| 22+ years ago |
– The Food Pantry was literally a pantry (closet) in the basement of Dahlonega's St. Luke's Catholic Church.
|
| 1999 |
– As the requests for assistance increased in Lumpkin County, the local churches realized that they -
as individual churches - could not meet all the needs. The churches got together to form the Ecumenical Ministries Council
(EMC) to work as a group to help those in need in Lumpkin County. The Ecumenical Community Ministries (now CHP) was established
as a centralized outreach by the Dahlonega Lumpkin County Ministerial Association. During this early period, there was not one
location large enough to house all the services.
- The Thrift Store was in the Old Cannery Building
- The Food Pantry was housed in the lower level of the building between Banister's Funeral Home
and Ace Hardware on North Grove Street
- A part-time director was hired whose office was housed at the Dahlonega Baptist Church
|
| Summer 2000 |
- All client service offices were moved to the building on North Grove Street
|
| 2001 |
- The first full-time director was hired
- The name was changed to The Community Helping Place (CHP)
|
2002 |
- The Thrift Store moved to the top level of the building on North Grove Street completing the move
of all programs and services to one building (the current location)
|
2004 |
- A part-time Programs Coordinator was hired for client intake and coordination of CHP White Christmas
|
| TODAY |
- We are the largest outreach program in Lumpkin County, providing basic needs such as food,
clothing, and emergency financial assistance to residents of Lumpkin County. In 2006, the Summer
Food Program providing breakfast, lunch and a snack to at risk kids during school break was started.
In October of 2008, we opened a Free Medical Clinic to serve the uninsured working poor. We now have
three full-time and five part-time employees.
- In 2008, CHP provided more than *$430,245 worth of assistance to families in Lumpkin County.
*Excludes $ value of volunteer hours
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