On Tuesday, March 5, Dining for Jackson will work to support Jackson Neighbors in Need. We will meet at 11:30 a.m. in the Mission and Fellowship Center of Sylva First Baptist Church. We hope you will come, bring a covered dish, donate what you would pay if you ate at a restaurant, and enjoy the fellowship of folks who have a heart for the poor.
Jackson Neighbors in Need, (JNIN) was organized in November of 2009. Its main purpose was to keep people warm from November through March and not let anyone die from the cold. This idea came about when Patsy Davis was working for Mountain Projects and was helping people in the community who were having trouble paying their power bills and had exhausted all assistance with no place to turn.
One day the money came to an end. The next person in line was a grandmother trying to raise two grandchildren. Mountain Projects had to turn her away after checking with other agencies that had also exhausted all their resources. Rumor has it, that night's homework was being done by candlelight and somehow the house caught on fire. The grandmother and the two children died in the fire. That absolutely broke Patsy’s heart. So, Patsy, together with Bob Cochran, Director of the Department of Social Services at that time, with Charles McConnell, a friend concerned about people, got together and formed Jackson Neighbors in Need. The purpose of this group was to help people when they were out of money and in a bind, to keep the heat going when it was cold. Since Charlie’s death, his wife, Ruth McConnell has worked tirelessly to make sure the needs of the poor are met.
The first year the group spent about $50 per household and served about 25 families. In the year 22-23, the group served 273 families with heat at a cost of $54,214 and special needs at a cost of $13,294. Also, many generous donations from individuals in the community made it possible to give away approximately 248 blankets, scarves, hats and gloves!
United and together we can make a difference in our community! So please join us on March 5 at 11:30 a.m. and let’s work to help the needy in our county.