A partnership between Tri-State EMC and the Tennessee Valley Authority has resulted in $10,000 being awarded between three local organizations.
Fannin County Family Connection, the Copper Basin Crisis Center and Hiwassee Dam schools have all received monies through TVA’s Community Care Fund Program. TVA launched the effort in April 2020 to help address the hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement from Tri-State said.
The first six months of the initiative have seen TVA provide $4.7 million in assistance to 344 non-profit and community programs within its service territory.
Sherry Morris, executive director of Fannin County Family Connection, said the organization’s monies from the TVA Care Fund were, “spent directly assisting families that we in need due to job losses or other situations brought on by COVID-19.”
She said Family Connection often assists families by helping find resources for them through other agencies that receive government funding.
“These families were ones who did not qualify for other programs and who had fallen through the crack,” she said. “The grant funding became a lifeline to them in a time of crisis.”
In addition, these households helped through the grant received food boxes, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and various household supplies from the regular inventory at Family Connection.
“All the assistance was greatly appreciated,” Morris said.
At the Copper Basin Crisis Center, grant monies were turned into $25 food vouchers that families could use to purchase food items that are not available at the facility’s food pantry at a local grocery store.
Daniel McNabb at Hiwassee Dam said that thanks to the grant, “Our school was able to restore and add new life to our outdoor classroom facility.”
He added, “Our students and teachers have not been able to use the outdoor classroom over the past several years because it was in a state of disrepair and the trail to reach it was impassable. These funds allowed us to purchase tools and equipment to make the Nature Trail accessible and to clean and restore damaged areas of the pavilion.”
McNabb also said the outdoor classroom has given the school an environment safe from COVID-19, allowing students to converse freely while improving their emotional well-being.
Jeanette Mills, TVA executive vice president and chief external relations officer, said, “As part of our mission of service, TVA is an active partner with local power companies to help address the challenges families and businesses are facing today. The Community Care Fund is a great demonstration of how public power benefits the people of the Tennessee Valley.”
The fund is part of a broader effort by TVA and local power companies to support communities. One such effort is Tri-State EMC’s Roundup program, which is solely funded by its members, and provides all the funds participating members donate to local organizations. (See related story below).
In addition to Tri-State EMC, 136 power companies have participated in the program, and TVA is planning to double it’s total commitment to $4 million in matching funds.