Good to Go: Recent Episodes
WCQR
Join us weekly as we track down people doing good things for others in our community. You will be inspired and reminded that there's always something good going on.
The River Ministry is a non-profit organization that serves women and children in need. Many are without support networks and are at severe risk of falling between the cracks into greater poverty or homelessness. The River provides core services to help women meet basic needs - providing a place to do laundry and take a shower, as well as provide hygiene products and diapers. They also offer support services with classes, resources, and referrals to empower women toward self-sufficiency.
You can find more information about The River and contact them by calling
423-926-8111 or visit https://theriverministryforwomen.com/
Living Springs Christian Academy is a faith-based school located in Gray, Tennessee, that offers three classrooms for K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th grades. They offer standard academic classes in language arts, reading, math, social studies and science. Music, art, and PE classes are also standard curriculum for every grade level. The Living Springs Christian Academy family exists to show children Jesus, nurture their love for Him and others, teach them to think, and empower them to serve.
You can find more information about LSCA at https://graytn.adventistschoolconnect.org
Chips Family Violence Shelter assists women and families going through domestic violence, providing emergency shelter and helping them get back on their feet.
They have a thrift store that supports the non-profit and are also having a Little Black Dress Event Fundraiser with refreshments, music, and a silent auction to help support the Family Violence Shelter. For more information, contact them at 423-388-8281 or visit www.chipsfvs.org
Holston Family Services is a Christ-centered foster care agency. They help foster children as well as support foster parents. There are over 5000 kids in the foster system in Virginia and the need for foster parents is great.
If you who would like information on how to become a foster parent, they are having a dinner and details event on April 25th at 6pm at First Freewill Baptist Church in Bristol,Virginia.
You can also find out more about Holston Family Services at https://www.holstonhome.org/family-service-centers/ or on Facebook.
Let Me Run is a program that is committed to helping mentor young men while encouraging them to exercise and grow in life.
Many parents want quality after-school programs for their kids and this helps young men learn about life while also instilling good habits.
For more information, contact Craig Gerlach at Craig.gerlach@sullivank12.net
http://werunevents.com/calendar-register-results/2023-events/
letmerun.org
Whether you are a wife, a mother, grandmother, daughter or sister, as a woman you wear many hats. You spend so much of your time serving everyone around you. You pour into your kids, your husband, your friends, your co-workers, and even your community. Pouring into so many lives can leave your cup empty.
The "Fill Your Cup" conference on May 20th is going to help fill your cup! This conference for women is designed to encourage you and pour into your life. Ladies, let this be the day you say YES to yourself so you can fill up your lives and overflow into the lives of those around you!
For more information about the conference, email Susan Crum at susandcrum@gmail.com or visit Susan D Crum on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/susan.crum.902
Shady Oaks Garden Club plants trees to better the environment and helps teach the community about gardening. In addition, they make floral arrangements from donated flowers and make new arrangements, then deliver them to nursing homes and community centers.
If you are interested in learning more about gardening or would like to join this organization, you can contact them at https://www.shadyoaksgardenclub.org/
Camp RESET is partnered with Angel Tree Camp, a division of Prison Fellowship Ministries. It is a camp that is free of charge to children who are troubled, in foster care, or who have a parent who is incarcerated. Camp RESET serves children who have suffered major life difficulties at a young age. The purpose of the camp is to let the kids know that they are victors and not victims. It helps teach them who they are in Christ and lets them know that they are LOVED! This summer camp will be held at Longview Ranch in Mosheim, Tennessee. It is a life-changing event for hurting children, teens, and their families, as the dedicated team will make sure this is one week that they will never forget. For more information, contact http://www.healingwingsministry.com/
The Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House in Johnson City, Tennessee, is a temporary “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously ill children throughout the Southern Appalachian region. They help hundreds of families every year who have to travel for their child's medical care, whether it is for a one day procedure or ongoing treatment.
Primarily operating through volunteers, the Ronald McDonald house provides all meals, cleaning and upkeep of the house, as well as caring for the families staying there. There are numerous opportunities for volunteers to serve.
An annual event that supports the Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald house is the "Shamrock Shuffle" - a 5K family fun race scheduled for March 18th at 4pm. To learn more about volunteering or supporting the Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House, visit RMHSA.org
To learn more about the "Shamrock Shuffle" or to register for the race, go to: RMHshamrockshuffle.com
There is a tremendous need for foster homes as there are over 8,300 kids in foster care in Tennessee alone. These kids are going through the most traumatic experiences in their lives, and having loving foster parents to care for them would make a world of difference. These children are your child's classmates, kids in your church, and your neighborhood. Becoming a foster parent would literally change the life of a child. To find out more about becoming a foster parent, visit fosteringTN.org look for FosteringTN on Facebook, or call 877-DCS-KIDS
Tennessee Kids Belong is a 501c(3) affiliate of America’s Kids Belong. Their mission is to improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care in Tennessee.
Their program engages area businesses, faith communities and nonprofits to support the foster care system. They also assist foster parents with discounts, resources and support. To learn more, visit tnkidsbelong.org
Statistics show that 1 in 4 woman have been abused. There is a support group right here in our community to provide women with a safe place to talk about their experiences where they won't be shamed or judged. LOVE Support Group in Kingsport helps women who have gone through a traumatic experience of abuse and provides a community of women who support each other through difficult times.
For more information, call 423-367-4512 or visit their Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/Love-Womens-Support-Group-Kingsport-223970601615287/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Disclaimer - this podcast describes topics that may be sensitive or triggering to some listeners.
Michael with Harvest Time Juvenile Ministries moved to this area in 2022 from Florida, where he has been helping youth for 47 years. His calling is to continue to work with the youth in East Tennessee by offering counseling services, mentoring, and life skills.
There are so many young people here in our community that could benefit from faith based counseling and mentoring - if you'd like more information on how you can help, call (352) 648-2514 or visit https://htjministries.info
Healing with Flowers takes flowers that were used primarily for events like weddings and gives them new life. They repurpose the flowers and deliver them to patients in hospice, nursing homes, and hospitals. The goal is to brighten someone's day with a simple act of kindness. Anyone can help as they are always taking donations of flowers, vases, and ribbons.
To learn more or to donate, contact Healing with Flowers Greenville on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HealingWithFlowersTN/ or call 423-708-4325.
Join Amanda Hollifield from WCQR's Afternoon Show to look back on 2002 to see how the station and the listening family made a difference in our community during the past year by performing over 23,000 acts of kindness, bringing the message of Jesus Christ to thousands through concerts like Kingsport's Funfest and Elizabethton's Covered Bridge Days, and feeding over 7,300 families in our area through the partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. To learn more about 88.3 WCQR's mission and vision, visit https://wcqr.org
Antioch Baptist Church in Johnson City, Tennessee will be streaming a live service Christmas morning to encourage families to spend time together and reflect on the true reason for the season - the birth of Jesus Christ.
This is a great opportunity for families to hear the message of Christmas and to encourage others o talk about Jesus with their family as well. To learn more, visit Antiochjctn on Facebook.
Jeff Garrison, a Tri-Cities native, now lives in Poland with his family. He has been spending time at home in the States this fall, encouraging churches and ministries to support the humanitarian aid efforts for Poland and Ukraine. Monies raised will be used to purchase food and other much needed supplies for distribution in Ukraine churches. For more information on Jeff's humanitarian efforts and how to partner with Jeff, please contact him directly at jlanegarrison@gmail.com
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is a great resource for families facing food insecurity. Second Harvest helps feed tens of thousands of people every year right here in our area. They rely heavily on volunteer help to keep all the programs running and the food distributed in our community.
In addition, Project Thanksgiving is wrapping up for the year and for just $25, you can feed a family a full Thanksgiving meal. For more information or to volunteer, visit netfoodbank.org
Shrimp Matters is helping to provide sustainable support for the people of Honduras. Rather than a week-long mission trip, they made the decision to supply them with the tools to make a difference in the long term.
Shrimp matters started a few years ago as a single shrimp farm to provide jobs and resources, and they have multiple farms as well as an optometry center that offers glasses and vision care.
You can help support an organization that is not only sending people on a mission trip, but also making a long-lasting impact by creating sustainable income and support for the people of Honduras.
To learn more, you can contact them via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shrimpmatters
There are hundreds of kids in the foster system right now, with more entering every day. You can become a foster parent, serve as a respite home, or volunteer to help foster parents or mentor a child. There are so many ways to be involved and help kids in foster care.
Youth Villages provides support for foster families and offers free foster parent classes to equip the foster parents to be ready when a child enters their home. You can learn more about their mission and how you can help at youthvillages.org
With inflation and higher food costs, more families are struggling to make ends meet. Some are even having to choose between buying groceries or medications. Loaves & Fishes Outreach ministry makes a difference by serving the community with hot meals and food boxes to struggling families. They also have a Thrift Store for those in need of clothing.
If you are someone you know is in need or if you'd like to help the ministry, you can contact Loaves & Fishes Outreach HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/Loaves-Fishes-Outreach-a-Ministry-of-Rivers-Edge-Fellowship-Church-630102547617246/
The Crumley House provides assistance for those who struggle in the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury, whether it be in the short term or or a case that requires life-long care. The Crumley House provides physical, speech, and occupational therapy on an out patient basis, as well as adult day programs and a residential program for those who need long term care.
In addition, The Crumley House actively works with other organizations, regional healthcare facilities, colleges and universities to lead awareness and prevention activities throughout the year.
The Crumley House is a nonprofit organization and they are always accepting donations and volunteers. For more information, contact
https://crumleyhouse.com/
Jillian and Craig from Carter County Drug Prevention and Recovery Resources have started a podcast to highlight addiction right here in our community. Their goal is to helping those who are in recovery from addiction.
They talk to different individuals each week to share stories of how recovery is possible - which gives hope to those struggling with addiction and those who are suffering due to a loved one's addiction.
You can contact them and listen to the podcast here: https://www.facebook.com/whiskeyaintworkinanymore
Recovery Resources provides over 60 beds for men recovering from substance abuse. They drug test weekly, assist them in finding jobs, and help to hold them accountable.
Recovery Resources is a place that can help those who are struggling with a substance abuse or those who have a loved one who is struggling with addiction.
Carter County Drug Prevention is assisting and equipping kids, families, and anyone who is in need of help due to drug, alcohol, or tobacco abuse. If you or a family member is struggling with substance abuse, you can contact Carter County Drug Prevention at https://cartercountydrugprevention.org
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, and the mission is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Locally, Operation Christmas Child has a goal of 43,500 shoe boxes from our community.
You can be a part of Operation Christmas Child by purchasing and packing items for shoeboxes. Many churches in our area serve as locations for shoebox drop-offs or hold packing events. One of those packing events will take place September 10th at Grace Fellowship Church in Kingsport.
For more information, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ
Healing Hands Health Care Center is providing for our community by offering low cost health care and dental work for the uninsured. Community Health Workers also assist patients with identifying and overcoming barriers that prevent access to healthcare resources and living a healthy life. They have been serving the community for nearly 25 years, and have recently expanded their dental offices, allowing the to see more patients and perform more procedures.
You can learn more and contact them at https://healinghandshealthcenter.org
CASA of North East Tennessee is a child advocate organization. When a child enters foster care and has to go to court, a worker with CASA serves as an advocate and makes sure that the child's needs are top priority.
With so many kids currently in foster care, assistance and support from the community is needed. You can learn more about CASA and how you can help at https://www.casanetn.org
First Priority is a student-run ministry that helps equip kids to share their testimony and the good news of Jesus Christ. Their goal is to get people from multiple churches and denominations together to share the hope of Christ with students in their schools. First Priority partners with local churches to organize, equip and mobilize students to reach fellow students with the gospel. The ministry of First Priority gets worked out through a club at school. To learn more about First Priority or how to start a club at your child's school, visit firstpriority.club/tn1
Brandon Young with Harmony Freewill Baptist Church shared that
over 1500 backpacks full of school supplies will be distributed to kids in our area on July 30th from 10am-3pm. They'll also be providing free food, haircuts, and lots of activities from inflatables to trains to superhero characters! It is held at Hampton High School, and this year's theme is CIA - Compassion In Action. Harmony Freewill Baptist Church wants to not only help families with school supplies, but also make this day one to remember for every kid that attends.
You can learn more at https://harmonychurch.org/back-2-school-bash/
The first weekend of August each year is proclaimed as the statewide Weekend of Prayer Over Students Across Tennessee.Christian recently spoke to Haley Wherry with First Priority about Weekend of Prayer Over Students. Prayer events will be taking place across the Tri-Cities region, and you are invited to pray for your child's school or a school in your community on August 6th and 7th. You can join an event that has already been scheduled or you can organize a Campus Prayer Walk at your local school.
Commit now to join with other parents and concerned adults to pray over students, teachers, school administrators and support staff, and schools on during the first weekend of August. There are lots of resources to help you, your church and community get involved. For more information, visit pray4studentstn.com
WCQR's own Amanda Hollifield shares how Random Acts of Kindness has grown to intentional acts of kindness! We are celebrating all the acts of kindness our listeners have shared and we're inviting them to keep going! A perfect example was Popsicles in the Park during the month of June - so many kids got involved with "Kindness Rocks!" They painted pictures and positive messages on rocks for people to find - sharing a smile and some inspiration.
Kindness is contagious and being kind makes a huge difference! Share your act of kindness at wcqr.org
In Carter County alone, there are many individuals who are homeless or just one bad situation away from being homeless. Although there are resources that are offered by many non-profits, the problem is the individuals who need the assistance don't know about the non-profits that are there to help.
Brandon Young is with Carter Compassion, an organization that will be a hub for resources when someone is in need and doesn't know where to turn. They are partnering with other local non-profits to help assist those in need and streamline the process. Whether they need food, clothing housing, or all of the above, Carter Compassion will connect them with organizations that can assist with all their needs. For more information, contact cartercompassioncenter.org
There are hundreds of kids in the foster system right now and more entering every day who don't have a home. Youth Villages is an organization that offers free foster parent classes to equip the foster parents to be ready when a foster child enters their home.
Jessi Bernardini with Youth Villages wanted to share that starting July 9th, they are offering free foster care classes for anyone interested in becoming a foster parent. For more information, visit youthvillages.org
Recovery Soldiers Ministries is an organization that provides men and women with a faith-based recovery program to overcome addiction. They just opened a new super thrift store in Elizabethton that not only helps fund their new women's center, but also employs women in their recovery program.
You can donate items as well as shop at a store that is helping people recover from addiction, as well as helping them find housing and employment after the recovery program. The store is open Monday-Thursday from 9-6, and Friday and Saturday 10-7. For more information,
contact recoverysoldiersministries.org
Johnson City Doctor Sabrina Miller is helping children in need in Ukraine through the non-profit group New Horizons For Children. This organization has created safe havens for orphans that are suffering due to the war in Ukraine. The work of Dr. Miller and other healthcare providers has provided much needed help to more than one thousand children. If you would like to help New Horizons by volunteering or donating, you can find out more information by clicking https://nhfc.org
Emergency responders are constantly challenged with life and death situations on a daily basis. Fairhaven Ministries' H.E.R.O. Project is devoted in helping emergency responders in the healing process following crisis or trauma. The H.E.R.O. ministry provides a beautiful, mountain retreat located in Roan Mountain, TN for emergency responders and their families and offers quarterly marriage retreats in a group setting with professional counselors and speakers who know first-hand the environment of an emergency responder.
We could all use some GOOD news, right? Join us weekly as we show some love to people and organizations doing good things for others in our community. Christian from The Afternoon Show talks to a new ministry or organization each week that makes a difference in our community. You will be inspired and reminded that there’s always something good going on!
This week, you'll hear about Fairhaven Ministries in Roan Mountain, TN. This organization creates a retreat for anyone in our community who needs to unplug, escape to the mountains, and recharge.
We love shining a light on our local organizations and ministries who strive to do GOOD and to change the world every single day through our Good To Go weekly podcast.
Grab your morning coffee and listen to Christian from The Afternoon Show share about the important work of the Holston United Methodist Home for Children located in Greeneville, TN. Hundreds of kids are transitioned into foster care every single day, so the need of foster parents continue to grow. HHC trains and equips people to serve as a foster parent and to be a much needed light for children who are going through a difficult time.
I had the opportunity to speak to Michael at UTurn for Christ,
a biblical rehab center helping people recover from drug and alcohol addiction and turn to Jesus. They also have a thrift store that helps cover the expenses for the rehab center. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this a great resource.
If you'd like to help support UTurn for Christ, they need volunteers as well as items for the thrift store. You can find more information on their website at https://uturn4christtn.com/
Make-A-Wish grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Their vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. These wishes impact everyone involved—wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. Find out how you can help at https://wish.org/etn/ways-help-us
Kids Against Hunger’s approach to achieving its goal – the eradication of world hunger – includes the packaging of a highly nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice casserole by volunteers at numerous locations within the USA and Canada; and the distribution of those meals to starving children and their families in 70 countries through partnerships with humanitarian organizations worldwide.
For more information visit https://www.kidsagainsthunger.org/
The Well started 24 years ago with a simple mission: to reach lost college students for the kingdom. Years later, James and the team at The Well are continuing to do just that. Every week, they gather in both large and small groups to preach the gospel to college students and help them grow in their faith. They purchased 820 West Walnut Street in Johnson City as a new permanent location, and are ready to start construction on their brand new student center. They will be just steps away from ETSU, which is a great location to help more students in the future!
Zach and Connor are worship leaders at two separate churches who are hosting an event called Worship United to do just that -unite churches in praise and worship. Everyone is invited to attend what promises to be an amazing night of worship at Port City Church in Kingsport. For more information visit Kingsport Community Church Or Port City Church on Facebook.
This week on Good to Go, you'll hear from Jeff Garrison, a faithful listener from the East Tennessee area who has lived in Poland with his family for the past 22 years. Jeff has had a front row seat to the tragic events happening in Ukraine, and he and his church are helping those in need - from housing refugees in their homes to taking supplies to the border for those who are still in Ukraine. He also shares the need for food and supplies as his church is housing 65 refugees at this time. The biggest need they have right now is prayer.
The Crumley House is a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center located in Limestone, Tennessee that helps hundreds of people with brain injuries every single year. They assist Individuals who have had a traumatic brain injury to relearn basic tasks such as eating, walking, and talking, as well as provide a space and the time to recover. The Crumley House offers both day programs and residential programs to assist with recovery. For more information, visit https://crumleyhouse.com/
My afternoon co-host Amanda Hollifield joins me as we talk about our 883 Random Acts of Kindness Campaign that turned into something bigger. We wanted to challenge our community to be kind and see how many acts of kindness we could collectively do in the month of February. We surpassed our goal of 883 and went up and over to over 1700 acts of kindness! Our new goal is to see how many acts we can collect in 2022, for our 25th year of ministry. For more information visit wcqr.org
4ThirTEEN started as a community block party that has grown into a teen leadership program where teens help lead their peers by developing leaders and programs they really want! The vision is that this ministry will help inspire many young people to want more for their lives, and gives them an opportunity to succeed regardless of demographics, race, or economic status. For more information, visit 4thirteen.org
Moms in Prayer is a dedicated group of moms who pray for their kids and all the students by name at a particular school. Prayer is powerful, and when a group of moms comes together to pray for the same goal God will show up in a BIG way! If you're interested in joining or starting a Moms in Prayer group, visit momsinprayer.org
Gypsy and her team at Healing with Flowers help brighten the days of so many people with the simple act of giving them flowers.
They repurpose flowers that still have beauty and life and make new bouquets and arrangements. These are then given to to residents in nursing homes, hospital patients, and individuals to cheer them up and remind them that they are loved. To learn more about Healing with Flowers and how you can help by donating flowers or by volunteering, visit their Facebook page at Healing with Flowers.
TRACES Foster Care serves children and teens up to age 18 years old that are in state’s custody due to abuse or neglect and those who have behavioral or emotional problems. Becoming a foster parent means making a commitment to a child that you will be there for them until they are able to return to a parent, a relative, become independent or be adopted.
Foster Parents help these special children meet specific individual goals while living in their home.
Working with a child to develop day-to-day coping skills, problem-solving skills, developing healthy relationships, building self-esteem and developing independent living skills are just a few ways a foster parent can impact a child’s life.
Though the process may not always be easy, making the difference in the life of a child can be one of life’s most rewarding gifts. Foster parents can teach a child to learn to trust and hope again through building meaningful relationships with caring adults.
For more information visit https://www.frontierhealth.org/foster/traces/
To create partnerships that foster nurturing communities where people with disabilities can live their vision of a valued life. that is the mission of the Arc of Washington County. Malessa and the team there provide services such as respite care, family support, early intervention and independent support coordination. for more information visit arcwc.org
The River is an amazing ministry located in Johnson City that is dedicated to helping homeless women in our community. Stacy Larson has been the director since it started back in 2004, and is grateful for all the support that has helped to provide not only the basic needs for women, but also going above and beyond for them as well. The staff and volunteers of The River ministry help connect women with other organizations to help provide food, housing, employment, and other needs they may have.
Coalition for Kids is an after-school program that is 100% free for families, providing care and meeting an important need right here in our community. Kids receive snacks after school and a full dinner as well as help with their homework. The staff and volunteers also mentor these kids and help share Jesus every day by caring for and loving them. For more information, visit coalitionforkids.org
Thrive Life Advancement Ministry (Thrive LAM) offers free biblical counseling and life coaching to our community. On this episode, Lincoln shares how he doesn't want the cost of counseling and life coaching to deter people from seeking the help they need. Lincoln and the team at Thrive LAM want to make sure that anyone who is struggling mentally or facing difficulties in life know that they have a place to go to receive assistance. For more information, go to thrivelam.com.
When you think of the needs of low income families, do you think about home repairs? So many families, particularly the elderly, don't have the money or knowledge to repair their own homes. When home repairs need to be made but there are no financial resources, it can make for a very unsafe environment and cause stress and mental health issues for the families as well. Coalition For Home Repair wants to change that! For more information visit https://www.coalitionforhomerepair.org/
Kids right here in our community have the opportunity to spend the day with a local police officer who will take them to shop for Christmas presents, share a meal, and learn about one another. This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to get to know a police officer and see him/her in a positive light and as a leader in the community. This interaction also helps make a lasting impact on a child's life.
Good Samaritan Ministries has been helping those who are less fortunate in our community for many years, and they are committed to continue to help feed and clothe anyone who needs it! Aaron Murphy shares how Good Samaritan helps provide meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as Christmas presents for kids right here in our community who would otherwise go without. For more information, visit https://goodsamjc.org/
Leading a church or ministry can be difficult! That's why Brian from The Appalachian Highlands Ministry Network does everything he can to help churches by training, providing resources, and networking with other leaders. Whether you are the only staff member at a church or you have a big team, The Appalachian Highlands Ministry Network is ready to assist! For more information, visit ahminisitynetwork.com
Sheldon with One Accord Ministries helps provide food to the poorest communities right here in East Tennessee. They have partnered with WCQR and Second Harvest food bank for many years for Project Thanksgiving. On top of that throughout the year they are helping feed hundreds of people every single week as well as providing medical assistance, home repair, nutrition programs and more. To find out more information visit ofoneaccordministry.org
Shantell with Oasis of Kingsport Women's Ministry, shares how this ministry is providing such great service in our community! They provide a laundry service and much more. They also have Bible studies, cooking classes, and even help with college applications and tutoring. Kingsport Women's Ministry wants to help all women in our community.