Social Action Ministry
The Social Action Ministry at St. Francis of Assisi parish provides support in the form of services and funds to people in need of help who are not parishioners. There are four major categories within the Social Action Ministry: Outreach to the people who reside in Cumberland County, Outreach to the people who reside in Third World Countries or who reside in the United States and have experienced natural disasters, Support for Charities that provide services in Cumberland County, and Special Giving Programs in support of needy children who reside in Cumberland County.
The outreach to the needy in Cumberland County is provided through a partnership between St. Francis of Assisi and St. Alphonsus called SACS. The two Catholic Communities have joined together for over twenty years to provide food, housing assistance, heating and Cooling assistance, and managed referrals to the other agencies that provide related or supplementary services. SACS is housed in a facility provided by St. Alphonsus on their church property. The location is central to most of the needy plus it is close to the other agencies that provide related services. The contribution from St. Francis of Assisi is approximately $36,000 per year plus volunteers who work at the SACS facility.
The outreach internationally is primarily directed toward monthly support to a school and dental facility in Haiti. St. Francis of Assisi became involved in the support of Haiti over nine years ago when the then pastor responded positively to a request from the Bishop. St. Francis of Assisi works with the American Haitian Foundation (www.americanhaitianfoundation.org) based in Signal Mountain TN to operate a K thru 12 school in Petite Revere, a dental facility housed in the school, and a feeding program for the school children. The foundation for the efforts at St. Francis of Assisi is a belief that the best way to break the throws of poverty in Haiti is to feed, educate and provide for basic health needs. The contribution from St. Francis of Assisi is approximately $36,000 dollars for the school, dental and feeding programs and additional funding for Mission activity when funds are available. From time to time, St. Francis of Assisi has also been involved in providing funds for communities in the USA who have experienced natural disasters and for other Mission projects in India and other countries by responding from direct requests.
The support for Local Charities provides funds from the general collection to organizations that provide needed services to Cumberland County residence. This fiscal year, St. Francis of Assisi on behalf of its parishioners will contribute $21,000 dollars to approximately 13 agencies as determined by the Social Action Committee based upon history and conversation with parishioners. In this program, support for parishes in the Knoxville who request help is provided not to exceed $10,000 per year. Currently support is being provided to St. Christopher Church in Jamestown a former mission of St. Francis of Assisi.
There are currently three special giving programs conducted under the auspices of the Social Action Ministry. Each summer school supplies are collected for needy children who cannot otherwise obtain supplies. The collected supplies are disbursed by the Cumberland County School depot at the request of teachers. Each Christmas season the parish supports a giving tree that provides Christmas presents for over 350 needy children in Cumberland County. The children and their gift request are determined and the gifts are distributed through selected schools or agencies who provide services to special needs throughout the year. Each Christmas, St. Francis of Assisi partners with St. Alphonsus to provide Christmas baskets to the most-needy clients of SACS.
Social Action Committee
Chair: Jack Smith, 456-5362, jacksmith@frontiernet.net
Vice Chair: Mike Wilkiel, 707-8040, mwilkiel@frontier.com
Bud Evans
Kay Evans
Jerry Weber
Kathy Kuene
Haitian Project Committee
Jack Smith – Chairman
Alice Radwick – Secretary
Kathy Upp
Kathy Randall
Tom Flag
Robin Campbell
Bud Evans
Kay Evens
SACS Advisory Board (from St. Francis of Assisi)
Kay Evans
Jack Smith
Mike Wilkiel
Jerry Weber
