Dawson County Family Connection Bolstering Partnerships to Provide Community with Warming Center

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Dawson County Family Connection is bolstering partnerships to provide the community with emergency warming centers and increasing preparedness for other inclement weather events and natural disasters.

When Hurricane Helene recently affected so many Georgians—as well as surrounding states—an emergency warming center became a priority in Dawson County.

“The hurricane had little impact in our area but gave Dawson a scare,” said Dawson County Family Connection Executive Director Rebecca Bliss. “We often experience power outages related to storms, and there’s historically been no preemptive plan in place for the community affected by those outages.”

While Dawson County Government has opened impromptu warming centers and churches have opened their doors in cases of extreme cold, Family Connection aims to ensure the community has a proactive plan of action for inclement weather and other natural disaster emergencies moving forward.

Dawson County’s Board of Commissioners unanimously voted in November to approve a request to shift $50,000 in remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help pay for local emergency shelter-related expenses.

Dawson County Government invited Dawson County Family Connection to participate in an ad hoc committee to discuss opening an emergency center in March of 2024. While the county had funding for reusable items like cots and blankets, there wasn’t a suitable location or adequate staffing—so the idea was initially tabled.

That’s where Dawson County Family Connection’s Church Collaborative came in.

“Collaboration once again proved to be the key to bringing an idea to fruition,” said Bliss. “Since it appeared that one group’s asset was the other group’s roadblock for the center, Family Connection initiated a conversation between the two groups.”

Layla McBrayer, who coordinates the Church Collaborative, said it made sense to marry the government’s assets with the churches’ available resources and volunteers.

“Facilitating conversations between our Church Collaborative and local government has been a labor of love,” said McBrayer. “This is what unity in community is all about. We’re excited to help make this happen and see needs met during cold weather and power outages.”

Dawson County Family Connection made an intentional effort to include faith-based leaders in their annual planning in 2024 to bridge the gap in services in the community.

The Church Collaborative was established in January of 2024 when Dawson County Family Connection identified a missing seat at the table and encouraged the faith-based community work together to efficiently reach shared goals.

“I’m grateful for how Family Connection in Dawsonville has connected some of the churches in our county,” said Michael Edmunds, youth and executive pastor for Cornerstone Christian Church. “Without their help, this communication between churches wouldn’t have started.”

The remaining ARPA money will be used for supplies like cots, blankets, and sleeping bags. A mobile trailer filled with supplies will be transported to wherever the physical center is located.

“Family Connection, along with local faith-based ministries and other private nonprofits, stepped up to the plate as a team and hit a home run,” said Dawson County Manager Joey Leverette. “This need for the community was met with a spirit of collaboration and a clear vision to utilize all available resources in our county.”

“Our hope is that with more awareness of an emergency center before an inclement weather or other natural disaster event, the more effective and valuable the center will be—particularly to the most vulnerable in Dawson County,” said Bliss.

Contact:
Krystin Dean
GaFCP Communications Specialist
706-897-4711
krystin@gafcp.org

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