MUST Ministries Celebrates 50 Years and Launches Emergency Rental Assistance Program MUST Ministries has grown from a one-room food pantry and clothing closet in 1971 to a multimillion-dollar nonprofit that distributed 2.58 million pounds of food and served more than 180,000 people last year. The actual number of people receiving food, housing, emergency shelter, jobs, health care, and clothing often meant clients came more than once for help, but the record number of those in need has swelled beyond anything imaginable in the early days of this organization.“MUST Ministries exists to serve people, and serve them with compassion,” said MUST President and CEO Ike Reighard. “Every person who comes through the doors of any of our facilities is special and has a story to tell.” Thousands of success stories have been accomplished over the years, but many steps had to be taken to develop the full, comprehensive, wrap-around services that help pull people out of poverty. “MUST is poised to not only continue helping people in the 10 counties we currently serve but also expand throughout metro Atlanta. We are so blessed that we are able to impact lives and experience the miracles of transformed lives,” said Reighard.On that note, MUST recently launched the Emergency Rental Assistance Program on behalf of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. The Board approved allocating $4.5 million received from the U.S. Treasury to MUST Ministries to distribute relief funds to eligible residents. The funds were part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 legislation, which included an allocation of $25 billion to states and local governments to aid with rent, utilities, and other expenses related to housing.Applicants must reside in Cherokee County and will need to meet requirements highlighted by the Act. Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional three months if it is determined that the extra months are needed to ensure housing stability and funds are available. The funding amounts will be determined by household income and total monthly rent and utilities. MUST Ministries is hosting an online application portal at MustMinistries.org/cherokee-co. For more information, call 770-790-3926 or 770-790-3927.
Cherokee County Manager Jerry Cooper Announces Retirement After 20 years of leading Cherokee County, Jerry Cooper will retire at the end of this month. Cooper began his career in public administration in Fayetteville, Arkansas, after serving in the U.S. Navy and graduating from the University of Arkansas. The job market relocated him to Newnan and then to Woodstock as city manager. When he was hired as the county manager, he never thought he would finish his career in one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia.“The average tenure of a county manager is seven to eight years, so I did not think back then that I would be retiring from Cherokee County 20 years later,” Cooper said. “I have enjoyed working with the best commissioners and employees in the country. We arrive every day to work as a team to make Cherokee County a great place to raise a family, live, work, and play for our great residents.”Over the last 20 years, Cherokee County has grown by more than 100,000, as people find a suburban locale with great amenities, schools, and low taxes. Cherokee County has the lowest tax burden in the metro-Atlanta region, something Cooper – and Commission Chairman Harry Johnston – feel is one of Cooper’s biggest accomplishments. “Other counties in Georgia don’t even come close to the combination of excellent services and low taxes Cherokee County provides,” Johnston said. “Jerry Cooper is the principal architect of the financial management and policies that give Cherokee County its exceptional value.”
Hometown Strong Initiative Provides Generous Donations The Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club in Cherokee County recently received a generous donation of $5,000 from Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation as part of its Hometown Strong Initiative. Pilgrim’s is focused on meeting immediate and longer-term community needs in three key areas: food insecurity, community infrastructure and well-being, and COVID-19 emergency response and relief efforts. This gift will enable the Club to continue providing healthy meal options for members and ensure that proper health and safety procedures are followed, as the Club begins to expand capacity. Also, Sequoyah High School received $5,000 for its Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) program. FCCLA students learn about careers, participate in career-related competitions at the regional and state levels, and engage in service projects for the community. The national organization’s programs most directly support career pathways in human services, hospitality and tourism, education and training, and visual arts and design.Teacher Molly Miller, who serves as advisor of the Sequoyah FCCLA club with co-adviser teacher Rachel LaChine, said the donation will be used to support community service projects and to provide FCCLA conference and event scholarships to students who otherwise couldn’t afford to participate.
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services Presents Check to Goshen Valley Boys Ranch The fire department recently presented a check for $2,244 to Goshen Valley Boys Ranch’s Community Engagement Coordinator Evan Ingram and interim Executive Director Zach Blend. The donation was a result of winnings from February’s Guns and Hoses 5K Run. Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services has been donating funding from the 5K to Goshen Valley since 2014, with overall donations totaling $31,858. Goshen Valley provides hope and a family-model home for boys.
Holly Springs Announces Career Retirement of Chief Carswell The City of Holly Springs announces the career retirement of Police Chief Michael Carswell and thanks him for his years of faithful service to its citizens.Under Carswell’s leadership, the City has topped several “Safest Cities” listings both statewide and nationally. If you ever read his column in the City’s Whistle Stop newsletter, you know that he is serious about being kind to others, values personal relationships, and despite having a career that lends itself to seeing the worst around him, prefers to see the good in others.Carswell is entering retirement with over 30 years of public service behind him. He began his law enforcement career in 1983. He has worked with the cities of Smyrna and Marietta as well as the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. He has supervised SWAT and Critical Response teams, Narcotics/COBRA Units, and field and training units. He joined the Holly Springs Police Department in 2009. Carswell was sworn in as deputy chief in January 2014 and as the chief on December 5, 2016.
MUST Ministries Offers Affordable Health Care to Adults in Financial Need MUST Ministries has been providing comprehensive wraparound services including food, housing, jobs, and clothing for the homeless and those in dire need in metro Atlanta. The organization has expanded to now offer health care to anyone with financial difficulties through an on-campus Mercy Care Clinic in Marietta and the mobile Bethesda Community Clinic in Canton, both open to individuals without insurance or who have insurance with a high deductible.In the first six months of operation, the clinic provided 542 patient visits, but Mercy Care has the capacity to serve even more people in need. “There’s a public misunderstanding that Mercy Care is just a homeless clinic, but it’s open to the entire community,” said Cheryl Haire, MUST Ministries senior director of strategic partnerships and community outreach. “We offer full service primary and preventive health care. We take Medicaid and Medicare and don’t turn anyone away.”Mercy Care is a not-for-profit, federally qualified health care clinic that charges clients based on a sliding fee scale, depending on their income. The clinic provides primary care, screenings, women’s health services, behavioral health services, and medication management. In addition, a licensed, professional counselor provides help for substance abuse and depression. Mercy Care also has a wide network to refer patients for further care. To schedule an appointment, call 678-843-8600. In Cherokee County, MUST Ministries is partnering with Bethesda Community Clinic to offer free healthcare services through the Mobile Medical Unit, which is fully equipped to offer primary care, chronic disease management, women’s health, pediatric care, sick visits, and physicals. The mobile unit is at the MUST location in Canton at 111 Brown Industrial Parkway on the first Friday of each month from 10:00am-2:00pm. No appointment is necessary.
St. Michael’s Food Pantry Receives Generous Hunger Pilot Grant The Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) has approved a $14,600 Hunger Pilot Grant to benefit St. Michael’s Food Pantry in Woodstock. Hunger Pilot Grants support Lions’ projects focused on alleviating hunger. Ranging in amounts from $10,000 to $100,000, the grants require a 25% contribution from local Lions Clubs and, additionally, must be used for capital improvements such as construction or expansion, kitchen equipment, or vehicles used for transporting food. The Woodstock Lions Club became aware of equipment and construction needs at St. Michael’s Food Pantry last year. In the fall of 2020, the Woodstock and Ball Ground Lions Clubs jointly applied for the LCIF grant to address those needs. Subsequently, each Lions Club has donated $1,900, and St. Michael’s has donated $1,100 to meet the 25% matching requirement of $4,900. With LCIF’s grant of $14,600, the project total is $19,500. St. Michael’s partnership with the Woodstock and Ball Ground Lions Clubs will be ongoing. Both Lions Clubs have pledged to support the food pantry with project management, on-site inspections of the project, publicity, and Lions Club volunteers for both project work and food pantry operations.“The funds received from this grant will enable us to replace equipment at its useful service life, increase frozen food storage capacity by 20%, and protect our refrigerated truck from accelerated degradation due to weather exposure. St. Michael’s Food Pantry provides frozen meats, produce, dairy, bakery, and nonperishable foods to any Cherokee County resident in need of food assistance,” said Director Patrick Arko.The pantry is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00-11:45am. An appointment is not required. It is located on the campus of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 490 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock.
What Is the Downtown Canton Cash Mob? The Downtown Canton Cash Mob is a group with one goal, and that is to help support small businesses through focused group spending. Once a new business is announced and dates are set, participants agree to spend $20 during the two-week Mob experience. This type of cash influx can be a BIG boost for a small business, and stimulating small businesses helps our economy. A Cone to Pick, Downtown Kitchen, and Studio 5 Salon and Spa were some of the past Cash Mob selected businesses.Please invite friends to join in on the fun! When you visit a Cash Mob business, share a photo on social media with the hashtag #CantonCashMob and get your Cash Mob passport signed to be entered into prize drawings happening through April 16. Search for the Downtown Canton Cash Mob group page on Facebook for more information or to join.
City of Canton Secures Financing for Expansion of Municipal Water Pollution Control Plant The City of Canton has successfully secured financing for the expansion of its municipal Water Pollution Control Plant by issuing 30-year bonds with proceeds totaling $67 million. The bonds were sold with an all-in true interest cost of 1.87%. Canton is fortunate to take advantage of some of the lowest interest rates in recent history because of favorable bond (Aa3 and AA) and City (Aa2) credit ratings. When the bond offering was issued, City management and financial advisors expected rates of 2-2.50%. All were pleasantly surprised to see bids coming in under 1.9%, indicating a savings of millions of dollars in interest charges over the life of the bonds. By the time bidding was closed, 14 major investment banking firms had submitted offers. With financing now secured, the City can move forward with upgrading and enlarging the footprint of its existing Water Pollution Control Plant to manage current and future sewerage operations, which will serve Canton’s growth for many years.
Local Seniors Named U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Candidates Three students from high schools located in Canton have been named candidates for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program: Nathan Davis and Koryn Todd of Creekview HS and Jeremy Jeong of Sequoyah HS. The seniors are among the 4,000 best and brightest of more than 3 million 2021 graduates. They can now advance in the academic competition.“We’re incredibly proud of these students for their academic achievement and this national recognition they have earned,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “We look forward to seeing these students advance in the competition and will be rooting for them to earn the highest honors.”President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Presidential Scholars Program in 1964 to honor and recognize extraordinary graduating seniors. Candidates for the invitation-only recognition program are primarily selected based on outstanding performance on the ACT or SAT exams. The next level of recognition is semi-finalist, and the pool of candidates will be narrowed, as the applications they are required to submit are reviewed for overall academic excellence, personal character, leadership, and service activities. Last school year, 700 semi-finalist Scholars were named, and from that group, only 161 students were honored as finalists. Scholars receive national recognition and are invited to an all-expenses paid trip to the White House.
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