ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 28, 1996 TAG: 9612300030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: in religion
SOURCE: MARY LOU BRUTON
If you didn't get everything you wanted for Christmas, you're not alone.
The Rev. Harry B. Scott III still needs a new building for the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program. Founded by Scott in 1975, the program, is supported by donations and some government funding.
It meets emergency and temporary needs of low-income, elderly and handicapped Montgomery County residents with food, clothing, furniture and financial aid. Scott estimates it serves hundreds of people annually.
The program's most pressing need is for about 3,000 square feet of usable space for its clothing bank, preferably in a rent-free downtown Christiansburg location. The clothing bank, now housed in the old Health-Tex building at 755 Roanoke Street in Christiansburg, is going to have to move. The building is slated to be renovated into the county's new small-business incubator. Scott says that at this time he knows of no possibilities for a new place.
Originally, the clothes bank was exclusively for indigent Emergency Assistance clients who were given shopping vouchers by the program. Some still obtain free clothing by that means.
But more recently, a different kind of client has been using the clothes bank. An increasing number of working people who lack benefits such as health insurance, elderly people who can't make ends meet with Social Security, and single parents have been coming into the store.
This year the clothing bank started selling clothes at $2 per bag to anyone who can afford to pay a nominal amount to enable these clients to buy the clothes they couldn't afford to get in stores. Scott said customers prefer to pay for the items. Proceeds from the sales go back to the Emergency Assistance Program's budget. The program's funding from federal sources has been dramatically reduced over the past three years, from $42,000 to $21,000 to the current $17,000 allotment. That formula is based on local economic conditions, which have been improving statistically, but Scott said that there are always groups of people who need this kind of assistance.
The food bank is in good shape right now. The community has been generous with food donations during the Christmas holiday.
More funds are always welcome by this organization also, especially in winter, to help pay heating bills. This winter has already seen an increase in the need for fuel. In cooperation with the federal fuel program, they can issue assistance up to $200 maximum to each candidate, according to income eligibility.
Scott, a supporter of welfare reform who served on Gov. George Allen's Empowerment Commission, is the rector at St. Peter's Anglican Catholic Church, 230 W. 1st St., Christiansburg. Besides the local parish, Scott also serves congregations in Kingsport, Tenn., and Hinton, W. Va. You can contact Scott at the present clothing bank location by calling 381-1561.
Activities this week:
Merrimac Pentecostal Holiness Church, 894 Merrimac Road, Blacksburg, will have a New Year's Eve Watch Night service on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The Sauls will be the guest singers.
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Cambria Pentecostal Holiness Church, 915 Montgomery St., Christiansburg, will have a New Year's Eve service Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m. and continuing until midnight. The Rev. Jerry Shepherd will lead the worship service.
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The final program of Christ Episcopal Church's three-part Nativity is scheduled on Jan. 5, the eve of Epiphany, and has a focus of the visit of three kings and Christ as the light of the world. The pageant begins at 4 p.m. at the church, Church and Jackson streets, Blacksburg.
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The Rev. Vickie Houk has begun her ministry as rector of Christ Episcopal Church, 144 N. Washington Ave., Pulaski. Houk has come from Alliance, Ohio, and succeeds the Rev. Stephen Weston who took a Texas pastorate two years ago. The Rev. Harmon Smith of Salem has been interim rector.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 linesby CNB