Each month more than 800 families receive services from the Copper Basin Crisis Center. Every Monday and Tuesday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. folks in need come to receive canned goods, fresh fruit, cereal, and whatever else is made available through the donations that come in from churches or individuals who just want to help.

Al Patterson and his wife Margaret work hard to keep the donations coming. Al drives once a week to Chattanooga and brings back whatever food is available from the 1-C3 Agency in Chattanooga. The agency collects donations from companies and offers food at 18 cents per pound. According to both Al and Margaret donations are thinning and times are getting harder in this failing economy. But there is work to be done and no matter how tough times get they still find a way to meet many needs in the community. “It’s a work that God is doing and we are allowed to be a part of it. It’s been neat to watch God orchestrate it. To him be the Glory,” said Mr. Patterson.

The crisis center offers much more to the community than food. They also help people with basic needs such as toilet paper, soap, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, diapers and baby formula. They have also supplied appliances and furniture to needy families. The center collects donations for families who are in jeopardy of having their utilities shut off or need gas money to get to a doctor appointment or even to the food bank. “What ever is needed we try to find a way to provide,” said Mrs. Patterson.

The Crisis Center began in 1988 and was started by 12 local churches that are called the Baptist Association. Since then the ministry has grown and other local and non-local churches have joined the cause.

“We live in a wonderful community, so many people are willing to help,” said Mrs. Patterson. There are four faithful volunteers who are involved on a weekly basis. But it takes much help from the community volunteers to oversee the clothing bank and to do other odd jobs such as delivering food or supplies to a family who has no transportation.

Recently the center has received help from a non-local mission church who gained accesses to new kitchen cabinets and 6 kitchen remodels are now in process. Some of the folks receiving the new kitchens were victims of last year’s storm. They have also supplied materials for other home repair projects. “They supply the materials and we help with the labor,” said Mr. Patterson.

Mrs. Patterson recalls a local family who had a close relative pass away in Chattanooga. The family was unable to afford to have the body transferred or to pay for funeral arrangements. She called on several churches and was able to raise money to have the body brought home, a funeral service and cremation. She said it was such a blessing to this family.

She shared that they had coats left over from their coat drive at Christmas time so they sent coats to Afghanistan for the children in need there.

The Pattersons are working hard to fill a great need in the community and with the support of local churches and charitable people they are able to meet the needs of many. But both of them stated that the need is great and times are getting harder and donations are thinning. More help is needed.

The Crisis Center is located on Highway 64 outside of Ducktown. The food bank is open every Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can contact the Crisis Center by calling 496-7977.