by Ruth Robinson
posted November 21, 2008
There is a 25 percent increase in need for the services of Signal Mountain Social Services, according to Mary Lou Siebold, SMSS director, who spoke to the November meeting of the Walden's Ridge Guild.
There is an increase of people, many of minimum wage, who have lost their jobs. Many with children, they are trying to put food on their table and Social Services is trying to help them get back on their feet. Many have no medical benefits and the organization tries to provide assistance there too
Signal Mountain is a wonderful community to live in, she said, but there are people with needs. Social Services provides food for an average of 30 families a month.
"We are a private, non-profit social service agency dedicated to meeting the needs of families and individuals living in the 37377 (Signal Mountain) zip code, during times of crisis and challenge," Ms. Siebold said. "Our long-term focus is to help clients become self-reliant."
Among the areas of service are a food pantry which provides an emergency four day supply of food; emergency assistance for such things as rent and utility bills, prescription drugs and home repairs; educational assistance, including preschool scholarships, mentoring programs and a college scholarship fund; and life skills counseling which provides budgeting assistance, resource referral and finding access to services.
In addition to three social service workers on staff, volunteer opportunities exist for both full and short-term. One of these areas is the Clothes House where used clothing is for sale to the public. Half of the agency's funding comes through these sales. There is no governmental funding; all comes from organizations and individuals on the mountain.
During the business section of the meeting, it was announced that, after over a year's submitting forms and information, the guild now has received 501C3 status with the IRS.
New officers were elected for the coming year. They are: Rena Keane, president; Rorie Fore, vice president; Kathy Davis and Susan Jensen, treasurers and DeeDee Young, corresponding secretary.
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