Natalie Davis
Milledgeville Cares, a local service and support group that aims to assist members of the local community in need, will hold a yard sale later this month to support its outreach efforts.
Milledgeville Cares will hold a community yard sale at Walter B. Williams Gym. According to founder Louise Sallstrom, proceeds from the event will filter to other agencies within the community that assist families and members of the community, particularly those who have recently suffered a job loss. All the funds generated through the event will go toward that effort.
Milledgeville Cares launched earlier this year, spawned through Sallstrom’s vision to assist those in need during the economic downturn. That vision came together just as word spread of local plant closings and manufacturers Rheem and Shaw Industries and several members of the community sought assistance following the job losses.
Milledgeville Care’s mission is to work “together in harmony, peace, unity and love, citizens of Milledgeville and Baldwin County, Georgia will provide goods, services, emotional support and information as needed to assure that basic needs for living a satisfying and healthy life is afforded to all our people.”
The agency has established an executive board that meets monthly and is working with local church representatives and service agency representatives in an effort to streamline referrals and assistance from local services.
So far this year, Milledgeville Cares supporters have worked to compile a list of contacts at service agencies, and they are also working with local nonprofits to unify efforts throughout the community to serve and reach those in need while at the same time pointing them in the right direction to get the help they need.
Just recently, Milledgeville Cares worked with Church Central in an effort to form a free local meal ministry, which organizers hope to soon get up and running.
“Milledgeville Cares is hoping to help anyone in need in Baldwin County,” said Sallstrom at the recent organizational meeting for the upcoming meal ministry. “We want to help agencies and support them through offering materials, supplies, volunteers — even grant writing.”
The Milledgeville Cares community yard sale will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
