Whether it’s the failing economy or a stroke of bad luck, now more than ever it seems, people are struggling to make ends meet. Having enough food to eat, getting the rent paid on time, keeping the electricity on, paying for
month with that number drastically increasing in recent times. The Ashland City-based team is made up of up of like-minded individuals who share an unmatchable love for their community. With 12 compassionate employees, countless
prescriptions, and affording childcare/education are issues that an alarming number of Cheatham County residents face. While situations like this can oftentimes seem overwhelming, struggling locals have a valuable resource to utilize. The Mid-Cumberland Community Action Agency, located in Ashland City, assists low- income individuals and families, the elderly, the disabled, children, homeless, veterans, and the unemployed by offering assistance in crisis situations and by providing opportunities that put those who are struggling on the path toward economic independence and self-sufficiency. Since its inception in 1971 as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the MCCAA has been providing multi-tiered assistance to Cheatham County residents as well as those of six neighboring counties: Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson. A variety of programs offered by the agency not only serve members of the community that have found themselves in dire straits, but also assist those who can simply benefit from navigating the myriad of obstacles that oftentimes stand in the way of achieving long-term education, gainful employment, and stability within the family unit. Utilizing programs through the Community Service Block Grant, Early Head Start, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Weatherization Assistance Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program, an average of 71 Cheatham County residents are served each
volunteers, and generous partners like Frontier Basement Foundation & Crawl Space Repair, Gateway Church, and the Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce, the agency has been able to assist 777 individuals and 416 households this year alone in Cheatham County. The top two programs that have been utilized by residents of Cheatham County have been energy assistance and the quarterly food distribution. To further add to their list of accomplishments and attest to their expansive reach, MCCAA distributed a total of 9,512 food boxes, provided energy assistance to 10,674 households, served 934 children through Head Start, and assisted 3,090 individuals with housing services in 2019. Overall that year, MCCAA provided 34,481 community members with assistance across all platforms. In addition to making sure bellies are full and families are kept warm during the cold winter months, one of the agencies greatest success stories revolves around a Cheatham County resident who reached out to them while living in transitional housing. Through diligent goal-setting, religious planning, and lots of hard work, the client has completely turned her life around and is now working toward a college degree. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to assist someone as they strive to become the best version of themselves,” says Stormy Vaughan, the agencies community connector and family advocate for Cheatham County. One of the biggest challenges faced by MCCAA is the lack of awareness within the
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