 40% of their usual income in lieu of the pandemic. 

    Director Tonya Allen said, “These services that we provide, historically, this is not a well-funded service. We do not make a lot of money.”

    The majority of the center’s funding comes from the state and Medicaid. Fannin County government also provides some funding.

    As a result of hardship and the pandemic, they shut down operations in March of last year through August 24.

    “We tried to do everything we could, but eventually, we got to the point where we were running out of money, so we had to open back up to try what we could,” Allen said.

    After the shutdown, the center lost 14 individuals due to various reasons, dropping their clientele from 36 to 22.

    Although, they’ve received special grants to offset the burden the pandemic has caused, they’ve also exhausted those.

     “We just need some help to try and get us through just a little bit longer,” Allen said. “We usually don’t go out and ask for donations or anything.”

    For those the center serves, they provide training for their day-to-day lives. This can include cooking to helping individuals find jobs, and about everything in between.

    They also offer a home-health type of service in which a Certified Nursing Assistant visits peoples’ homes.

    Additionally, they offer “companion sitting” in which staff visit the homes of those who are in need of service and help where ever needed.

    The Mineral Springs Center is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.

    Anyone interested in helping to continue the center’s operations may make checks payable to Mineral Springs Center, Inc. P.O. Box 28, Blue Ridge, Georgia, 30513.

    The facility is located off Mineral Springs Road in Blue Ridge at 35 Circle Drive. They are reachable at 706-632-2094.