With funding low, aid agency shutting down for 6 weeks

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October 19, 2012

With funding low, aid agency shutting down for 6 weeks

Committee on Church Cooperation (CCC) taking hiatus

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri Oct 19, 2012, 02:00 PM CDT

The local Committee on Church Cooperation (CCC) has been providing help for Cullman County residents for 25 years — but now it needs a little help of its own.

With funding down and request for aid rising, the volunteer non-profit shut down Thursday for six weeks. Officials hope donations made in the down time can help stabilize the dwindling budget before the office reopens December 4.

The CCC is a seven-person volunteer organization serving all of Cullman County, which provides financial assistance to pay rent, utility bills and prescription medical costs. The program is funded entirely by church and private donations.

Located in an empty office at the Cullman County Department of Human Resources (DHR) on Saint Joseph Street, director Hazel Heinze said the agency serves more than 60 families per month.

“We see about 15 per week, but on our biggest week we had 33 people come to be helped and make appointments,” Heinze said. “We just try to do as much as we can to help Cullman County families who are in need of a little extra help with rent and utility bills.”

At this point in 2011 the organization had helped approximately 330 families with $32,000. This year the CCC has already seen 384 families and divvied out $43,000.

“We see people who have had their homes saved, or were able to get the medicine they have no other way to get,” she said. “It’s often the difference in being able to keep the lights and heat on, or the air in the summer. A lot of folks we serve live in mobile homes, or uninsulated buildings, and it can really cool down and heat up ... We see people who are really looking but cant find jobs, or they can find a job but it’s part-time and it doesn’t pay enough.”

Though Heinze said she’s proud the organization has helped more people this year, that increase has also taken a toll on the agency’s budget — hence the temporary six-week shut down.

“We have 13 churches, eight Sunday schools and some individuals who help, and we’re so grateful for that, but the needs have increased because of plant layoffs and things like that,” she said. “Our funds have dwindled to where we had just enough, and I was afraid we’d overdraw our bank account, so we’re going to regroup and hope that our funds replenish themselves in the meantime.”

Heinze said she realizes a temporary shut down may seem drastic, but she said it’s the only option to keep the CCC a viable organization to provide assistance in the long-term.

“There was always the choice of decreasing the amount we gave each person, but if it gets too low it may not be worth their time,” she said. “Light bills have gone up, food has gone up and expenses have gone up; but one thing that touches my heart is when people come in and have nothing — or just enough — and they’re taking care of their nieces or family when they don’t even have enough to provide for themselves. Those with regular jobs can sometimes forget the impact something like $120 can have for someone in-between jobs.”

Anyone interested in donating can send a check or money order to CCC, P.O. Box 1542, Cullman 35056. Heinze can be reached at 256-462-3864.

“We really hope donations will pick up, so we can jump back in and get back to helping the community,” Heinze said. “The amount doesn’t really matter, just having a regular gift and knowing we can plan on it is a big help.”

Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.

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With funding low, aid agency shutting down for 6 weeks

Committee on Church Cooperation (CCC) taking hiatus

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