ROGERSVILLE — Of One Accord ministry has much to celebrate about its $3.35 million economic impact on the community in 2012, especially considering it began 25 years ago as a makeshift food pantry in director Sheldon Livesay’s shed.
Earlier this month, Of One Accord held a banquet to celebrate its 25th anniversary and honor its more than 400 volunteers.
Livesay told the Times-News Tuesday that is a long way from the ministry’s beginnings. Of One Accord had been in existence for a dozen years before it could fill up two restaurant tables with volunteers.
But in 1999 when Of One Accord moved into the former Heilig-Meyers Furniture store at 306 E. Main St. in downtown Rogersville, its number of volunteers — as well as its scope of services — began to multiply exponentially.
That facility, now known as the Shepherd’s Center, serves as a thrift store, as well as the epicenter of the ministry’s activities.
In 2012 alone, Of One Accord ministry served 97,431 people and provided a total value of goods and services of $3,350,984.
Broken down, some of the ministry’s statistics for 2012 are staggering.
From its three food pantries in Rogersville, Church Hill and Sneedville the ministry distributed 1,010,095 pounds of food to 34,181 people in 2012.
The Neighborly Meals Program delivered 11,048 meals to the elderly and disabled.
The “Lunch Box” program served 8,112 lunches to children on summer break across Hawkins County.
The Church Hill Free Medical Clinic provided 1,194 office visits, 6,150 free prescriptions and 1,648 free lab tests.
The ministry distributed 1,642 free winter coats, provided Christmas for 1,036 children, distributed 2,012 Christmas food boxes, repaired 74 dilapidated homes and offered free computer adult education to 2,025.
And that literally just scratches the surface as far as everything Of One Accord does over the course of a year.
Livesay told the Times-News Tuesday the past two years have been high-water marks for Of One Accord as far as economic impact and the number of people served.
He said it’s good news, but it’s also sad news because it’s a reflection of the rough economic times we live in.
“Last year the dollar figure was a little bit higher, but not much,” Livesay said. “This year we served more people, but last year we did just a little bit more money’s worth. But overall we’re looking at two consecutive peak years for Of One Accord as far as the impact we’re having on the community.”
Livesay said the wonderful thing about Rogersville, Hawkins County, and East Tennessee is that no matter how much the demand increases for contributions and volunteers, there are always people out there willing to give.
Livesay added, “When the economy suffers we see more people in need. The economy is suffering more right now and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better. We’re seeing more need, and we’re trying to be here to meet the need. On the one hand we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but on the other hand it’s a reflection of the difficult times we live in.”
In its 25 years of existence, Of One Accord has served 833,471 people, with a total economic impact of a little bit more than $29.6 million.
But, it’s a daily grind to meet the demand for services, and the numbers don’t really sink in until the year-end financial report is compiled.
“The only way we can explain it is that at some point God takes over,” Livesay said. “You can pull any of our team together and talk about the year-end statistics, and we can’t account for it. We keep accurate records, and when we add them up at the end of the year and the totals come out, we’re asking ourselves — ‘How did we do that?’”
“Every day we’re working hard, and every day presents a new challenge. But it’s just amazing to see those numbers come together at the end of the year.”