Coffee County Cares 4 Families

Matching needs and resources in a compassionate way.

NEWS RELEASE
FROM: Lane and Evelyn Curlee

RE: January 7 th CCC4F program

DATE: December 27, 2008

Coffee County Cares 4 Families (CCC4F), is a group of concerned citizens who have been meeting monthly since September. The group’s goal is to find long-term solutions to reduce/eliminate poverty in Coffee County.

Coffee County Cares 4 Families has five objectives:

Support existing organizations that serve people in need.
Identify gaps in service to people in need and fill them.
Communicate with people in need what services are available.
Increase communication between those serving people in need.
Provide short-term relief such as food, clothing and shelter to people in need.

The January program for CCC4F will include the possible introduction of a Jobs for Life program in Coffee County. Jobs for Life combines work-readiness training, Biblical principles and volunteer mentoring.

Jobs for Life is a non-profit organization that equips organizations to provide hope to those who struggle with finding and keeping employment. There are currently 95 cities throughout the country who have Jobs for Life programs.

Jobs for Life students attend 16 free, two-hour classes. Typical classes include conflict resolution, overcoming roadblocks, taking responsibility, and integrity. Once the students are job ready they are referred to area businesses and then assisted in pursuing job openings that meet their interest and skill level. Each Jobs for Life student has a mentor who provides the student friendship and support both during the training, job search, and once the student is employed.

“There are approximately 1,670 individuals out-of-work in Coffee County as of last month, and, unfortunately, that number is growing,” said Lane Curlee, facilitator for CCC4F. “And that does not count the number of people who are underemployed. Many of these families are in crisis and will slip into poverty unless the community rallies around them to help. These families need hope and mentors and Jobs for Life can offer that hope.”

On January 7 th, Gary Adams with the Hopkinsville, Kentucky YMCA, will talk about Jobs for Life. Gary will report Jobs for Life has made a tremendous difference in the lives of many Hopkinsville families by making unemployed and underemployed citizens more work-ready.

“In October we invited the founders of Against the Grain, a faith-based organization from Franklin, to attend and share with us their work with single moms who live in poverty. It was informative and inspiring. In Coffee County, 558 single moms and their children live in poverty. It is critical we help these single moms by starting a program similar to Against the Grain.”

“In November we invited Christine Hopkins, founder of an inmate recovery program at the Franklin County Jail in Winchester. Her program readies inmates for the outside world through classes dealing with anger management, financial counseling, job preparation, parenting classes and other programs. The recidivism rate has been reduced substantially, keeping families together and, in turn, reducing poverty. “

“In December our group brainstormed ways to communicate with people who need services but are not aware what services are available. We came up with many good ideas that, when implemented, will be of tremendous help to those in need.”

For those interested in learning more about Jobs for Life or CCC4F, the next meeting is January 7 th from 11:45 to 1 p.m. Meetings are held at the Fraternal Order of Police building, a blue building ½ mile north of Hickerson Station Elementary School on the old Tullahoma-Manchester Highway, about three miles north of Tullahoma. Lunch is provided for $5, however, reservations are necessary. Please email lcurlee@charter.net or call 581-0360 to confirm attendance and lunch or with questions or suggestions.

Lane and Evelyn Curlee, Facilitators

P. O. Box 84 931-581-0360

Tullahoma, TN 37388 lcurlee@charter.net