Published Sunday, March 21, 2010

Luncheon brings together local groups

The Newnan Times-Herald

Volunteers and employees working to help Cowetans in need are connecting, coordinating and collaborating.

The local Salvation Army Service Center helped accelerate that process with a Friday luncheon that brought together people from about 20 organizations. The meeting offered a chance for leaders of other nonprofits to meet Stephanie May, director of the service center since late last year, and to network with each other.

The luncheon is something Bette Hickman, co-chairman of the local Salvation Army advisory board, and Winston Skinner, board chairman, have been thinking about for a long time. Both Hickman and Skinner, who is assistant news editor at The Times-Herald, are involved in a variety of nonprofit activities in the community.

Both felt there was a need for people in helping organizations to know each other so they could connect for combined efforts and avoid duplication.

"It's exciting for me for our Salvation Army to have the first opportunity to host a social event" for the leaders of the various groups, Hickman said at the luncheon held in the upper floor meeting space of the Carnegie Library in downtown Newnan. She issued a challenge for another group to have a similar meeting in the fall to keep people connected and involve representatives from more nonprofits.

May thanked all those present for "what you do for the community."

The luncheon -- and the personal connections made at it -- should help make it possible for the groups to "work together to serve the people of Coweta County," May said. "The purpose of this meeting is for networking."

May arrived at her new post as major efforts were being mounted by the Salvation Army. The annual kettle drive, which raises funds to help local needy families, got under way just a few weeks after she was employed. The Angel Tree project, which provides Christmas wishes for area youngsters, "helped over 61 families this year," May said.

She said the Salvation Army Thrift Store helps fund the Christian organization's ongoing work -- including generating funds that help with utilities, rent and food.

May stressed the Salvation Army's Christian focus, saying her job offers her the opportunity to pray with people in need and "a great opportunity to share about Christ." The Salvation Army, which began in England in 1865, has a ministry that "is motivated by the word of God," May said.

Representatives of each organization shared a brief outline of what their groups do. Some people took notes during the luncheon, and participants stayed after the meeting to talk to each other and exchange business cards.

"Just about everybody in here we collaborate with -- which is incredible," noted Linda Kirkpatrick, executive director of Community Welcome House.

Carolyn Proffitt of United Way reflected on the community's commitment to help -- even in tough economic times. "What a great community this is to be able to support each other, especially with what's going on," she said.

"Week in, week out, we hear stories that we wish we could do more about," Winnie Franks of the Coweta County Health Department said. She said people who work at helping others must find some satisfaction in knowing "I did what I could."

Several of those attending talked about the role of faith in what they do. "God has blessed me to help others," said Lynn Yeager of VistaCare Hospice.

"God has divine appointments for us all," Karen Turley of Crossroads Church said. There is much to be done, but no one person, group or church can go it all. "We want to work together," she said.

Judy Miller of Sunrise Wellness Center volunteered to help with greeting and registration for the meeting. At its close, she said, "We appreciate having a community that will help other people."

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Groups represented at the luncheon:

*White Oak Golden K. The club is active in schools and provides about $30,000 annually to help with local projects "plus service support," member Sam Phillips said.

*Girls On The Move. This is a girls' program largely for residents of the Newnan Housing Authority.

*Prevent Child Abuse Coweta. The program provides information on shaken baby syndrome that is shared with parents of newborns at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. PCAC also has provided simulation dolls for Newnan, East Coweta and Northgate high schools. Children are "our most precious treasure," said Helen Passantino.

*Alliance for Children's Enrichment. The local Family Connection agency provides a wide range of services including assistance for families where someone is terminally ill, a large Christmas drive and alcohol-drug programs.

*Angel's House. The residential program for children removed from their homes has served 137 people since 2004 -- 82.3 percent of them from Coweta County.

*Coweta Pregnancy Services provides free services for women and families. Free pregnancy education, free pregnancy testing and education programs for parents are offered. Counseling is available to women who have an unexpected pregnancy and those who have had an abortion.

*Asian Business Association/Shiloh Ministries. A soup kitchen has been started by these groups, and efforts are under way to create a database to help connect all the area's nonprofits.

*Cambridge House. This program provides day services for adults -- mainly those with dementia. The program is expanding into evening and weekend respite care. Mary Ann Neureiter, executive director, said the program's goal is "to keep people at home as long as possible."

*Coweta Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA volunteers are trained to serve as advocates for children in the court system.

*Community Welcome House. This Christian-based nonprofit is Coweta's only residential facility for women suffering abuse and their children. Welcome House also will respond to men who are being abused, though their needs are often somewhat different, Kirkpatrick said. During 2009, 192 women and children lived for a time at Welcome House, and the group helped about 500.

*United Way. This program funded by payroll deductions from local workers has 18 grantee partners and three community partners in Coweta County. United Way addresses needs related to health, income, education and homelessness.

*Goodwill Career Center. Goodwill has a thrift store locally and offers a wide range of free services to help people looking for work.

*Crossroads Church. Crossroads has numerous ministries including counseling and direct outreach.

*Stepping Stones/Puddle Jumpers. Stepping Stones is a program that puts 58 volunteer educators into the hospital to talk with parents of newborns -- so the learning process can start early. Puddle Jumpers is a program for children ages 2-3 and their mothers. The programs impacted about 300 families each last year.

*Ferst Foundation. The Ferst program provides hardbound, age appropriate books for children. Fundraising efforts aim to raise $6,000 per month.

*Coweta County Cancer Support Group. Meeting since 1994, the program has an ongoing durable medical equipment exchange. The group also helps with food, starting with cancer patients and their families and expanding in recent months to help "families who are just in trouble," according to Annie Berkowitz.

*Summit YMCA. The YMCA has been at the Summit on Highway 34 East since 2001 and through its Partners With Youth program aims for strong kids, strong families and strong communities. Plans are under way now for Healthy Kids Day on April 27.

*Coweta County Health Department. Winnie Franks talked about the department's overall programs, which are providing services to many during the economic downturn, and her focus -- helping women with cervical and breast cancer.

*VistaCare Hospice. The hospice program offers care to people with terminal illnesses and their families.