Statements

Mission

Giving Hope and Help to Strengthen our Community

Background

The Goodlettsville Ministerial Alliance (GMA), community leaders and local benevolent funds established the Goodlettsville Help Center (GHC) in March, 1987. Community leaders saw the need for a central location to refer families facing food insecurity and short term financial crises as well as those needing help with emergency shelter and basic needs. A volunteer Executive Director was recruited and for the next 13 years GHC operated in donated space. Because of steadily growing needs for assistance , the GHC Board of Directors purchased the current facility at 108 Depot Street in February, 2000. This site housed client services and a small thrift store. The thrift store provided inexpensive clothing and household items and an income stream to help fund GHC assistance programs. The thrift store filled a community need and because of it's popularity and growth, it moved to a new location in Goodlettsville Plaza in October, 2013. It continues in that location and provides a steady stream of income that enables GHC to administer its client assistance programs uninterrupted. The Goodlettsville Help Center has grown from a volunteer Executive Director and a handful of volunteers to a staff of 20 and a volunteer 'army' of 30 to 80 local residents. GHC has a dedicated board of directors drawn from area churches, businesses and local government. Their commitment and breadth of experience has been essential in helping the Center successfully fulfill its mission and adapt to meet the needs of a growing and changing community.

Impact

Goodlettsville Help Center's accomplished goals from 2014 include: 1) Efficiently coordinated and implemented the various programs and services offered by GHC to residents within our service area and steered clients to additional resources in our area that supplement the assistance provided by GHC. 2) Provided food, utility, transportation, and prescription assistance in a continuous stream with no breaks due to 'lack of funds'. 3) Began Phase I of a renovation plan to upgrade our client waiting area and our 'Education Center'. 4) Continued an on-going plan to maintain the integrity of the exterior of our physical building to insure the safety and convenience of our clients, staff, and volunteers. Organizational goals for 2015: 1) Sustaining our current program levels of financial and food assistance while evaluating potential client demographics that are underserved in our area. 2) Complete the renovations in our client waiting area and Education Center and plan for a future capital campaign to engage in a major renovation of our food pantry area. 3) Continue our 'Job Readiness' tutoring program, provide a space for local employers to conduct job fairs and pursue involvement in adult literacy and GED prep/testing programs.

Needs

Goodlettsville Help Centers top 5 most pressing needs would include:1) Additional financial resources to provide past-due utility payment support to more clients in our service area--our current funds allow us to provide this type of assistance to Goodlettsville residents only, however, we have clients in other areas of Davidson County that are zoned to receive help at our facility (Joelton and Whites Creek) that are currently not eligible to receive this level of assistance due to budgetary restraints. 2) The re-modeling/up-grading of our food pantry area, food storage area, and client services area to alleviate cramped space issues and provide a better environment to serve the clients.3) The completion of the 'maintenance-free' up-grading of the exterior of our building. 4) Pursuing information to allow GHC to provide educational space for those providing GED test prep and adult literacy teaching. 5) Widening the awareness of the existence of our thrift store and the manner in which monies from this operation are used to finance our assistance programs and social services outreach in the community.

CEO Statement

I see my role as Executive Director as similar to that of a construction contractor--this analogy came to mind as I was engaged in doing just that; basically acting as a contractor as I supervised and organized the remodeling of the front exterior of our building, which included many different components from concrete and brick demolition to vinyl siding, window replacement and parking lot sealing. The objectives of this remodeling were to sustain the physical integrity of our building and make it as close to maintenance-free as possible. With that anaology in mind, I see my job at the Help Center in the same light--to help sustain the integrity of the operation as a whole and to work with the Board of Directors in implementing policies and procedures that will safeguard this integrity. The Goodlettsville Help Center provides food assistance, utility payment assistance, gas vouchers (we partner with a local gas station) for those residents with medical or work-related appointments and a shortage of fuel to get them there, medical prescription assistance (we partner with all local pharmacies), emergency lodging for individuals in a temporary transient or domestic upheaval situation, infant/toddler assistance with diapers, wipes, formula and baby food, and hygiene assistance for both males and females. GHC also provides job readiness tutorial services and is currently engaged in pursuing involvement in GED test prep and adult literacy programs. Even though we have set parameters on the various kinds of assistance provided, we keep an open mind and are willing to 'think outside the box' when confronted with an unusual request or situation. The Goodlettsville community is generous and provides us the means to confidently assist all legitimate requests. We are currently engaged in an on-going process of up-grading our by-laws, strengthening our Human Resources department, evaluating our client programs and strengthening our thrift store operations. These tasks are so important as a part of the process of protecting the resources of the Goodlettsville Help Center. Our aim is for GHC to continue as a viable source of real help to our local residents in need for generations to come.

Board Chair Statement

In 1987 the Goodlettsville Help Center (GHC) was founded by community volunteers and church leaders who wanted to establish an organization that could give a "hand up" in the most effective way to those in our community facing hunger, homelessness and unforeseen financial emergencies that threatened their well-being. We began very humbly in a few hundred square feet of donated space by offering food boxes, clothing and some assistance with emergency shelter, medication and transportation. As our community has grown, so has the need for emergency assistance. The GHC Board has successfully met that increased need by expanding our services and Increasing our corporate and individual donor network. We went from "all volunteer organization" to a paid staff to more effectively deliver services. Our volunteer Board of Directors was expanded in 2012 to include individuals with varied expertise from local and regional companies as well as the nonprofit sector. Over the years, generous support from churches, individuals and businesses has proved the financial and in-kind resources and leadership that has enabled GHC to provide emergency assistance for thousands of individuals and families. One of our challenges has always been to be alert and responsive to changing community needs and the effectiveness of our programs in meeting those needs. Adequate funding to meet the need for emergency assistance with utilities, shelter or medication is a priority. Reaching out to younger families and seniors who have never before needed emergency assistance and who are often reluctant to ask for help provides not only unique challenges but an exciting opportunity to "Give hope and help to strengthen our community." The GHC Treasure Hunter's Thrift Store, which is open to the public, helps provide some of that funding It offers quality new and gently used clothing and other merchandise at very reasonable prices. We are currently developing a Strategic Plan and anticipate this will be complete within the next year. A Development Committee was formed in 2016 to develop a comprehensive fundraising plan and assist in identifying and soliciting support from foundations, corporations, community organizations and individuals. The Committee goals also include assuring that fundraising efforts are cost effective, ethical fundraising practices are followed and donors are appropriately acknowledged.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Human Services  - Emergency Assistance (Food, Clothing, Cash)
Secondary Category:	Food, Agriculture & Nutrition  - Food Banks, Food Pantries
Tertiary Category:	Public & Societal Benefit  - Fund Raising & Fund Distribution

Areas Served

GHC provides food assistance to the residents of Goodlettsville, TN (primarily Davidson County/minority Sumner County and Robertson County) Joelton, TN (Davidson County), Whites Creek, TN (Davidson County), Millersville, TN (Sumner County). We also provide financial assistance to residents of the Goodlettsville community.

TN - Davidson

TN - Robertson

TN - Sumner