Perseverance is the act of doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. After the past year, it seems to be a thread that is tying a good majority of us together and holding us up, a sheer will and force not to give up despite the challenging circumstances and environments around us.
For many of the local charities and charitable organizations that we feature in these pages, however, perseverance is a muscle they’ve been flexing for quite a long time. The global pandemic and economic crisis may have honed that muscle and caused a few others to develop up around it, but it’s still there continuing to do what it does best.
And though the symptoms of the pandemic have lessened and the panic and fear have subsided, the impact on people in our community remains. That impact is stacked on top of the need that already existed for charities like the American Cancer Society, Community Kitchen, Labor of Love, Paducah Alliance of Neighbors, and Hope Center of Mayfield.
As they continue to do the work needed of them and helping those who need it the most, at VUE, we are honored to share their stories and highlight the good work they are doing to bounce back after an earth-shattering time. Even more, as well, to highlight the amazing things they are doing to help our people, our neighbors, and our community bounce back.
For the past several months, we have been devoting our pages to asking the questions of these organizations:
How are you doing?
How can we help?
We hope that you will find inspiration in the following pages. We hope that they will touch your hearts. We hope that you will use these stories as an opportunity to reach out and share your blessings.
Because while these people and these groups will continue to do their work, in order to fully persevere, they’ll need all of our assets.
In order for good to persevere, they’ll need you.
What is the mission of your organization?
The mission of the American Cancer Society (ACS) is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Fundamental to the ACS mission is the belief that no one should be disadvantaged in their fight against cancer because of how much money they make, the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their disability status, or where they live. Everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
The pandemic challenged ACS to innovate and develop new digital mechanisms to engage with cancer patients, caregivers, and the healthcare community. From a fundraising perspective, the pandemic motivated the ACS to pivot to virtual fundraising opportunities to continue to fund lifesaving research and patient programs.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
Real Men Wear Pink (October 2021); Dancing With Our Stars (2022)
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
Get your cancer screenings! The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented drops in cancer screenings. Data has indicated that mammograms decreased by 87%, cervical cancer screenings (Pap tests) dropped 83%, and colonoscopies dropped 90%. Early detection of cancer through screening has, in part, led to the reduction of cancer deaths in recent decades. Yet, far too many individuals for whom screening is recommended remain unscreened. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the American Cancer Society, early projections indicate that extensive screening delays will not only lead to missed and advanced-stage cancer diagnoses but also to a rise in cancer-related deaths. It is imperative that people get regular screening for certain cancers to help catch it when it might be easier to treat. Some screening tests even help find and treat problems before they turn into cancer.
ACS is focused on the critical need for everyone to get screened in accordance with recommended screening guidelines and to get adolescents vaccinated for HPV. Cancer doesn’t wait. Neither should you. Regular cancer screening can save your life. Screening tests can help detect changes in your body before they become cancer and catch cancer early. Many tests are available at no cost or are covered by insurance. Talk to a doctor about which screening tests are right for you. Learn more at cancer.org/get-screened.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
www.cancer.org
1-800-227-2345
1-800 Flowers
AmazonSmile
What is the mission of your organization?
Paducah’s Community Kitchen shares the love of Christ through our service to others. We are an organization that makes sure food is available to those who are hungry, no matter what their status may be. We are a Christ-centered, non-profit organization, supported by volunteers and the generous donations of those individuals, families, churches, businesses, charitable foundations, and trusts that make Paducah, Kentucky, a wonderful place to live and share God’s love with others.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
After the Governor mandated that businesses close because of COVID, we did so for two days but knew that we needed to find a way to continue to serve the hungry in our community. We decided that we could provide lunch using a drive-through service and paper products. We are excited to share that we have plans to open our doors again in September for in-house dining. Our Warming Center also took a hard hit; unfortunately, we were forced to suspend our Warming Center service but to still meet the needs, we did provide hotel rooms to those struggling because of COVID.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefit your organization?
We were able to hold our annual Empty Bowls event in June but in a reinvented way. We have something new in the works, a Golf Scramble at Silo’s Golf Club on Friday, September 17. We will also participate in BBQ off the River on September 23-25 at Noble Park. We have open and creative minds and may add other events to the list, so watch our FB page for news.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
At this time, our biggest need is financial.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
Website: paducahcommunitykitchen.org
FB: paducahcommunitykitchen
Email: ckpaducah@gmail.com
Phone: 270-515-3400
What is the mission of your organization?
Hope Center has been serving the community as a pregnancy resource center since 1996. Our Mission is to bring compassionate help and hope to women and men who are unprepared for pregnancy, to present sexual abstinence as a positive lifestyle for singles, to provide opportunities for help, hope, and restoration to those who have been hurt by abortion, and to present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
Navigating 2020 with a national shut-down and pandemic was not what any of us expected here at Hope Center. Despite the challenges, we are so thankful that we are still able to SERVE. Using some creativity and utilizing newer technology, we were able to continuously provide our clients with virtual classes and curbside baby supply picks up, all while following Covid-19 precaution recommendations from the CDC. We are currently back to our regular office hours, and classes have resumed to being in-person.
Covid-19 brought with its shortages of many items, including diapers, food, and formula. With the help of countless donors in the community, we were able to provide all of those items and more to families who depend on our free services. Hope Center has recently partnered with another community resource that allows us to provide extra food to families in need. This is just another way to help families get back on their feet during this time.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
Join us on September 13th & 14th for the 25th Annual Hope Center Banquet!
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
*Monthly donations by mail or through automatic bank withdrawal;
*One-time investment gifts
*Ask about our Baby Bottle Campaign
*Fall Fundraising Banquet
*Host a fund-raising event
*Tell your circle of friends and family about the community services we offer and invite them to get involved.
*Host a baby shower for Hope
*Donate diapers and wipes
*Donate gently used in-season clothing (newborn-5T)
*Pray
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
www.hopemayfield.com
info@hopemayfield.com
270.247.3190
facebook.com/hopecentermayfield
instagram @_hopecenter
What is the mission of your organization?
Labor of Love works to provide accessible, affordable healthcare for the community of Uganda.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
One of the changes we have made is to provide food packages as this is a basic need before any healthcare needs. We have started a program for teenage girls who have become pregnant due to sexual assault during the pandemic. This program provides girls with antepartum care and postpartum, which includes counseling. The program will have a curriculum designed for youth using a didactic method and follows three approaches: adolescent development, behavior change, and human rights-based approach.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization? We are selling beads to help with the specific medical needs of children and medical equipment for the clinic. We are also going to do a 5 K run and a taste of Africa dinner.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
Visit our website and Facebook page to see fundraising opportunities, and always be in prayer! We also need gently used receiving blankets and onesies for the birthing kits.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
Amazon Smile
Kroger Shopping
laborofloveuganda.org
Facebook
Paducah Alliance of Neighbors
What is the mission of your organization?
For the past 12 years, our 501(c)3 has helped homeowners across Paducah as the Midtown Alliance of Neighbors. This summer, we are pleased to roll out a name change that better reflects the area we serve: the Paducah Alliance of Neighbors.
Paducah Alliance of Neighbors helps our neighbors and creates stronger neighborhoods across Paducah through home repair, rehabilitation, and new construction.
We offer three main programs in fulfilling this mission:
(1) Our Repair Affair program is a volunteer-powered program for low-income homeowners. Our staff organizes local volunteers (organizations, church groups, etc.) to connect them with local homeowners that need repairs to their homes, depending on the volunteer skill level.
(2) Our Emergency Repair Assistance program harnesses grant funds to hire contractors to make larger life and health-safety repairs (providing such things as weathertight roofs, functioning heat and air systems, or functional bathrooms) for elderly and disabled homeowners. This work allows homeowners that would not be able to afford to otherwise stay safely in their homes.
(3) Our Homebuyer program is our newest program. We are currently constructing our first set of three affordable, high-quality homes for income-qualified, first-time homebuyers. We have identified buyers and are in the planning stage for three more. The grant funding we have secured will make these homes affordable, helping our buyer families and contributing to the neighborhoods where they are built.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
During the pandemic, we have continued to offer our programs for both existing homeowners and homebuyers. While we have continued all programs, the prices for some construction materials have increased dramatically, creating challenges for some in-process projects. We also experienced a reduction in some of the grant funds that we depend on to operate, creating a different set of challenges.
Our Repair Affair program was the most affected by the pandemic because this program is volunteer-powered. With COVID restrictions in 2020, we had only one community team last year. We are looking forward to a less COVID-impacted summer with our volunteers. We are thankful for our partnership with Lifeline Ministries. Because of their men and support from the staff, we were able to provide assistance to 17 families last year. We hope to be working more with our great area churches, businesses, and organizations to bring out groups to help more families this year.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
Keep an eye out for open houses that will show off our projects a bit. We are also in the process of creating a group of community members that will partner with us in our worthy mission.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
*Put together a volunteer team or offer your home repair skills to help our low-income homeowners with needed repair work through our Repair Affair program. There’s a way you can make a difference, regardless of your skill level. For some possible projects, check our Facebook page or give Sharon a call at 270-556-0826.
*We currently have a special need for a volunteer/donor to help us get our website updated and back online.
*Your monetary donation can be made for a specific program (i.e., to help fund the home repairs made through our volunteer-led Repair Affair program or to help a first-time homebuyer with the final funds needed), or they can be made to help the organization continue its work more generally.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
paducahallianceofneighbors@gmail.com
270-556-0826
Facebook
paducahallianceofneighbors.com
