The Neighborhood Service Centers are funded primarily by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The centers provide emergency services in the form of vouchers for limited help with rent/mortgage evictions, utility disconnect notices and food. They also distribute USDA Surplus Commodity food, provide job placement services and provide limited home visits and errands for elderly and disabled clients.

The goal of the LIHEAP program is to aid low-income households with the high cost of home heating or cooling. Clients may be apply at designated times each year for a one-time payment to their utility bill. The program has two components. Crisis assistance is available throughout the year on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Some of the requirements include: households must meet poverty guidelines, have a disconnect notice for their utilities or have less than a 30-day supply of home heating fuel. Energy assistance is the largest component and receives applications usually in September or October. Specific program eligibility requirements apply to each component.

Counties Served: Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe and Sevier.

Clients Eligible: For assistance under the CSBG/LIHEAP program, clients much establish a need for the service, meet 125% of poverty income guidelines and meet other specific program requirements. The USDA commodity program requires that households be under the 150% poverty income guidelines with food being distributed on a quarterly basis.

Central Office Staff: (All offices are open Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.)

Amie Whitworth, CSBG Program Director

(423)318-6924

awhitworth@douglascherokee.org

Kim Paxton, LIHEAP Program Director

(423)318-6938

kpaxton@douglascherokee.org

Yvette Chambers, Administrative Assistant

(423)318-6922

ychambers@douglascherokee.org

Barbara Wilson, Administrative Assistant

(423)318-6925

bwilson@douglascherokee.org

The Senior Nutrition Program provides home delivered meals to the homebound and congregate meals at senior centers for those who still are active enough to get out. Transportation is provided for those congregate participants who need it. Home delivered meals ensure that our homebound participants receive at least one hot nutritious meal per day and they also receive the benefit of someone checking in on them daily. Our congregate program promotes staying active and healthy by giving seniors a reason to get out of the house and take part in the great food and fellowship with others. Senior Nutrition meals provide one-third the recommended daily allowance of nutrients for senior adults. The program strives to break the cycle of poor nutrition leading to poor health.

Senior Nutrition serves approximately 400 to 500 clients per day with a waiting list of over 300 people. The program targets low-income and disabled seniors. Income is not a factor in determining meal eligibility, though the majority of applicants are poverty level and below. Eligibility is determined by how great an applicant’s need and how much help, if any, they receive from family and friends.

The amount of grant funding does not provide the total amount needed to support the program entirely with the number of seniors that qualify for the program. Sponsorships are available for anyone wishing to provide a monthly monetary amount to help a senior receive a nutritious hot meal daily. In addition, any and all general donations are accepted at any time.

Counties Served: Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe and Sevier

Hours of Service: 7:00 AM-1:00PM

Program Director-Amie Whitworth

(423)318-6924

awhitworth@douglascherokee.org

Senior Services Coordinator: April Myers

(423)318-6936

amyers@douglascherokee.org

Administrative Assistant: Ann Horner

(423)318-6935

ahorner@douglascherokee.org

Senior Citizen Services include the Grainger County Office on Aging and the Grainger County Senior Citizens Center. The area Office on Aging seeks to meet the social, recreational and health needs of elderly community members. By easing the isolation of old age, the project helps aging community members enjoy a full life. The Senior Citizens Center provides recreational events in the community, as well as affordable or free recreational trips to nearby attractions. Transportation to health care facilities in neighboring communities is also provided for elderly participants both in a group arrangement and on an individual basis when needed. The Area Office on Aging is part of a larger scale of care provided by a network of social service agencies and health care professionals in the counties served. With the combination of these varied services, elderly residents are provided with a full range of care needed to live a long, full active life.

Peggy Beattin

(865)828-5397