Martha Smith can only guess at the reasons for a sizable increase in the requests for assistance from Randolph Baptist Association’s community ministries. “We’ve just had a lot of new people moving in,” said Smith, the association’s Christian Community Ministers director. “It’s like people are moving from everywhere to here.”
But whatever the reasons, Smith is most concerned about helping people in need, whether they need food, clothing, medication, electricity, gasoline for a trip to the doctor’s office or shelter. “Sometimes we’re able to help a small amount with rent,” she said.
During its 2005–2006 fiscal year, the association assisted 816 families through its Roanoke and Wedowee service centers. By the time another year had passed, an additional 931 families had been assisted. In terms of individuals, that translates into assistance for over 300 more people during 2006–2007 than the year before. “That’s a lot of people,” Smith said.
Meeting such an enormous number of needs, Smith points out, takes many volunteers and donations. The centers receive a lot of both, but they can always use more. And the effort to help the centers meet needs has even crossed denominational lines.
Every Sunday night, First Baptist Church, Wedowee, and First United Methodist Church in Wedowee hold joint services, alternating church buildings and pastors each week. Every fifth Sunday night, said Smith, a collection is taken for the service centers, and the churches have been equally generous. Fifty-five volunteers currently work at the center. For information call 256-357-2130.
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