Community Chest Very Close to $108,000 Goal

The Community Chest fund drive is 95.5 percent of the way toward its $108,000 goal. Only $5,300 in donations is needed before the end of March for the Community Chest to honor its commitment to fund 28 organizations whose work makes a difference in quality of life on the Cumberland Plateau. 

Nominations are being sought now for two individuals to serve as stewards for the 2014–15 Community Chest campaign. Duties include promoting the campaign, thanking donors and working with fund request applicants. Send nominations to <sewaneecommunitychest@gmail.com> or contact one of the current stewards, Kiki Beavers and Theresa Shackelford.

Every donation matters and helps to keep the community strong and vital. For example, $25 will help feed one child for eight weekends with the Campora Backpack Program; $50 will help to buy camping gear for two Scouts; $75 will help pay one month of maintenance expenses for the Sewanee Community Center; $100 will help defray the cost of fireworks for the annual Fourth of July celebration; $250 will help pay for four days worth of food at the Sewanee Senior Center; $500 will help five TigerShark swimmers with registration fees; and $1,000 will help to pay for Sewanee Elementary teachers’ professional development.

Through Community Chest funding, these organizations help those caught in the cycle of poverty, improve lives through outreach and community initiatives, and provide support for children with a variety of programs. 

The Sewanee Community Chest supports youth sports, outreach and many community and educational programs in the tri-county area. For a majority of these groups, 20 percent or more of the Community Chest funds are used to maintain their annual budgets. Much of the funding helps low-income families. 

Since 1908, the Sewanee Civic Association and its precursors have believed in the power of area citizens to help sustain community projects and programs. Donations can be made to Sewanee Community Chest, P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375. Pledges, payroll deductions and donations in honor of, or in memory of a loved one are also encouraged.