Community Services
Neighborhood Service Centers
The Neighborhood Service Centers are funded primarily by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through the Tennessee Department of Human Services and THDA. The centers provide emergency services in the form of vouchers for limited help with rent/mortgage evictions, utility disconnect notices and food. They also distribute USDA Surplus Commodity food, provide job placement services and provide limited home visits and errands for elderly and disabled clients.
The goal of the LIHEAP program is to aid low-income households with the high cost of home heating or cooling. Clients may apply at designated times each year for a one-time payment to their utility provider. The program has two components. Crisis assistance is available throughout the year until funds are exhausted. Some of the requirements include: households must meet poverty guidelines, have a disconnect notice for their utilities or have less than a 30-day supply of home heating fuel. Energy assistance is the largest component and receives applications year round. Specific program eligibility requirements apply to each component.
Counties Served: Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe and Sevier
Clients Eligible: For assistance under the CSBG program, clients must establish a need for the service, meet 125% of poverty income guidelines and meet other specific program requirements. The USDA Commodity and LIHEAP programs requires households be under the 150% poverty income guidelines.
Main Office
Open to serve clients M-F 9am-4:30pm (Closed for lunch 12:30-1:30pm)
Neighborhood Service Centers
Open to serve clients M-F 9am-3:30pm (Closed for lunch 12-1pm)
Cocke County
353 Driskill Circle
Newport, TN 37821
Mailing: P.O. Box 68
Newport, TN 37822
P: 423-623-3066
F:423-625-9314
Grainger County
7765 Rutledge Pike
Rutledge, TN 37861
Mailing: P.O. Box 191
Rutledge, TN 37861
P: 865-828-5228
F: 865-828-6072
Hamblen County
(Located in Central Services)
2450 S. Cumberland Street
Morristown, TN 37813
P: 423-587-3076
P: 423-586-9431
Jefferson County
1429 Maple Avenue
Jefferson City, TN 37760
P: 865-475-4745
F: 865-471-6081
Monroe County
884 Englewood Road
Madisonville, TN 37354
P: 423-442-3769
F: 423-442-7928
Sevier County
750 Old Knoxville Hwy.
Sevierville, TN 37864
Mailing: P.O. Box 4432
Sevierville, TN 37862
P:865-453-7131
F: 865-774-9719
Douglas-Cherokee_Amie_Neighborhood_Final
Partners for Success
Partners for Success is a community service provided by DCEA Neighborhood Service Centers. You can apply for services by filling out an annual intake application at your local Neighborhood Service Center. To be eligible for this services, you must be at or below 125% Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Partners for Success is a joint effort between household members and the DCEA Community Service Advocate to set goals and milestones that will improve the families stability and present income level. Our Community Service Advocates provide encouragement, guidance and referrals to people who are interested in making positive changes in their lives and for their families. We can provide support to you and your family while your household is working on achieving goals you have set. Goals might include: finding suitable employment, advancing your education, budgeting your household finances, and learning strategies to help your family become more stable. Funding for this program is through the Community Services Block Grant and the TN Department of Human Services.
Benefits Include:
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Financial support as situationally approved and available
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Referrals for services and support
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Client advocacy
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Community resources
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Training
Meals on Wheels Senior Nutrition Program
The Meals on Wheels Senior Nutrition Program provides home delivered meals to the homebound and congregate meals for those who still are active enough to get out. Transportation is provided for congregant participants who need it. Home delivered meals ensure that our homebound participants receive at least one hot nutritious meal per day and they also receive the benefit of someone checking on them daily. Our congregate program promotes staying active and healthy by giving seniors a reason to get out of the house and take part in the great food and fellowship with others. Senior Nutrition meals provide one-third the recommended daily allowance of nutrients for senior adults. The program strives to break the cycle of poor nutrition leading to poor health.
Senior Nutrition serves approximately 400-500 clients per day with a waiting list of over 300 people. The program targets low-income and disabled seniors. Income is not a factor in determining meal eligibility, though the majority of applicants are poverty level and below. Eligibility is determined by how great an applicant's need and how much help, if any, they receive from family and friends.
The amount of grant funding does not provide the total amount needed to support the program entirely with the number of seniors that qualify for the program. Sponsorships are available for anyone wishing to provide a monthly monetary amount to help a senior receive a nutritious hot meal daily. In addition, any and all general donations are accepted at any time.
Counties Served: Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe and Sevier
Community Connect Program
Douglas-Cherokee's Community Connect Program, funded through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), seeks to connect our communities through volunteerism. Our goal is to help seniors and people with disabilities stay connected to the community both physically and socially by connecting volunteers with those in need.
We currently offer Telephone and Transportation Volunteer opportunities. Telephone Volunteers must be age 18 or older and Transportation Volunteers must be age 26 or up. All volunteers are provided with excess liability coverage while volunteering and Transportation Volunteers receive $0.30/mile round trip to cover the cost of gas.
What are Community Connect Volunteer Saying About Their Volunteer Experience?
"What a surprise to discover that transportation turned out to be a life lesson! In the beginning, I was more interested in the telephone volunteer opportunity than the transportation. But, once I started with transportation, it has become quite the blessing in more ways than one. The uniqueness is seeing and talking to people face-to-face. Many times, these folks have made me realize just how blessed I am. A few have physical issues and they are so grateful to have someone just to hold on to while walking, and for taking them wherever they need to go. Helping them into doctor offices or carrying their groceries into the house brings a sense of gratitude. Additionally, many friendships have developed just from driving them places and being in a position to hear their life stories- the happy and the sad as well. When they're all done and back home, they always say, "Thank you," as I prepare to leave. I tell them, "It was my pleasure." Little do they know it was my privilege to be with them. "
- Mary Y.
"As a volunteer driver for the Community Connect Program I get to meet a lot of different people. Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Getting to meet new clients every week, forming new friendships, hearing about their lives and their families and getting to give back and making a difference. Helping get them to the doctors, pharmacy, grocery store and just helping meet their needs. When you volunteer the rewards are many and the feeling it gives you when you help someone in need is amazing."
- Dian L.
What Community Connect Clients are Saying?
"I am so thankful for Community Connect Volunteers calling to check in on me and for driving me to my appointments and to the grocery store. Everyone is so considerate, that I consider them part of my family. I'm so thankful for this program!
- Donna H.
"Thank you for your kindness and for everything this program has done for me. I really do appreciate it. You all are always so nice and thoughtful."
- Marjorie C.
Learn how you can help connect your community today!
Call Douglas-Cherokee Community Connect for more information at (423)318-6912.