Sewanee Community Chest Spotlight

The 2014–15 Sewanee Community Chest fund drive is underway. Since 1908, the Sewanee Community Chest has helped to serve its fellow community members and keep this community strong and vital. Sponsored by the Sewanee Civic Association, the Community Chest raises money for local charitable organizations that work to educate and nurture children, aid the community, and improve the quality of life. In setting the goal for the Community Chest, the Sewanee Civic Association board and membership approved funding for 27 organizations and initiatives in Sewanee and surrounding communities, assuming the goal is met. 

This year’s goal is $101,000; about $36,000 has been raised to date. This year’s fund drive organizers, Marilyn and Tom Phelps, hope to complete the campaign by February 2015.

For the next few weeks, the Sewanee Mountain Messenger will focus on some of the organizations supported by the Community Chest. This week we look at three of the organizations selected by the Community Chest: the Sewanee Community Center, the Sewanee Elementary School and the Animal Alliance-South Cumberland.

Sewanee Community Center. The purpose of the Sewanee Community Center is to improve the quality of life in the community by providing space for community-initiated programs and projects. These programs include the online farmer’s market and the food buyers’ co-op, yoga, tai chi, gymnastics, Cub Scouts and community meetings. The Community Center board also sponsors an annual community-wide yard sale. Each month approximately 600–800 people use the Center.

The Community Center is requesting $4,500 to be used for the general operating costs of keeping the Center open, including utilities, insurance, maintenance, a mower and the manager’s salary. The Sewanee Community Chest provides for 44 percent of the Center’s operating expenses. The rest of the Center’s funding comes from rent and other donations.

Sewanee Elementary School. The community has always helped to maintain the public school in Sewanee, from building the school in 1927, to providing financial support for enrichment programs and supplies.

Sewanee Elementary School (SES) relies on yearly funding from the Community Chest to meet the school’s needs. The Sewanee Parent Organization (SPO, formerly known as the Parent-Teacher Organization), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, requests and disburses the Community Chest funds each year for SES. The SPO works with the SES teachers and staff to find solutions to specific educational needs of the school that are not met by the Franklin County School system’s funding or services. This includes professional development, technology purchases, library books and supplies for classrooms. The SPO supports 250 children and 30 faculty and staff members.

This year the SPO is requesting $20,000 on behalf of Sewanee Elementary. The Community Chest currently funds almost 90 percent of the SPO operating expenses for the school. The SPO also receives money through annual dues and small fund-raisers such as T-shirt sales. SES receives additional money from school pictures, two book fairs and the BoxTops program. 

Animal Alliance-South Cumberland. The mission of the Animal Alliance-South Cumberland (AASC) is to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats in Grundy County and the areas of Marion and Franklin counties located on the South Cumberland Plateau by providing affordable and accessible spays and neuters. The group is committed to reducing the number of unintended litters, which can lead to neglect, cruelty and euthanasia. AASC also educates the public about the importance of animal sterilizations.

Since the program began in 2008, AASC has helped to spay and neuter more than 2,800 dogs and cats. The organization also funds the sterilization of strays before foster families rehome them. Last year, three of the volunteer foster homes took in 266 puppies and adult dogs. The organization helps to transport the animals to Wally’s Friends, Paul’s Clinic and Animal Care Center. They also work with Fido Fixers, which is a mobile clinic that periodically comes to the Plateau.

AASC is requesting $1,250, which will help to sterilize 25 dogs and/or cats. The pet owners are asked for a copayment of $14, which covers $12 for a rabies vaccination and a $2 fuel fee for the transport van. AASC pays for these charges if an owner cannot afford it. 

For low-income pet owners, AASC also pays for any other services deemed necessary by the veterinarian at the time of the surgery such as antibiotics, ear mite treatment, and pain and worm medications. The AASC is entirely volunteer-led. Its largest expense is paying for the spay and neuter program.

The goal of the Sewanee Community Chest is to help our community by funding our community programs. The Community Chest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations are tax-deductible. 

Send your donation to Sewanee Community Chest, P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375. For more information, or to make a donation through PayPal, contact <sewaneecommunitychest@gmail.com> or go to <www.sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.