Bill Bledsoe long-time regional artist is at the United Way of Bristol office today signing the Extra Mile prints for the 2011/2012 campaign.  This year’s print, “Family Race Night” is the 8th print that he has created exclusively for the United Way of Bristol.  He will be at the office until 2:00 p.m. today.

“We’re so close, but failure really isn’t an option for us,” Cofer said of the Bristol chapter, which provides funding to 29 area non-profit agencies and assists thousands of Tri-Cities residents each year.

Added Cofer: “When you consider all of the individuals and families that depend on our agencies, and how their numbers keep growing, it’s just not an option for us to fall short of the goal.”

Currently, the United Way has raised $1.035 million — or 79.6 percent – of the goal set for the annual campaign, which began in August.

And although some previously pledged contributions still must be collected, the outstanding money would still “leave us a little short” of the target, she added.

“We just have to continue to go out in the community and meet with folks,” Cofer said. “We’ve just got to get people to understand that if we don’t meet our goal, our agencies won’t have the resources to provide the levels of help they provide in our community.”

During last year’s campaign, the Bristol chapter raised $1.329 million – easily surpassing its $1.25 million goal.

Cofer said United Way agencies throughout Bristol are now addressing the growing problem of homeless children in both communities. She said many non-profit groups are also scrambling to meet rising requests for food vouchers, which have increased 60 percent since last year.

 “It’s the little crises that people face in their lives, every day, that our agencies really help our residents deal with,” Cofer said. “Unfortunately, the needs are simply rising faster than the [donations] right now.”

Bristol lawyer Nell King Bieger, chairwoman for the current campaign, said the recent downturn in the local economy – including eliminated or reduced jobs at several major area companies – has had an effect on donations.

“But [the downturn] has also generated an even greater need throughout the community for the services our agencies provide,” Bieger said. “We’re at a point where those of us who do have jobs really have a perfect opportunity to help our neighbors by donating to the United Way, and we need to use it. We’re all in this community boat together.”

Other area chapters are finding mixed success in reaching fundraising goals this year.

Danelle Glasscock, executive director of the United Way of Kingsport, said that chapter reached its $3.625 million goal in mid-November.

“We’ve been extremely fortunate to have a great number of businesses and individuals come forward, and allow us to reach our goal,” Glasscock said.

Travis Staton, chief executive officer for the United Way of Russell and Washington Counties, said that chapter has raised $1.08 million – or 90 percent – of its $1.2 million goal.

“It’s been a tough year right now,” Staton said. “But we’ve been working hard on reaching our goal. And we’ll keep working hard on it.”

Reprinted with permission by:  Bristol Herald Courier

 rbrown@bristolnews.com

(276) 645-2512

BRISTOL, Va. – Nema Shaffer says that living with a severe respiratory ailment –that requires her to use an oxygen apparatus – is challenging on its own.

But when one of the effects of her illness – a constantly dry mouth – caused many of her teeth to rapidly decay and begin falling out, Shaffer says she felt a level of concern that’s hard, even today, to accurately describe.

“It’s hard to really put into words how alarming it was,” Shaffer says, sitting in her Bristol home with husband, Richard. “It was hard to eat and I was scared to do anything that might make more teeth come out. I just felt really helpless, seeing my teeth just gradually fall out.”

But Shaffer has made the journey from feeling helpless to relieved – due to the help of Healing Hands, a Bristol, Tenn., non-profit organization that helps many residents get desperately needed dental care at little or no cost.

After consulting with Shaffer and her husband, Healing Hands arranged for the senior citizen to undergo extensive dental surgery – in two stages – to remove all of her remaining teeth and replace them with a full set of dentures.

The work was done by Dr. Sam Molind, a Bristol medical missionary who has been nationally acclaimed for his work in oral and maxillofacial surgery and now serves as Healing Hands’ staff dental surgeon.

But, post-surgery, what Shaffer still remains grateful for – in addition to her new dentures – is the generous spirit shown by both Healing Hands and Dr. Molind throughout her ordeal.

“Healing Hands were so supportive, so caring, and before the surgery began, Dr. Molind prayed with me,” Shaffer said. “Then, after the surgery, he called me up to ask how I was doing – and that just about floored me. But it really shows how much Healing Hands just cares about people, and about trying to help them. What they did for me was really a life-saving thing.”

It’s life-saving, life-changing work that Healing Hands has the power to do through support from the United Way of Bristol. Healing Hands is among 29 area nonprofit agencies that receive financial and other support from the United Way, which annually helps thousands across the Tri-Cities. The chapter has been conducting its annual regional fundraising campaign, with a goal of raising at least $1.3 million.

And the campaign theme for the United Way’s fundraising effort has made clear what’s at stake: “A Good Place to Give Makes a Better Place to Live.”

Healing Hands – which has a small staff and some 200 volunteers across the community – has assisted more than 6,000 uninsured and other financially challenged residents over the past decade or so.

The agency has helped residents receive major and other necessary dental work – including multiple tooth-removal and bridge work. And it does so at an extremely low cost: instead of high payment requirements, Healing Hands simply asks a patient to make an affordable contribution to the organization.

“We’ve been able to help many people enjoy a much better quality of life, just by allowing them to live without severe dental pain,” says Helen Scott, Healing Hands’ executive director.

“It’s very gratifying to see how many people we can help, people who otherwise might not receive the dental help they badly need.”

Scott says the United Way of Bristol not only provides valuable money that allows Healing Hands to meet its annual budgets, it helps connect Healing Hands with other social-services organizations that can share invaluable support, insight and information.

“Just from working hand in hand with the United Way, we get a lot of name recognition and credibility that would be extremely hard for us to build on our own,” Scott says. “It’s given us a tremendous opportunity to network with [other groups] and work together on the medical issues that continue to face our communities.”

Adds Scott: “We’re very grateful for the support we get from the United Way. It helps us on so many levels. [Without it] we couldn’t do much of what we do.”

Like allowing Nema Shaffer to rediscover the joy of eating normally again – and living life without dread and pain.

“They are truly God-sent,” Shaffer says of Healing Hands. “They have really let me have my life back. I absolutely love them and what they do.”

 Reprinted with permission:  Bristol Herald Courier

Roger Brown

rbrown@bristolnews.com

(276) 645-2512

VI students from left are Justin Lytle, Natascha Carlucci, Kelli Porter and Amanda Few at the successful conclusion of their drive for a United Way agency.

Students of the Virginia Intermont College Social Work Club raised a large donation of soap and toiletry items from across campus for Abuse Alternatives, an agency supported by the United Way of Bristol. Several boxes filled with donations were provided to Abuse Alternatives for use at its emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence.

“We wanted to do something for an agency that really had a need and club members voted that this would be really useful,” said member Kelli Porter. Fellow student Amanda Few, who is a social work major working on a field internship with Abuse Alternatives, represented the agency to receive the donations. She said the emergency shelter is currently full and donations are very much needed and appreciated.

The Social Work Club’s drive involved the collection of contributions of soap, shampoo, laundry detergent and similar supplies. Club members set up bins across campus for donations. Students, faculty and staff participated as donors. Pizza raffles also raised contributions.

“We were excited to take the challenge and show that that it’s important to give to the community and also that we are a leading organization on campus,” said Social Work Club President Natascha Carlucci.

The student-led drive coincided with Viriginia Intermont’s successful employee campaign for the United Way of Bristol.

BRISTOL, Tenn. –

United Way of Bristol Executive Director Lisa Cofer says her job running a non-profit organization that provides money and other invaluable support to nearly 30 local social-services organizations is, well, more than just a job.

“As a Christian, I’ve always lived with the belief that if we give back to others we’ll be blessed in the end,” Cofer, 46, said during an interview at her homey office. “So, this is much more than a job for me. It’s a ministry for me, being able to work with people – and help more people.”

It’s a spiritual call that Cofer has pursued with much passion – and much success – since 1998, when she became the local United Way’s head executive after several years as an official with the Bristol Chamber of Commerce.

Since then, Cofer has transformed an organization that rarely raised $1 million during its annual fundraising campaigns into one that consistently exceeds that seven-figure mark year after year – which, in turn, allows the United Way to heavily support area charities and social-service agencies that many local residents literally depend on to live.

“Since Lisa has been leading the United Way, it’s not only increased its impact and influence in our community, but also the number of people it helps each day,” said Lisa Meadows, Bristol Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer. “And so much of that tremendous growth is due to Lisa’s wonderful leadership and energy. She’s truly playing a huge role in helping make Bristol a better place.”

Bristol, Tenn., Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend, who has worked closely with Cofer on fundraising campaigns, echoes Meadows’ praise for the executive director.

“There are not bigger hearts in our community than those of Lisa Cofer and her [United Way] staff, Lorie Bradley and Debbie Helton,” Feierabend said, referring to Cofer’s two longtime staff members.  

Adds Feierabend: “Lisa’s long hours, knowledge of community resources [and] connections with effective people and organizations help provide Bristol folks and families hope for the future.”

Cofer has an upbeat style and is highly visible in the community. Her particular brand of empathy has developed not only from meeting professional challenges, but personal ones as well.

Just days after giving birth to daughter, Logan, in 1997, Cofer developed a serious congestive-heart condition that forced her to be put on a ventilator for several days – and in an extreme life-threatening situation.

“It was definitely a defining moment in my life,” Cofer said of her brush with death. “I had to stop and reflect about what I was doing and what I wanted to accomplish in life.”

For Cofer, the self-reflection led her to leave her longtime job as a Bristol Chamber of Commerce official to pursue and land the United Way position in 1998. 

“I believe in this community, and I felt like I could do something that would directly impact the quality of life in our community,” Cofer said of her reasons for leaving the private sector to take a post with a non-profit that relies on constant fundraising.

She added that a major factor driving her relentless zeal to rally support for the United Way’s work is a stark reality — in today’s economy, the community’s need for the organization’s services is only growing.

Cofer points to the rising number of homeless families with young children in both communities of Bristol, which, she says, has produced “a whole new segment of people we’re serving who have never had to seek help before” from social agencies.

“The families we deal with, the growing [demands] we have, you can’t always leave it at the office,” says Cofer. “There are a lot of sleepless nights.”

But it’s a demanding mission that Cofer, who openly admits to wearing her heart on her sleeve, is happy to take on each day of every year.

“When I say my prayers, I thank God for allowing me to serve in this position,” she said. “I feel blessed.”

Reprinted with permission by: Bristol Herald Courier

Roger Brown

rbrown@bristolnews.com
(276) 645-2512

But, today, Alice is free from an environment of domestic violence – and has a life full of hope.

That heartwarming change is merely one example of the daily difference being made, each day, by Abuse Alternatives Inc., the area nonprofit that protects, counsels, supports and – most importantly – empowers local victims of domestic-violence to break free of the abuse.

And, like Alice, find the strength to reclaim their lives.

“The joy of what we do comes when someone out in the community comes up to me, or any one of our staff, and says, ‘Thank you for what your group did to help me,’ or ‘I know someone who got their life back through you,’” said Kathy Johnson, executive director of Abuse Alternatives, which has its headquarters in Bristol, Tenn.

“Those are gratifying moments, because it really brings home the importance of the work we do,” Johnson said. “Domestic violence touches so many of our citizens, so many of our communities.”

As does Abuse Alternatives’s tireless work to break the cycle of domestic violence and allow its victims to become free from it – and stronger after it. With seven full-time workers, six part-time staff and numerous volunteers, Abuse Alternatives operates an emergency shelter, a 24-hour hot line, a community-outreach program, a wide-ranging counseling and education initiative, a victim- and court-advocacy network and numerous other services – all while covering a service area that includes Washington County, Va., Bristol, Va., and all of Sullivan County (excluding Kingsport).

During its 2010 operational year, Abuse Alternatives served some 800 clients. Johnson said the need for the nonprofit’s work continues to grow. “Because of the nature of what we do – working with issues and victims of domestic violence – much of what we do is done in a [confidential] way,” Johnson said. “But the effects of domestic violence are so extensive, every day. And the services we offer are designed to reflect that.”

They are services that Abuse Alternatives can provide, day after day, year after year, through the United Way of Bristol. Abuse Alternatives is among the 29 area nonprofit agencies that receive financial and other support from the United Way of Bristol, which annually helps tens of thousands across the Tri-Cities.

Currently, the United Way of Bristol is conducting its annual regional fundraising campaign, which runs through Nov.15.

The theme of this year’s campaign is, “A Good Place to Give Makes a Better Place to Live.” And the United Way of Bristol has set a fundraising goal of at least $1.3 million.

Johnson said the United Way of Bristol provides Abuse Alternatives with nearly $50,000 each year – immense financial support that allows the nonprofit to stay fully staffed and meet daily operational costs.

“They really make it possible for us to provide and increase the services we have,” Johnson said of the United Way.

“But in addition to the funding, our support from the United Way has allowed us to build relationships with other social services that have really been invaluable for us,” she said. “It’s those relationships that also help us get the word out about what we do – and help more and more people in the process. That’s a really significant benefit for us, and we have it because of the United Way.”

In turn, the United Way’s financial and network support has enabled Abuse Alternatives to help women like Alice, who turned to the organization to escape her violent surroundings.

In addition to using Abuse Alternatives’ emergency shelter service, Alice received counseling, referrals for housing, donated furniture and household items – and the ongoing support to move past the fear, isolation and burden of domestic violence.

And to move towards a better life.

Reprinted with permission by:  Bristol Herald Courier

Roger Brown

rbrown@bristolnews.com

(276) 645-2512

Families facing homelessness in the region might soon have a place to stay while they get back on their feet.

A multi-agency effort involving local churches, the United Way of Bristol and a group new to the area, Family Promise of Bristol, is in the works to help alleviate the stress of homeless families – a group that agency workers say is on the rise in the region.

“Between the two Bristols, there are about 70 children who are identified as homeless children,” said Lynn Pannell, a member of the Family Promise of Bristol board. “That represents quite a few families.”

Currently, there is not a transient housing set-up in the city. People who find themselves without a place to stay overnight can stay at the Salvation Army for as long as three nights, said Dorothy Hurt, a caseworker there. At Haven of Rest, people can stay for about four days, unless they’re in one of the shelter’s programs, according to the Haven of Rest’s website. And, in both situations, people are asked to leave during the day, although they can eat all three meals there.

At the Salvation Army, there are dormitories for men, women and families, Hurt said. But most of the people in the family dorm are women with children, which could leave a man with young daughters in a bind, if the family dorm is full.

“There needs to be another program,” Hurt said.

How the program works

This is where Family Promise, part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network, will come in.

Between three and five families – up to 14 people total – will stay in local churches for a week at a time. The churches will provide a place to stay, as well as dinner, breakfast and a bagged lunch. The church doesn’t need to have beds or showers – the agency will transport beds from church to church, and have showers available at a proposed day center, where families can stay during the day if its members aren’t working.

Family Promise has enlisted seven host churches already and hopes for another six, said Sandra Willis, a board member, so each church will have a turn once a quarter.

“The families will be referred to us through social services,” Willis said. “People who have domestic abuse or alcohol problems will not be in our program.”

She said a volunteer from the church will stay overnight each night, to be available if assistance is needed.

Transportation will be provided to those staying at the churches who need rides to work or to job interviews, and also to school children, so they do not have to be uprooted from their home classrooms, said Barbara Clark, pastor at Anderson Street United Methodist Church.

“It’s a safe place for the children,” Clark said. “It gives them stability so they can stay in the schools where they’re zoned.”

The target time a family will spend in the program is about two months, Willis said, although their time will depend on their situation. A family might stay as long as two years, while they look for jobs and housing.

Newly unemployed

Many of the families coming to local food pantries lately have been newly unemployed, Willis said.

“They’re trying to hang on to housing,” she said. “They’re so overwhelmed.”

Pannell said one bad illness in a family could wipe them out financially.

“Here in the mountains where we are, we feel the effects of the recession later than others,” she said. “I work with people all the time, trying to help them find jobs and we’re seeing people who need help for the first time.”

The Family Promise initiative in Bristol has been in the works more or less since the United Way completed a needs assessment in 2009.

“We knew there was an issue of homeless families and children in our area,” said Lisa Cofer, United Way of Bristol’s executive director. “Once we got it completed, it was in black and white.”

There are already Family Promise programs in Johnson City and Kingsport, Willis said, but the need was great enough in Bristol that volunteers decided to start one in the Twin City.

“We just feel we need to be able to open our doors here,” she said.

Hurt said the 34 beds at the Salvation Army have been filled more frequently in the past six months to a year.

“I’ve never had this many people since I’ve been working here,” she said. “It’s grown in the last year or so.”

Local police departments had differing opinions on the homeless population in the city. In Bristol, Va., most of the homeless people officers run into on a daily basis are the same people, said Capt. Maynard Ratcliff. In Tennessee, there have been more reports filed with people listed as homeless, said Capt. Charlie Thomas with the Bristol Tennessee Police Department. He said he doesn’t know if that represents an increase in the number of homeless people in the city, or just an increase in the number police officers have dealt with lately.

Pannell said she’s in constant contact with Cofer through her job as a family self-sufficiency coordinator with Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and she guesses that not a week goes by that a homeless family isn’t in United Way’s office, looking for help.

“It is a real need,” she said. “And it’s growing.”

The needs

But to get the fledgling program off the ground, more help is needed from the community, organizers said.

“We need more money, and more churches involved,” Willis said.

Clark said churches who don’t feel they can host the group for a week can partner with other churches to provide meals or rides.

“I think churches worry about not having enough volunteers, but they can partner with other churches,” she said. “If liability insurance is a concern, they could contact the parent organization of Family Promise – support is available from a national office.”

She said members of the local board would be happy to meet with churches to provide information.

She’s worked with the program before, at a church in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is excited about bringing it to Bristol. Anderson Street is one of the churches involved, as well as First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Anne Catholic Church, State Street United Methodist Church, Suburban Christian Church and Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church. Blountville Presbyterian Church and Woodlawn Baptist church have signed up as support churches.

Volunteers will be trained, Willis said.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for churches,” she said. “It’s more than putting a dollar in the offering plate.”

And, it’s a good use of church space, Clark said.

“All of the churches have so much space that’s not used at night,” she said. I think that’s what God would want us to do with the space.”

The agency is also looking for a van, Willis said, to help transport people. They also need a space for the day center they hope to establish, which will ideally be a house with a yard, she said. There, volunteers can watch the children, help adults find jobs, training or housing, and spend time with those in the program.

“We can’t all be missionaries in foreign countries,” Willis said. “But this is a way to reach out right here in the community.”

For more information, or to get involved:

Sandra Willis, Family Promise of Bristol board member (423) 652-2442

Lisa Cofer, United Way of Bristol (423) 968-4912

Gordon Turnbull, president of the Family Promise of Bristol board (423) 764-7176

Pancake breakfast for Family Promise

When: Nov. 19 from 8-10 a.m.

Where: Applebee’s in Bristol

Reprinted with permission by Bristol Herald Courier:

Allie Robinson

arobinson@bristolnews.com

(276) 645-2531

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