FAQs

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) began in the mid 1980’s as a local ecumenical effort to provide assistance to impoverished families. As the broad needs of the low-income community became evident, the faith-based collaborative moved to become a 501(c)(3) public charity in January, 1987. Over the years, ADFAC has honored its roots by developing a broad variety of programs designed to meet unfilled needs in the community and currently answers over 6,000 requests for assistance each year.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, who are trained to represent the best interests of children in juvenile abuse and neglect court cases. CASA is a local, nonprofit organization in communities all across the nation. The core purpose of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland is to provide a voice for abused and neglected children in our community. As a non-profit, volunteer-based agency, our mission is to empower CASA volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in juvenile court.

Emory Valley Center enhances the lives of children, adults, and families in an environment that promotes independence, dignity, and respect. At Emory Valley, they strive to demonstrate their values of compassion, forward-thinking, inclusion, quality, and value in everything they do.

The Free Medical Clinic provides no-charge primary and medical care for low-income and uninsured residents of Anderson, Morgan, and Roane Counties of Tennessee and for partners enrolled in their medical service program including Telehealth options, access to free or discounted medications, special medical programs, treatments, imaging, tests, lab work, and preventative care with annual physicals.

Knox Area Rescue Ministries’ mission is to rescue and restore the poor and needy of the Knoxville area by providing recovery services in Jesus’ name. KARM provides daily for those most vulnerable and desperate among us, first supplying rescue services of food and shelter, then healthy, supportive relationships, and ultimately restoration, including job-training opportunities.

Remote Area Medical® – RAM is a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics with a mission to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, quality healthcare to those in need. RAM’s clinics provide free dental, vision, medical, and veterinary services to everyone, regardless of background, in an ongoing effort to address healthcare disparities. Since its founding in 1985, RAM’s corps of more than 196,000 volunteers – comprised of licensed dental, vision, medical, and veterinary professionals, as well as general support staff – have treated more than 910,500 individuals delivering more than $189.5 million worth of free healthcare services.

Since 1979, Roane State Foundation has been on a mission to strengthen communities and eliminate barriers to student success. With help from donors and other community partners, the Foundation provides financial support to students and programs on nine Roane State campuses across ten counties of East Tennessee. Foundation initiatives to support Roane State students and communities include annual student scholarships; professional development opportunities for RSCC faculty and staff; institutional facilities and equipment for Roane State Community College; funding for RSCC academic programs, athletics, and more; and community programs that fuel student growth.

TORCH opened its doors in January 2013 as the only comprehensive homeless service in Anderson County, TN.

Because there is no shelter in the county, TORCH operates the Housing First model. Efforts are made to find affordable, sustainable housing as quickly as possible. If extra financial assistance is needed after an address is established and a client qualifies an agreement may be made to assist for a predesigned amount and/or time. We call that plan “Shelter in the Future Home” and find it a much more cost-effective way to assist those we house in reaching self-sufficiency. The first step in future success is establishing a permanent address.