Message from the ED - Paula Dickson
Greetings from Paula’s Pen
A warm welcome to Coastal Community Action’s new and up-dated website! In this new venture, we would like to share with you some of the history, dreams, hopes, struggles, opportunities and, accomplishments of our agency and of the community that we serve.
CCA is a part of a nationwide network of over 1,000 agencies across the country who strive each day to address poverty in our midst. These agencies share many commonalities, yet, each is unique. Unique because the goal of each is to develop and implement programs that address their community’s need. The people in each area are unique with different circumstances and needs. One style does not fit all. Like the shoes that we wear, so must Community Action fit and address the needs of its individual community. Community Action agencies partner with other private, public and governmental groups within their area in fighting poverty and creating more desirable places to live and work.
From its beginning with the War on Poverty in 1964, Community Action Leaders and staff have dreamed of a better future for all of the people in the community. From health care to adequate safe housing, education for its children and jobs for their parents, like skills training for all ages and a multitude of other programs Community Action impacts the community bringing hope to individuals, families and the community as a whole. Communities are enriched when one individual life is filled with hope.
As you look through the pages of this website, you will see the many services we provide, success stories of individuals and families, meet our staff and board of directors, coming events and how you too, can be a part of our mission of “Helping People, Changing Lives”.
Paula
Message from the Board Chair - Patricia Purnell
As the number of people living below the poverty line soars to over 46 million and 22% of our children live in poverty, CCA’s services are needed more than ever. We want our new website to be a resource where members of the community will turn to become better informed of the help available for all ages; from the newborn to senior citizens.
Here are a few points of interest about CCA:
- CCA’s mission is to respectfully and responsibly help people help themselves.
- CCA is governed by a volunteer, diverse Board of Directors who represent six counties .
- CCA has over two hundred dedicated employees to implement CCA’s services.
- CCA collaborates with over 100 community agencies to meet the needs of clients.
- CCA provides a vast array of services to low-income individuals and families such as:
- Head Start for children birth-four from income eligible families. Currently over 600 children are enrolled in Head Start in our service area.
- Services for seniors such as Foster Grandparents with over 80 participants; Senior Companion Program with over 80 participants and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
- CCA provides Section 8 Rental Assistance support to over 400 families in Carteret County.
- CCA also provides Weatherization Assistance to reduce the heating and cooling bills of low income, elderly and individuals with disabilities. Hundreds of folks have safer, warmer living conditions thanks to CCA.
- Our Board meetings are open to the public. The Board meets the Fourth Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the agency office at 303 McQueen Ave. in Newport. Feel free to attend to learn more about CCA, Inc.
Patricia J. Purnell
