Blackwood heads up Good Neighbors program

By Melanie Tucker
of The Daily Times Staff

After 23 years of service at First United Methodist Church in Maryville, the Rev. Lisa Blackwood has changed courses, becoming the director of the Good Neighbors program in Blount County.

Blackwood served primarily in the children's ministry at FUMC. She said the timing was right for her to accept new challenges in this missions-based non-profit.

"I felt like what I was called to do was to be out more in the community," Blackwood said, during only her second day of work at Good Neighbors. She replaces Jeanna Stewart who is moving from the area.

In addition to taking over as director of this program, Blackwood is also president of the Community Food Connection, a local food pantry, where she had been putting in 30 hours a week after leaving her church duties. She will continue her ties with that organization. In addition, she volunteers with Special Olympics and Shop with a Cop. She is a graduate of the Leadership Blount program.

Good Neighbors was founded in 1996 by the Blount County Ecumenical Action Council, with the purpose of helping residents in crisis. Blackwood is the sole staff member, but she relies on a competent group of volunteers. They provide assistance to their clients by listening to their needs and referring them to other agencies in the community with resources to help. Good Neighbors can also provide some financial assistance. The office is open three days a week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

In 2007, Good Neighbors provided financial help to over 450 families with funds totaling over $45,000.

The program got its legs after several churches in the area started seeing more requests for assistance from the community those years ago. Good Neighbors was viewed as a way to centralize those requests and make better responses. It is the churches (of all denominations) in the area that provide most of the funding, but Good Neighbors is also a United Way Community Partner.

On this particular day, a couple had come in seeking help to buy gasoline for their car. Blackwood said that is a common need, along with help paying rent, utilities and prescriptions. With the economy what it is, Blackwood said she fully expects those kinds of needs to increase.

"People are having trouble making ends meet," this director said. "We are grateful we have a network of places that can help."

When families do seek assistance from Good Neighbors, they have to work alongside the agency to find solutions. Good Neighbors may pay $50 of a $200 utility bill, but the family has to raise the rest, and the money is sent directly to the utility company.

If food is what they need, referrals are made to places like the Food Connection or Chilhowee Baptist Center's food and clothing pantry. If a client is interested in educational opportunities, Good Neighbors can offer a list of programs.

Blackwood knows how difficult it can be to provide services on such a limited budget. Her years with the Food Connection have taught her that. She looks at her agency as one part of a larger community effort.

"I have worked with these families for years," she said. My mom is Bette Rueter, who worked at the Red Cross from the time I was 3 until she retired. So I grew up understanding this. You have to feel good about the good that you do. Hopefully every little bit contributes toward a brighter future."