Spectrum’s national community philanthropic program, Spectrum Employee Community Grants has made a one-million-dollar programming commitment to donate to communities and organizations that their employees support. Of these organizations is Allied Churches of Alamance County (ACAC), an emergency homeless shelter in Burlington.
The funding that ACAC received from Spectrum will go towards programs that address hunger and homelessness in Alamance County. ACAC’s mission, according to the organization’s website, is “to prevent and end homelessness and food insecurity through providing direct service and leadership in collaborative community efforts.”
ACAC is the only homeless shelter in Alamance County and the only emergency shelter “in a portion of North Carolina referred to as Region 6,” according to Jai Baker, the interim shelter manager of the organization. Region 6 contains Person, Rockingham, Alamance, Caswell, and Chatham Counties. However, due to Alamance County’s central location in the region, ACAC steadily accommodates over 320 people annually.
In addition to shelter services, Baker stated that ACAC also provides a Supportive Services program “to customize an individual plan for self-sufficiency.” This Supportive Services program also “facilitates case management and collective community involvement for needed services,” as a means to advocate for quality community housing.
ACAC also operates Joe’s Diner, which is a community kitchen, as well as the ACAC Empowerment Center, a community resource center. Both facilities are open to shelter residents and community residents. According to Baker, Joe’s Diner serves over 30,000 healthy meals annually to those “in need of a hot meal.” “It is ultimately the platform for community outreach and awareness,” he said, describing how the diner partners with third-party organizations to “promote community volunteerism and involvement.”
The ACAC Empowerment Center offers the local community services such as resume building, job search initiatives, job interview assistance, as well as soft skills training for employment. Baker asserted that 86% of ACAC residents have received employment utilizing resources from the ACAC Empowerment Center.
Baker said that the donation from Spectrum will primarily go towards the organization’s Coordinated Assessment program. According to him, this assessment is used to determine what community resources can be most appropriately utilized to assist an individual enduring a crisis. ACAC uses this assessment to make connections and bridge the gap between these resources and the individual(s) that need them.
Spectrum’s grant program recipients can only qualify if they’re recommended by an employee of Spectrum. Therefore, that means Allied Churches of Alamance County was nominated in this year’s grant pool by an employee of Spectrum. The Spectrum employee must formally initiate the request, which is how the grant process begins, as stated by Baker.
“It was a welcome surprise to be recognized by a Spectrum employee for the work we do in the community,” said Baker. “It is definitely one of my favorite awards that we have earned over the years,” he added.
Spectrum presented this check to Allied Churches of Alamance County on Wednesday, April 13th at 10:30 am. This check presentation took place in their main office at 206 Fisher Street, Burlington.
