
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995                   TAG: 9509290030
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAMES SAWYER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PRESBYTERIAN CHARITY IN NEED OF HELP ITSELF

After more than 25 years of providing emergency assistance to needy people throughout the Roanoke Valley, the Presbyterian Community Center finds itself in need of some emergency assistance.

With the economy lagging, the population growing and welfare cuts on the way, the center in Southeast Roanoke is seeing a growing number of families walking the line between subsistence and despair, said Pat Dillard, director.

"If a real need is there, we'll find a way to help," said Dillard adding this commitment could be jeopardized if additional funding isn't found to meet increasing needs of the community.

Dillard said the center in Southeast Roanoke is seeking innovative ways to build awareness of problems facing the needy and to raise the funds needed to keep programs going.

The first fund-raiser is a Presbyterian Center Softball Tournament Saturday at 9 a.m. at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 3550 Poplar Drive S.W. The Presbyterian Center will receive proceeds from the entry fees paid by the eight participating church teams and from a bake sale and concessions.

Dillard said the tournament is a day of family fun that will increase awareness of the center's need.

"We want the tournament to be an annual event that brings churches together in fellowship and allows the center to make new alliances with churches that can provide for a specific need. For instance, we recently developed a partnership with Belmont Presbyterian Church to provide medical needs, like immunization and prescription assistance."

Dillard said she hopes other churches will see a particular need that their congregations can meet.

The Presbyterian Community Center spent $117,000 last year, helping with food, utilities, housing and medical needs for 1,864 families that included more than 3,000 people. It now pieces together funding from donations from individuals and businesses. The only government money is a small grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and that is earmarked for relief from utility payments.

To continue providing emergency assistance, though, the center needs to broaden its support base, Dillard said. This involves delegating responsibility to an increasing number of people, including the 122 volunteers.

Volunteers, she said, allow the Presbyterian Center to reach people more effectively but, without additional money, the volunteers cannot deliver the services.

The center recently hired a program developer and is working on programs to teach life skills, to combat illiteracy and to help make the transition from welfare dependency to the work force.

by CNB