Making
a Difference in Nashville
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On Saturday,
June 26th a group of 18 ATFCU employees and their family
members traveled to West Nashville to volunteer for
flood relief. The team helped two homeowners by
stripping out a bathroom, kitchen, and crawl space
insulation. The team also walked through the neighborhoods
to meet the people and create needs assessments for
those who had not yet received any help.
“The experience was very eye opening
for our team” said Sarah Lawson, ATFCU’s
Volunteer Team Leader. |
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ATFCU Employee, Tonya, hammering out a tile bathroom
floor |
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"We all wanted to do something
to help our neighbors in the Nashville area. We saw
the flooding on the news and heard from friends how
badly the area was affected. Then it seemed all the
coverage just stopped. After being there and seeing
the devastation first hand, we all wished to stay longer
to help.”
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The ATFCU Team first
started planning the trip in May. “Right
after the flood a small group of my co-workers came
to me and asked if we could get a team together to
volunteer
in Nashville. I thought it was a great idea and I immediately
started planning” said Lawson. “I worked with
Hands on Nashville to find a volunteer opportunity that
would best fit our team." |
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ATFCU Employee, Mike, removing kitchen cabinets
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"We wanted to do everything
the right way and to make sure we were helping those
in need
of assistance."
One of the homeowners reported to the team that she
had lost almost everything in the flood, including
diaries written by her late mother |
in the 1920’s
and family photos that had been passed down for generations.
Lawson
states, “The homeowner’s house is all but
destroyed. During the flood, water stood in the front
yard at 5 feet high and in the house by 2-3 feet. The
homeowner received notice this past week that the government
will not be giving her a buy out, so now she hopes
to rebuild. We helped to start the process by stripping
out the bathroom and kitchen areas including the floors." |
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ATFCU employees, Tonya, Candice and Sharon pause
for a break in the Nashville heat. Special thanks
to Alcoa Inc. for donating work gloves and sweat
bands.
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In neighborhoods where the average annual
income is $13,000 the ATFCU Team met with many homeowners
affected by the flood.
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Lawson reports the team made a difference for flood
victims not only physically but emotionally. “I
think one of the best things we did in Nashville was
to let those affected by the flood know that people
in this area do care about them. We wanted to give
them
hope and let them know we haven’t forgotten them.
After all, Tennessee is called the Volunteer State
for a reason. And when we all work together, we can
make
a difference.” |
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Houses in the West
Nashville area where team ATFCU participated in
flood relief
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If you would like to become involved in
volunteer opportunities in the Nashville area or would
like to donate to a cause, please visit the Hands
on Nashville website or contact Sarah Lawson by email or
phone 865-380-6261. |
