St. Anthony Catholic Church’s “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program is in need of donations to cover a large increase in requests for assistance.
The fund confidentially identifies and offers assistance to needy neighbors year-round. Funds raised have been used to help with utilities, gasoline, a kerosene heater and other needed household items, auto insurance, holiday gifts and other items.
The program is open to anyone in need, and recipients of these items do not need to be members of the parish.
Officials with the program explained that, in most cases, former recipients had no other place to go for help or had used up eligibility at other agencies.
Most recently, the charity provided $375 in cleaning services to remove smoke damage for a 70-year-old cancer patient whose home was damaged. The fund is now providing laminate flooring for this client, needing $275 to complete this part to make the home livable.
The fund has seen over 100 requests for assistance for the 2020 Christmas season’s Wal-Mart gift certificate program, which provides a modest gift certificate for clients’ children’s gifts.
They also have 25 requests for food gift certificates, to be used at Ingles or Food Lion.
They have also identified one resident who needs a dependable used car.
The program goal is to raise $12,000 to assist clients in the Blue Ridge area.
Those wishing to contribute a donation should make checks payable to St. Anthony`s Catholic Church and identify “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program on the check and the envelope. These can be mailed to P.O. Box 1448, Blue Ridge, Georgia, 30513.
Those wishing to purchase and send gift certificates can also mail them or drop them off at the church during afternoon business hours.
The church can be reached at 706-632-5970.