WADESBORO- Thousands of citizens in Anson County are living from pay-check to pay-check and are just one disaster could potentially leave them homeless. There are a number of programs available to people that could help them in times of economic, physical, and mental crisis, but navigating through these resources can be a nightmare. That’s where Anson Community Care Network comes in.
“How do we make sure that information is available to those who are most vulnerable and need it the most?” asked Pastor Davi Trotti of United Methodist Church. That question is at the core of what Anson County Community Care Network does.
Anson County Community Care Network was created in 2018 and their mission statement is, “To establish a volunteer group of community minded and interested citizens to share and keep current program information and requirements in a central location and made available to the public.” The organization is made up of representatives from a number of churches, nonprofits, and governmental agencies such as First Presbyterian Church, Anson County Council on Aging, Anson County Health Department, and Anson Domestic Violence Rape Crisis Center.
“The value in what we do here is that we get together and update each other on a monthly basis what’s going on,” said former social worker Kaye Ratliff of First Presbyterian Church. To that end, they developed a website, www.ansoncommunitycarenetwork.org, and Sandy Bruney is the webmaster.
Current information is crucial among those looking to utilize the array of programs and resources available to them. For example, the Anson County Department of Social Services has already depleted their funds for emergency heat. As a result, people were redirected to First Presbyterian Church, which have served 22 people this month by dispersed $2,500 for the purchasing of fuel for kerosene and propane heaters. Knowing where to go for fuel can a save the individual in need a lot of time and energy.
“It takes a lot of determination to work you way through these resources. People get frustrated,” said volunteer John Witherspoon who added, “The problem isn’t that the information isn’t out there, the problem is that there needs to be a central location where you can ask a question and get an answer.”
“We need more information, so we gather information but do people even know how to access that information?” asked Trotti.
“I hope we would all have case management sensibilities to be that person who helps the individual who comes in their door and says, ‘you have this need, let me go to the website and see if there’s anything for you,” said Ratliff. If you or a loved one in Anson County has fallen upon hard times, visit the Anson Community Care Network’s website to find out what resources are available to you.
