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The Salvation Army of the Tri-Cities announces that the organization has been selected as a recipient of the Families First Community Grant Program by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The Families First Community Grant Program is an initiative that provides funding to organizations offering innovative direct services to support Tennessee families in need. This grant program was established through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Opportunity Act, bipartisan legislation that was passed and signed by Governor Bill Lee in May 2021, to effectively spend a surplus of TANF funds.
The Families First Community Grant Program will allow The Salvation Army of the Tri-Cities to expand its existing Pathway of Hope program, which supports low-income families and helps them achieve sustainable economic stability. The grant will support a wide range of services in the areas of education, health and wellbeing, economic stability, fostering safe, stable, and nurturing relationships, emergency financial assistance, holiday assistance, youth educational and camp programs, services to displaced persons, and food security programs.
“We are extremely grateful to the Tennessee Department of Human Services for selecting The Salvation Army as a recipient of the Families First Community Grant Program,” said Captain Benny Carringer of The Salvation Army in the Tri-Cities. “This funding will allow us to expand our Pathway of Hope program and help more families in our community. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to thrive and achieve their full potential, and this grant will enable us to continue our work towards that goal.”
Ramona, a Pathway of Hope client who was helped by the program, expressed gratitude for the support she received, saying, “From the beginning, my Salvation Army family coach was a friend. She wasn’t just hearing what I was saying, she was listening. I could tell she genuinely cared about me and my kids.” After developing a relationship and building a plan together with her family coach, Ramona was able to maintain a job, secure housing, and a car. Her aspirational goal is to go back to school and become a nurse. “The support of the program has led me to who I am today: a woman with a bright future and a smile on her face,” said Ramona.
The Salvation Army is committed to serving those in need and improving the lives of families in the Tri-Cities area. With the support of the Families First Community Grant Program, The Salvation Army will continue to provide vital services and support to families in need.