 Cary Christian Center (CCC) has been serving Sharkey/Issaquena County residents since 1971 and is the lead organization for this South Delta Cluster Site. The Center was founded to address the high infant mortality rate found in the Mississippi Delta. The organization has significant experience working with the target population and had demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life in this two-county area. The organization has been able to sustain itself primarily through private donations, the dental clinic and fees generated through sale of items in its thrift stores. Cary Christian Center has received a “Healthy Tomorrow” grant through the Academy of Pediatrics.
In its nearly 35 year history working with the target community, the organization’s services and focus expanded to address the total needs of the clients it serves. The organization now provides a comprehensive array of services to the community which includes:
- Compassion Ministry which assists families in emergency situations by providing financial help with utilities, prescribed medications, medical bills, household necessities and clothing for families who lose their homes to fire. A major focus of the program is to encourage and promote appropriate resource management.
- Spiritual Development Program is under girded by the belief that spiritual; development is essential to helping individuals become empowered and move toward self-sufficiency. To this end, the program offers after-school bible classes which are used to develop students reading and literacy skills, a summer enrichment program and a Vacation Bible School to surrounding communities.
- Teen Treasures is an abstinence peer support group for middle and high school girls. The goal is to teach young girls how to make healthy life choices, thereby decreasing the teen pregnancy rate in the community.
- The Dental Program is open to the public but focuses on providing access to quality dental care to more than half of the county residents who live at or below the poverty level and would not otherwise have access to dental care.
- Volunteer/Housing Repair Program utilizes thousands of hours of volunteer labor to repair dilapidated housing. While the focus is on home repair, new homes have also been built.
- Parent-Child Program reaches out to the families in the community through Prenatal Parenting classes and the “Terrific Toddlers” program. The program uses Home Visitors which are the key to program effectiveness.
- Thrift Store Program is operated in three locations: Cary, Rolling Fork, and Shelby. These stores provide jobs for residents and funds for the ministry. Clothing and household furnishings are provided at reasonable prices through donations from across the country.
- Skills Training is the most recent program added. It currently consists of a truck driving schoo
The facilities include a main building which consist if offices, classroom space and kitchen facilities. The facility has dormitory facilities that house up to 30 men and 30 women. Also on the property are four apartments. The building is handicapped accessible and is easily accessible from Highway 61.
Leadership for the Cary Christian Center is provided by two co-directors: Dorsey Johnson and Carolyn Newhof. Oversight is provided by a nine-member Board of Directors comprised of local community members and persons from other states. The Board’s role is primarily policy making in nature.
The Faith Community Outreach Program is to provide leadership, spiritual guidance and resources to build a strong foundation for at-risk youth ages 10 – 18. Three aspects of this outreach program are to provide education on drugs, spiritual guidance and a place where youth can come to find the proper resources that they need for their education. The nearest library is in another town. Many of the children do not have transportation to reach the library. Providing this service would give the children a positive outlook at life and will also encourage them to further their education. Program components include the following:
- Education Goals:
- Religious Education/Character Building – To teach young people how to know God, themselves and how to get along with others.
- Tutoring Program – To help people achieve academic advancement.
- Youth Enterprise – To teach youth to utilize and market their skills, develop business management skills and enhance their personal growth.
- Creative Arts – To help individuals develop their thoughts and actions through art, dance, music and creative crafts.
- Ten Point Program – To reward children who achieve a set standard such as: staying in school, maintain or improve their academic scores, provide 52 hours of community service per year, have no suspensions, detentions, or criminal offenses (including traffic offenses), no pregnancy (including male involved), parents must attend at least two school functions per year, prepare their job portfolio, and assist one other person with that person’s achievements to remain drug free.
New Hope Outreach Ministry is a religious based organization implementing ministry art programs to community youth and program assistance to the elderly. This program was founded by a husband and wife team from DeSoto, Texas who answered a direct call from God to go back to Rolling Fork, MS to address art ministries in the local churches there.
Areas of Community Focus
1. After School Student Assistance
2. Devotional Instruction
3. Bible Study
4. Developing Student Social Skills & Awareness
5. Cultural Awareness
6. Instructional Direction in Dance/Drama/Music
7. Dance/Drama/Singing in Local & Out-of-State Churches
|
