News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
UCHRA’s Substance Abuse Solutions program wants to give those struggling to get back on their feet an assist.
SAS Housing Program Manager Luke Eldridge said that’s why they’re asking the community for donations of household and personal hygiene items. He said they want to help people not by fighting emergency with emergency, but by offering sustainable assistance.
“We’re trying to help people learn how to budget their food stamps,” Eldridge said. “Help people to learn how ‘Hey these are the things you need and this how you can do that.’ If you’ve got a job, let’s work with you to where you’re not always having to ask for these things all the time. We’re trying to rethink how we’re trying to help.”
Eldridge said that the donations help free up the organization’s funds for things like rent assistance and permanent housing assistance. To donate, Eldridge said to contact him or drop off items at UCHRA’s office. He said they currently will not take clothing donations.
Eldridge said that he wants to show the needy members of the community that there are people who care.
“I see a lot of people who are just hurting,” Eldridge said. “And some of this is not because of a mistake they made, it’s just because of a lifestyle they’ve always been in. But they deserve a chance just as much as anybody else to get their life back on track. And we hope we can be that for them.”
Eldridge said that there are several other organizations in the area that help in a similar fashion, including the Rescue Mission, the Pregnancy Center, the Stevens Street Baptist Church Care Center.
Eldridge said that because they are government-funded, they have a limited amount of funding they can use. He said that donations help the organization free up funds for other uses.
If you are interested in donating, Eldridge said that you can donate at the UCHRA building. For questions, contact UCHRA at (931) 528-1127 and ask for Eldridge.
