Putting Community Action into action: Celebrating 60 years of impact | Opinion

In this month of May, Middle Georgia Community Action Agency and the Heart of Georgia Community Action Council are celebrating the 60th anniversary of all Community Action Agencies nationally. Following the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, our agencies, like many others, have been working toward a steadfast mission to alleviate poverty and foster economic stability.

We deliver services and resources throughout a 22-county area, which spans a region that covers nearly 20% of the state. We annually receive more than $18 million in federal and state grants and earn philanthropic donations to lift people from poverty into prosperity. This anniversary presents an opportunity where we can share with you the ways in which these two agencies are making meaningful and positive impacts on the lives of families within your community.

Empowering Young Minds

At the heart of our efforts lies the Head Start educational program, offering structured early learning to children aged 3 to 5, at no charge to families. We focus program activities on each child’s cognitive, social and emotional development for school-readiness. With 20 Head Start centers across 15 counties, we served 583 children during the 2023/2024 school year. Our dedicated teachers create nurturing, safe environments that inspire a lifelong love of learning, while encouraging parent involvement every step of the way. For anyone interested in education and working with children, we offer employment opportunities for primary and secondary teachers, and other staff positions.

Providing Family Resources

As we get to know families and caregivers, often through their children, we are able to extend comprehensive assistance as needed by offering case-management guidance on matters, such as home management, household budgeting, energy conservation, mortgage and financial literacy, housing options, and more.

Enhancing Senior Experiences

Our Senior Services program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for adults who are aged 60 and older. We provide daily meals to 30 seniors in each of the eight senior centers that we operate. That is 240 meals daily. Additionally, we deliver nutritious meals to eligible seniors who are isolated and unable to come to their local center. In 2023 alone, we served 5,009 clients with 123,668 meals, providing vital nutrition, transportation, shopping assistance, and health and wellness services.

Advancing Energy Conservation

Our weatherization housing program is in place to reduce heating and cooling costs for low-income families, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. In 2023 and 2024, 49 families benefited from the weatherization program in 22 counties. The home assessment process is conducted by qualified technicians. From attic insulation to broken window repair, our weatherization services ensure homes are energy-efficient and safe for residents. We encourage those with home maintenance, construction, or carpentry skills to check our current job opportunities and join our weatherization team.

Offering Energy Assistance

With an understanding of the impact that seasonal temperature changes and utility costs have on household budgets, we assist in distributing the federally funded Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program, which offers one-time assistance to families facing potential utility disruption.

Supporting Families in Crisis

In times of greatest stress or displacement, our emergency services provide immediate assistance with food, clothing, shelter, prescriptions, and utilities, so that families have access to support they need when they need it most.

As we celebrate this milestone 60th anniversary of Community Action Agencies, we reaffirm our own commitment to serving our communities with compassion, dedication, and a relentless drive to create positive change. We could not do this without the dedicated commitment from our board of directors, partners, employees, local leaders and volunteers who make up our own community of impassioned individuals who share the mission of uplifting others out of poverty. Together, we can continue to build brighter futures for all. We invite you to learn more about us and the services we offer at mgcaa.org.

Middle Georgia Community Action Agency serves Bibb, Butts, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Spalding, Twiggs, Upson and Wilkinson counties. Heart of Georgia Community Action Council serves Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler and Wilcox counties. Both agencies are private, nonprofit corporations that are audited annually by an independent firm that submits the audit directly to the agencies’ funding sources.

Tammy Sosebee is the executive director of Middle Georgia Community Action Agency and the Heart of Georgia Community Action Council.