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What We're Up To |
CRC in the News!
Needy nonprofits find answer to their prayers Agency fills gaps in shrinking budgets
By Gail Kerr
The Tennessean
March 24, 2009
It's good to be needed. The folks who run the Community Resource Center have never been needed quite this much. The CRC is a connect-the-dots agency: They take donations of new and gently used stuff — Easter bunnies, dishes, a podium — and turn it over to a slew of nonprofits that cue up once a month to gladly accept the help. The Easter bunnies may end up as bingo prizes at a nursing home. The dishes landed in the kitchen of an apartment proudly called home by a man with a mental disability. The podium now sits in a small start-up church for the preacher to use during his Sunday morning sermons. "That's the most important thing I've ever gotten," said Johnnie Webb, pastor of a small non-denominational church on Gallatin Road.
"Today we got dish detergent, baby wipes and ink pens. It's a great help, especially at a time like this when money is very scarce." That was the story over and over Monday morning, the first day of this month's pickup week. On a well-oiled schedule, nonprofits that pay a small annual fee can come to the CRC and take what they need.
It's an agency best known for its amusing annual fundraiser, Oyster Easter, where the well-known and well-heeled celebrate the coming of spring. An Oyster Queen and Oyster King are crowned, based on blatant cheating, and oysters and beer are consumed in mass quantities. Few of those partygoers ever drop by the 5,000-square foot warehouse on Omohundro Place.
Lime green walls are neatly stacked with boxes of laundry detergent, hand lotion and you-name-it. Oversized comfy sofas stand on their ends like sentries, as people facing down the nation's grittiest economy in decades show up with grateful hearts and empty trucks. Last year, CRC gave away $1.5 million worth of merchandise. What's startling this year, said executive director Catherine Mayhew, is how many more agencies need help. "This giveaway, we have five or six nonprofit agencies that have never been with us before," she said. "A lot of agencies have had their budgets cut or lost grant funding altogether. Everybody needs this."
Susan Jakoblew said that is right. She came to the warehouse to collect for Progress, an organization that works with developmentally challenged adults. Clients are referred by the state, but Progress still depends on grant money. And that's drying up. "Money we've been able to count on for years and years is gone," she said. Her clients will be able to furnish their homes with what was in the warehouse Monday morning: tables, throw rugs, mattresses, a suitcase, bicycle and a crib. All carefully inventoried.
Joan Anderson was there, looking to furnish the expansion of the Smithson-Craighead charter school. "Everything we get here means we can serve more clients, or we can serve our clients better," Anderson said. CRC accepts donations The CRC buys some things at rock-bottom prices from a wholesale liquidator, like toothbrushes and lotion. But the real surprise is what is donated. When HCA changed out some of their electronic equipment, they gave the CRC almost new VCRs. Deloitte Touche called the CRC when it decided to empty a warehouse. They donated projection screens, file cabinets, furniture, envelopes and a 14-foot inlaid wooden receptionist desk.
The CRC also keeps a list of what is needed. When Susan Farmer, administrator of RHA Health Services in Gallatin and Nashville, sought Christmas presents for their 65 disabled clients last year, the agency came through. "With the budget cuts, it has definitely been a lifesaver," she said.
If you would like to sign up, or donate, visit www.crcnashville.org or call 291-6688. They will not take metal desks, outdated computers, anything broken, used clothes and filing cabinets with no keys. "By the time Wednesday is over, there won't be a stick in here," Mayhew said. "And we'll start all over."
CRC Spotlight
February 2009 -
Ch-Ch-Changes
Each month The CRC website will "Spotlight" an activity, special donor, volunteer, etc. This month the spotlight is on change. There have been lots of changes with the CRC in the past few months. We are now getting settled in at our new location at 218 Omohundro, and diligently trying to get organized.
Our programs have changed a bit too. Instead of a store, we are now doing free monthly giveaways to our partner agencies. That's Right - FREE! These giveaways include the basics - personal hygeine products, cleaning supplies, and general household items. Of course, donations of other things like clothing, office supplies, decorative items, etc. are also included in the giveaways when available.
The staff at CRC has also changed. As most of you know, Alan Kalwa has gone on long-term disability leave from CRC. Alan was a huge asset to the Center over the years, not only as a program director but all-around Mr. Fix It, patcher and repairer. He will be sorely missed.
Joining us is Betsy Everett as Partnership and Marketing Coordinator. Betsy will make sure CRC is communicating effectively with our current partners, and will be spreading the CRC message to potential new partner agencies. She will also help us in marketing CRC to the larger community, and will create some much-needed databases to help CRC track what comes in and who gets what. Please welcome her when you come for the giveaway.
We are making the best of all of the changes taking place at the CRC, and look forward to a GREAT 2009!
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