Quarter-Century of Service

Appalachian Outreach honors 25 years of service to Jefferson County and the greater East Tennessee area in August, but is kicking off the celebration with their anniversary banquet on March 12 in the cafeteria. "AO started in August 25 years ago, so we're celebrating for a full year," Director Jean Washam said. "The big even will be the banquet on March 12th. At that point, we're hoping to have about 500 people in attendance and we're just going to recognize what all God has done. Most of the people in attendance will be volunteers that have experienced our work first hand, so it will be a time to fellowship, a time to recognize where we've come from, and dream about where we're going."

AO provides numerous services to the community including a food pantry, clothing ministry, home repair, and Samaritan House. Jim Wilson and a handful of other C-N students started the ministry in August 1984.

Washam compliments the college and the student leadership on remaining an active part of the ministry throughout the years, even as it has become more community based.

"Carson-Newman students started this ministry and we never want to forget that," Washam said. "We have intern students through Psychology, Religion, [and] Human Services divisions. We partner with the Bonnor program and Judicial Services, which means if you get a parking ticket you get to come down and split fire wood or hang up clothes. Then we always have the students who aren't benefiting from it at all in the classroom or some other sort of requirement that has been placed on them, but they just generally want to come down and serve."

Bonnor scholar Destry Cloud has dedicated several hours during his college career to AO. Cloud believes his time spent at the service keeps him connected to the world outside of college life.

"It has helped me keep the real world in perspective," Cloud said. "IN college, you get too busy in studies - or, for me, too much into theatre - you just loose track of what's going on in the real world so going there I get to interact with people who are in that world. It keeps me from getting too far from where the world really is and it keeps me in touch with the community here, too."

Cloud believes every hour he logs serving at AO affects his life.

"Each time I work there I'm encouraged just to know I'm doing something to help people out where they need help," Cloud said. "We're really all in this together."

Before she dedicated her life to Appalachian Outreach, Director Jean Washam started her service at the ministry when she was a student at C-N.

"Initially, when I came to Samaritan House to serve, it was never to have a full-time commitment to this ministry, it was to get a grade," Washam said. "God used impure motives to really change my life. I had never in my wildest imagination dreamed that families were homeless. From the very first day, where I walked down and met the children at the Samaritan house, I realized that some people are homeless not by choice but by circumstances. God broke my heart that day and He gave me a passion to serve."

Students who wish to donate some of their time to AO may call or drop by the building, but should know have an idea of the time they will be available.

Cloud encourages his peers to get involved in the ministry to connect with the community at large.

"Student will really feel good actually helping the community around them," Cloud said. "It really lifts you up inside.