SCHRA News – South Central Human Resource Agency

Lincoln County’s Finest in Catering, 2023

It might sound unusual for a human resource agency to be the first place you think of when you need a caterer for your upcoming event. However, given the dedication and work ethic of South Central Human Resource Agency’s Nutrition Services staff, it should come as no surprise that they have become precisely that. SCHRA is honored to be chosen by Elk Valley Times readers as Lincoln County’s Finest in the Catering category for 2023.

SCHRA’s Nutrition Services Program provides meals year-round for senior nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels and congregate meals at area senior centers. These meal programs are often minimally funded, and the need for them is constantly growing. Over the years the agency found itself looking for ways to supplement state grants in order to fill the gaps in funding to maintain kitchen equipment and provide meals for as many clients as possible.

This need for additional funds is where the idea for the Catering Program was born. Catering dollars pay for the cost of food, utility maintenance, and the labor cost of each job. The remaining money goes directly to the Nutrition Services Program. “About 17 years ago, I was asked to come in and help start up a catering program here, and I’ve been here ever since,” said Nutrition Services Director Becky Christa. She has since progressed from heading up catering to directing all meal services provided by SCHRA. “I may not be the Catering Coordinator anymore, but it’s still my baby,” Christa added.

With a background in meal service and catering, Christa has passed on her knowledge of the industry to staff throughout her years at SCHRA, including current Catering Coordinator Ashley Roland. Roland has been with SCHRA for going on 10 years now and has spent much of her time with the agency in the kitchen and working catering events, as well as managing data for Nutrition Services. Ella Brown started working with the catering program in 2019, and she became an invaluable asset as well. “A lot of the times it was just Ashley and Ella at events,” Christa remarked. More recently, the program welcomed Patty Moore and Mary Burton to their regular staff. Longtime Nutrition Services staff members Becky Patterson and Dianne Edwards often assist in preparing meals for events, in addition to their normal daily food preparation for senior meals.

“It’s usually just two of us that work events, but we pull in other people as needed, depending on how big of an event we are catering,” said Roland. Sometimes others working with Nutrition Services come in to help, such as the program’s office manager, Lea Richardson, and other times staff from other SCHRA programs volunteer to lend a hand transporting and serving food and drinks. Even the agency’s Deputy Director, Sara Brown, is known to have worked on quite a few events over the years.

SCHRA offers a wide range of options in terms of catering services. Since the program began, SCHRA has catered events in settings ranging from Huntsville, Alabama, to Nashville and Spring Hill, Tennessee. Events are often catered at the client’s venue, but the conference room at SCHRA’s central office location is available for clients looking for a location to rent. For smaller events or occasions, meals may be prepared and picked up at the central office or staff may come to a local venue and set up food and drinks for events that don’t require servers on hand.

When asked about the variety of items available to be served, Christa said, “We used to have more of a set menu, but these days we can fix pretty much whatever someone wants—as long as we have time to plan it!” Staff are prepared to serve everything from finger foods and light refreshments to a full-scale formal dinner with dessert for functions ranging from a small family gathering to a wedding with 400 or more guests. Holidays and the summer wedding season are often their busiest times of the year, so clients have the best luck securing their booking by contacting program staff as early as possible.

Clients interested in SCHRA catering services may call Ashley Roland at 931-433-7182 ext. 1145 or email aroland@schra.us for more information. Menu consultation and pricing are available upon request. You may also contact Patty Moore at 931-433-7182 ext. 1149 or email pmoore@schra.us.

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Roland, Mary Burton, Patty Moore, and Becky Christa

South Lawrence Head Start Scores Special Guest Readers

The children at South Lawrence Head Start have been lucky to have some very special guest readers recently. In October, State Representative Clay Doggett, Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams and County Commissioner Bert Spearman all took their turns reading to the kids during the building dedication. In January, their guest reader list took a community athletic turn.

David and Ryan Weathers surprised the kids to read to them and take some photos with the class. The Weathers family is well-known for their community support in Lawrence County. David and Ryan had their hands full reading a couple of the kids favorite books and the kids were more than happy to help them out while they read.

The Weathers family, while originally from Lawrence County, traveled the country while David played Major League Baseball. From 1991-2009, he played for a number of teams coast to coast from the Florida Marlins to the Toronto Blue Jays and in 1996 pitched for the World Series Champion Yankees. The apple did not fall far from the tree with Ryan. He was drafted in 2018, during the first round, by the San Diego Padres. Once the family returned to Lawrence County they started to give back in many different ways including partnering with the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club in building an outdoor basketball facility at Rotary Park. Today the Weathers family continues to make a positive impact in the communities in Lawrence County.

The children at South Lawrence Head Start were fortunate to catch David and Ryan before they headed west to Arizona for the Padres spring training session. The staff at the center were able to present them with Certificates of Appreciation for their support of the site and continued support of the community.

SCHRA breaks ground on the new Bedford County Early Head Start Center

November roared in with frigid temperatures, but they were not cold enough to stop SCHRA from breaking ground on what will be the new Bedford County Early Head Start site in Shelbyville. Ron and his crew spent many hours prepping the area and getting it ready for tear down. When everyone showed up on Friday, November 1^st, they were greeted with a tract hoe ready to go to work. Before the demolition started, Paul Rosson, Executive Director said a few words about what the new building would do for the community as well as explaining that the new building will be almost twice as big as the old building, have two new playgrounds and additional parking. He also thanked Shelbyville Mayor, Wallace Cartwright for all of his help in procuring the site for the building as well as for his support for the program in general. State Representative Pat Marsh, Mayor Cartwright and Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham all took their turn helping to start the tear down, handling the tract hoe like pros.

This building was originally a Head Start site. Due to dwindling program numbers in the County, the site was shut down at the end of the 2017 school year and the children that remained were moved to one of the other three centers in Bedford County. Laurie and here entire staff are thrilled to have the opportunity to have this new Early Head Start site and have been working hard to bring this project to life. The plan is to be ready to welcome the children and moms into the new site in time for the start of the 2020 school year. They are also hoping to expand with an additional Early classroom as well as a Head Start classroom.

Head Start Main Office Staff joined by State Representative Pat Marsh, County Mayor Chad Graham, Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright and Ron Teeples and his amazing crew before the demolition begins.

Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright, State Representative Pat Marsh and County. Mayor Chad Graham prior to their turns in the tract hoe to start the demolition.

DEMOLITION BEGINS!

South Lawrence Head Start Grand Re-Opening

The South Central Human Resource Agency held a grand re-opening for the South Lawrence Head Start building on Thursday, October 24^th. State Representative Clay Doggett, County Executive T.R. Williams and SCHRA Board Member and County Commissioner Bert Spearman all entertained the children prior to the ceremony with book readings. The South Lawrence Head Start building was previously home to the Iron City United Methodist Church which closed in June 1996. The church allowed South Central Human Resource Agency and Head Start to lease the building beginning in June 2001. On May 17, 2009, the Trustees of Iron City United Methodist Church deeded the building to the South Central Human Resource Agency Head Start Program. There have been numerous renovations and improvements to the building that facilitate the continued support of the children and families in South Lawrence and Iron City. The grand re-opening was to celebrate the new roof that was recently put on the building. County Executive T.R. Williams read a proclamation for the re-opening reasserting the County’s support for the Head Start program and the families which it serves. SCHRA Deputy Director Sara Brown was also in attendance for the grand re-opening and thanked the County for their continued support for the facility, the families and the children.

South Lawrence Head Start at Proclamation and Grand Re-Opening ceremony joined by State Representative Clay Doggett, Sara Brown, SCHRA Deputy Director, Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams and Lawrence County Commissioner and SCHRA Board Member Bert Spearman

Books were read to the children prior to the ceremony by (photos left to right) Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams, State Representative Clay Doggett and Lawrence County Commissioner and SCHRA Board Member Bert Spearman

Lincoln County Recovery Court Celebrates 2nd Graduation

Lincoln County’s Recovery Court held its second graduation ceremony on October 31, 2019. It may have been raining and cold outside but inside the United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, warmth and happiness is what was felt. Tony Patterson, Program Director, talked a few minutes about the men and women who were going to be honored. He told family and friends who were in attendance how these people were his hero’s and how they were going to be the change for those that come after them. He challenged them to be there to lift the community up and show others that this can be done, and they can be successful. Each of the graduates then came forward to explain what allowed them to make it through the program. Jordan said that the program had offered him many chances to start over again saying “ I do not want to be the same person I was anymore”. He said it had been a long journey and he was grateful for the people there along the road. Edward told everyone that the program had given him the ability to deal with being overwhelmed and allowed him to get back on his feet. He said, “I took drug court because I wanted to be different.” Dustyn commented that he was glad that Recovery Court gave him a chance to be a better person adding, “the drugs never let me have as much fun as I have now clean and sober.” Lincoln County General Sessions Judge Andy Myrick, who leads Recovery Court preceding’s, had the highest praise for these graduates saying, “this group has gone from being defendants to being friends and I am going to miss them”. He also spoke about the program saying that it is helping to stop the repeat offenders he sees coming through his courtroom and added that he was very glad to be able to add more names to the plaque and hopes to continue to add more names. Recovery Court is a partnership between the Judge, District Attorney, Defense Attorney, the Probation Office and SCHRA Justice Services Department . This is an opportunity for those who find themselves with the choice of continuing on their path or voluntarily joining a program to turn their life around. Those allowed into the program must be a non-violent offender and show the partners they would be an appropriate candidate. The program strives to enhance public safety and improve the communities quality of life by addressing the needs of the non-violent offender giving them the treatment to become positive, responsible members of the community and gaining healthy, sober and productive lives.