We spent Friday visiting ACIM (Area Congregations in Ministry) in Oxford. It’s a network of acim Granville County churches that offers food assistance and help with utility bills.
Sue Hinman, director of ACIM, explained how it works. People first meet with an interviewer who determines their need. They are given food or federal TEFAP, if applicable.
Food Distribution
ACIM is a non-profit organization of Granville County churches whose function is to assist persons in need. The organization offers a food pantry and other types of emergency assistance, such as help paying medical and utility bills. It also provides clothing vouchers. It is funded by donations of money and food from local churches, businesses, individuals, and other organizations. It is a member of the United Way and serves people in Granville County.
The ACIM food distribution center is located in a building that was once a hosiery factory. It just moved to this location last spring from cramped quarters downtown. The new space has a large entryway decorated with relics of the hosiery factory and a waiting area for clients. There is also a private interview room for clients.
During our visit, we watched as an interviewer listened to clients explain their need for help. She then wrote down the number of family members in their household and if they were children or adults. Then she wrote down if the client needed ACIM food, federal TEFAP (the Emergency Food Assistance Program for SNAP recipients), or both. Most clients receive both. She then filled boxes with the appropriate items for each family member.
Clothing Distribution
ACIM (Area Congregations in Ministry) is a network of Granville County, North Carolina churches that work together to help those in need. The group operates a food pantry, clothing closet and financial assistance office. It is a non-profit organization that relies on the generosity of donors of food, money and volunteer time. The organization also receives funding from the government and United Way. Its centralization of services makes it easier for individual churches to support the group rather than handling individual requests for aid. The facility is housed in a renovated building that was once a hosiery factory. It has an entryway decorated with relics from the factory and a client intake area. It is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Closing decisions are made according to weather conditions and if schools have closed due to inclement weather.
Financial Assistance
ACIM (Area Congregations in Ministry) is a group of Granville County churches that provides help to people who need it. Its clients get food and cash assistance for rent, utilities, medical bills, and other expenses. It also provides temporary shelter. ACIM is located in a renovated building that once housed a hosiery factory. It has an entryway decorated with relics of the hosiery business, a waiting area with cubicles for privacy during interviews, and offices.
When a client arrives at ACIM, they sign in and are interviewed to determine what kind of help they need. If they’ve been there before, their file is pulled up. Afterward, they’re given their food. In most cases, the client is given ACIM food and federal TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program available to anyone receiving SNAP benefits).
When we were there, Sue Hinman—the paid director of ACIM—was handling requests for help with paying utilities and rent. One elderly man came in with a final notice electric bill for $285 that he needed to pay by next Tuesday or his electricity would be shut off. Sue told him that he would need to come back Monday when she had had time to search for additional funds.
Volunteer Opportunities
ACIM is a non-profit organization of churches in Granville County, NC, whose function is to assist persons in need. It is staffed by a paid director and volunteers. It provides food assistance and also helps with medical bills, utility bills, rent, and clothing vouchers. It also gives referrals to other agencies. It operates Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. It is closed if Granville County schools close because of inclement weather.
We visited ACIM on Friday and were impressed with the organization's ability to serve people in need quickly. It is located in a converted hosiery factory. The entryway is decorated with relics from the factory's heyday, with an area for client intake and a waiting room. Clients sign in and are interviewed to determine what help they need. They receive a bag of groceries once they're approved. It takes great care not to duplicate the help offered by other agencies.