* The biggest need is money. “Grants are hard to come by,” says the Rev. Allen Karnes, Jubilee Project director. “We are dependent on the donations we get from individuals and churches.”

* Donations may be sent directly to: Jubilee Project, 197 N. Jockey Street, Sneedville, TN 37869. To reach Taylor at Jubilee Project, contact (423) 733-4195 or jubileeprojectsneedville@gmail.com.

* United Methodists who wish to give through their local churches may write a check to the church with “Jubilee Project, Advance #78135” on the memo line. Heidi Taylor, Jubilee office manager, requests that United Methodist donors contact her so will know the donation is forthcoming and can apply it toward specific needs as requested. Contact (423) 733-4195 or jubileeprojectsneedville@gmail.com.

* Ooltewah United Methodist Church has offered to match donations up to $4,000 to help Jubilee buy a small sports-utility van for delivering meals and a van for youth activities. Donations are needed by March 15.

* The Jubilee Project website lists supplies in high demand, including diapers, wipes, cleaning products, hygiene products, toilet paper, paper towels, and copier paper. See list.

* So far, Jubilee has made water improvements in the community with a grant; donations from Ooltewah United Methodist Church and Panther Springs United Methodist Church; and the help of groups like Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, Tenn. Jubilee recently signed a contract to help more people through Living Water for the World, said Karnes. “As money comes in, we will do what we can.”

* United Methodist churches that have sent work teams in the past include Ooltewah (Cleveland District), Edgefield (Johnson City District), Mt. Zion-Greeneville (Morristown District), and Centreville in the Virginia Conference. Work teams are accommodated in the former elementary school that previously housed the Clinch-Powell Community Kitchen.

* Some United Methodist Men and Women groups come throughout the year for projects. Men from Kendricks Creek United Methodist Church refinished a room in the Jubilee headquarters in December and January. This month, Morristown District women are scheduled to help repair a moldy wall in the building.

* Karnes is pastor of First United Methodist Church and Shiloh United Methodist Church, both in Sneedville, as well as Union United Methodist Church in Eidson, Tenn.  Lindy Turner, a member of the Jubilee Project board of directors, is a member at Rutherford Memorial United Methodist Church in Corryton, Tenn.

* According to the Rev. Tom Ballard, Morristown District superintendent, Jubilee Project strengthened its United Methodist ties in the 2010 reorganization. “Jubilee is still a nonprofit corporation but prior to a recent change in the bylaws, the only United Methodist presence on the board of directors specifically mentioned in the said bylaws was the pastor of [First United Methodist Church of Sneedville and the Morristown District superintendent]. The current bylaws now specifically say that 60 percent of the board must be United Methodist. We now have an appointed elder serving the Sneedville Circuit and directing Jubilee Project.”


See also:
Jubilee reorganizes, finds new ways to help poor in Hancock County