Ministerial Association donates $16,000 to Help Center

During the beginning of November, hundreds of White County residents found themselves struggling due to the government shutdown. The Help Center has always strived to help as many as possible during these times, but it’s hard to meet demands. Seeing this, the Ministerial Association of White County came together to support those in need, donating $16,000 to the Help Center’s efforts.

Steve Qualls with Christpoint Church, Steve Gerhart and Lucas Berry with North Sparta Church of God, Caleb Andrews with Abundant Grace Church, and Brent Tevebaugh with Christian Life First Assembly of God all came together in an effort to unite churches in the area.

Qualls describes the mission as it weighed on them: “We, as the Ministerial association, realized that SNAP benefits were going to be affected with the shutdown, right? We started messaging with each other, rather than one church make a donation, let’s all pull together. One Sunday, do a countywide offering. We just wanted to come together to make sure that families are fed. We know that some only got half their benefits, too, so they’re still going to need every bit of this and more.”

George Elrod, one of the directors of the Help Center, said that the money would be a tremendous help.

“There’s been a great, big demand since the shutdown, and that’s what triggered this initiative with Steve,” Elrod said. “Several of these churches reached out and told me they’d like to do this for people on SNAP. And, you know, this will really help us out.”

Gerhart said that above all, however, “To God be the glory.”

The members of the Ministerial Association want to urge other counties to lend a helping hand as well, if possible. Even though SNAP benefits are beginning to move again, not everyone may be getting the help they need quick enough for the month. With the donation they received, Elrod and the Help Center know they can continue taking care of those in need.

Sparta-White County Help Center is located at 21 N. Main St. near the middle of town. They are open 1-4 p.m., Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon, on Saturday.