The Ross Medical Education Center campus in Johnson City, Tennessee has supported the Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness in their efforts to help the homeless in their region for the past two years. Ross students and staff came together to collect items for this organization throughout the month of August this year. “The love and support of our staff and students here never ceases to amaze me,” said Campus Director April Harr. “I am very proud of our campus and our people here in East Tennessee.”
The Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH) is a 501(c) non-profit organization that serves as the Housing and Urban Development administrator for homeless assistance in Northeast Tennessee through the Continuum of Care grant program. According to their website, they are “the first ‘point of entry’ for those with immediate housing needs and help to secure community supportive services in the counties of Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington.”
“At ARCH, we organize, facilitate and provide services to end homelessness in Northeast Tennessee by coordinating front line service providers, collaborating with community partners, and empowering the efforts of charities, civic and non-profit organizations working to improve the homeless situation and targeting the direct causes of homelessness. ARCH also provides direct services to veterans & veteran families. Additionally, we also provide referrals to community links and can help if you are not a veteran.”
During the drive to support them, the Ross campus collected food, toiletries, and household items. Although they didn’t weigh the total amount, by the end of the drive they had two tables and five boxes full and running over. They chose to be a part of this organization based on the number of homeless people in need in their region. “We have also had students on this campus that have been homeless, so this hits close to our hearts here,” shared April. “Our students always help others, even those that don’t have the money to contribute help pack and sort items for us so they can have a hand in it.”