Jasper business reaches community through ‘Courageous’

Thanks to Central States Manufacturing Inc., Jasper residents have the chance to see the latest Sherwood Pictures film, “Courageous,” at their local theater.

Central States, which manufactures and distributes metal building products, started a Giving Back program a couple of years ago, and according to program coordinator Debby Corwin, it is “a push to choose one community where we live and go deeper.”

The film, which focuses on a group of police officers and its discovery of the importance of fatherhood, has a message that company thought was worth spreading, both among its Jasper employees and residents.

Central States worked with the theater to generate 10,000 vouchers and gave them to the leaders of local organizations — including First Baptist Church, Jasper — to distribute.

“Central States needs to be commended,” said Dennis Culbreth, senior pastor of First, Jasper. “They saw the need to invest in their employees and do something that can impact them in positive ways. The fact that they would do this in the community speaks highly of that organization.”

And, Corwin said, “Courageous” is just the start of the company’s outreach to the community.

“In the next couple of weeks, the president [of Central States] and I plan to visit Jasper and meet with Dennis Culbreth and other members of the community,” she said. “We’ll talk with people from the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club to see what needs we can help meet in Jasper.”

For Dale Gilliland, operations general manager at Central States in Jasper, this outreach is very much in character with the company’s philosophy, since many leaders and employees are Christians.

“We’ve had employees who have been taking vouchers and handing them out, and there are just a handful left,” said Gilliland, who attends First, Jasper. “They’ve been excited and it’s a big thing for the community.”

And there was a full house for the movie’s premiere Sept. 30, he noted.

Culbreth planned to be at the theater a few times during the showings, as he and other Jasper-area ministers wanted to be sure there was at least one pastor on hand at each showing for anyone interested in talking following the movie.   (TAB)