Serving Grainger, Cocke, Jefferson, and Hamblen counties in northeastern Appalachian Tennessee, Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS), located in Jefferson City, strives to provide a holistic community approach to service, as it has for more than four decades.
AMOS is a longtime partner of Americans Helping Americans® and thanks to our supporters, we are able to provide grant funding for its home rehab program as well as to fund educational and utility assistance programs through its Samaritan House family shelter for women and their children.
Additionally, grant funding provides support for its holiday food program operating through its ministry center, and just last year we initiated a summer feeding program operated by AMOS with grant support from Americans Helping Americans® to help ensure that dozens of children do not go hungry each week when schools are closed for the season.
AMOS seeks to form partnerships with volunteers, donors and clients who will share their time, skills and resources to build social justice and hope in the lives of their Appalachian neighbors.
AMOS describes itself as “a poverty relief ministry” that began in 1984 through the Campus Ministries Department at Carson-Newman University.
“AMOS serves the community by providing home repairs to individuals and families living in substandard conditions, emergency shelter to women and children, educational programs, food, clothing, household items and life skills training,” explains executive director Jean-Ann Washam.
AMOS operates a variety of ministries including:
Appalachian Ministry Center – provides home repair, food, clothing, and more;
Samaritan House Family Ministries Center – provides temporary home shelter, budget counseling, food and clothing, mentoring and tutoring, and more.
AMOS’ guiding principles are to serve as an outreach for individuals, community organizations, and churches to extend their ministries and concern for people in need, promote social justice so people can advocate for those in need, serve as mentors, and disciple others by being role models as surrogate brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers.
Home Rehab Program
Last year, Americans Helping Americans® provided funding to assist 30 individuals through its home rehab program – with the help of more than 200 volunteers – which provides home repairs, including the construction of custom-made handicap ramps for the elderly and disabled, at no cost to families living in substandard conditions.
In its grant request for the home rehab program this year, Jean-Ann stated that “Funding will be used to address critical needs in an effort to keep the family in the home and prevent homelessness,” noting that families to be served include the disabled, elderly, single parents, veterans and indigent families.
Jean-Ann noted that “It has become apparent in the last couple of years that the need in our community is increasing.
“AMOS is diligent to serve but also works alongside other organizations to ensure additional services are being rendered. This is a collaborative effort.”
With grant funding from Americans Helping Americans®, Jean-Ann estimates that a total of six individuals from two households will be served this year through the home rehab program. (Note: This number is fewer than in years past due to AMOS currently lacking a home repair coordinator. However, the program is continuing while the search for a new coordinator is ongoing.)
In sum, she reported that, “If AMOS did not provide home repairs to struggling families in East Tennessee at no cost, some of these families would be forced to move in with other family members, go to a nursing home – or become homeless.”
Lunch Box
The Lunch Box program is a new program co-initiated by Americans Helping Americans® and AMOS last year, which is working in partnership with the Jefferson City Housing Authority, the Jefferson County School System, and low-income communities in the area.
“Our goal is to address food insecurity for youth during the months of June and July,” says Jean-Ann.
“In Jefferson County, over 60 percent of students fall below the poverty index,” she told us.
Through the Lunch Box program, local volunteers canvas the neighborhoods, providing flyers to families inviting them to receive food on a weekly basis for those two months.
“The Lunch Box is the only program in Jefferson City delivering meals to children during the summer,” says Jean-Ann, commenting that some of these children are home alone with an older sibling serving as a babysitter.
“Taking the food into the community ensures that the children will have food in the home.”
Initiated in June 2025, she notes that the program is being funded by Americans Helping Americans® and Second Harvest Food Bank is providing supplemental food items. Local volunteers have stepped up to help inform the communities and deliver the food.
This summer, Jean-Ann estimates that a total of 100 children from 50 households will be served through the program each week for the eight weeks.
“Although we are in our infancy of the Lunch Box, it would not exist without Americans Helping Americans®.”
Samaritan House – Education and Utility Assistance
In addition, Americans Helping Americans® assists AMOS in the operation of the family shelter for homeless single women and families, as well as supplies many with grants to pay their rent and utility deposits when they are ready to move out and live a life of self-sufficiency in their own home.
The shelter also offers programs in household budgeting, including how to set aside a portion of their paycheck into a savings account.
And at the start of every school year, children living at the shelter receive a backpack filled with school supplies – a big financial relief for their parents that saves students from the embarrassment of showing up for their first day of class empty-handed.
Samaritan House Family Ministries is an emergency shelter for women and children experiencing a housing crisis where residents may stay for up to 45 days while working toward their goals (although if needed, residents may apply for an extension).
It is a place, Jean-Ann says, where “staff and volunteers meet with the residents on a regular basis to provide encouragement, guidance and support.”
Grant funding from Americans Helping Americans® is used in conjunction with its resident incentive, job readiness and after-school programs.
Through the resident incentive program, residents attend educational classes taught by volunteers and staff on topics such as parenting, life skills, nutrition, and financing and budgeting.
Through the job readiness program, residents (who are required to seek employment if they are not disabled or if the cost of childcare is prohibitive) may receive funding to purchase necessary items upon securing a job. These items may include clothing, protective footwear (steel-toe shoes or non-slip shoes), safety glasses, etc.
In addition, funding may be used to make necessary repairs to a resident’s vehicle or pay for fuel to allow them to travel back and forth to their place of employment.
Jean-Ann pointed out that residents are required to show proof of their income on a weekly basis, saying, “This is to ensure that the resident is saving income to be prepared to move out on their own, or that they are paying outstanding bills.”
Additionally, grant funding from Americans Helping Americans® goes to support an after-school program for school-age children living at Samaritan House.
“School-age children residing at the Samaritan House are required to be enrolled in school during the academic year,” said Jean-Ann.
“Unfortunately, truancy is an issue for most families experiencing a housing crisis. This is typically due to an unstable living situation and an inconsistent schedule.
“Tutoring at the Samaritan House is an effort to help build the confidence of the youth, get them caught up to their current grade level and model the importance of an education.”
Again, as with the Lunch Box program, Jean-Ann points out: “Americans Helping Americans® is the only financial support that helps with job readiness and programs for our children.”
For the coming year, Jean-Ann estimates that a total of 55 individuals (adults and children) from 25 households will be served through the Samaritan House programs supported by Americans Helping Americans®.
Utility Assistance
It’s not uncommon for low-income households seeking to move into a rental apartment or home to have difficulties coming up with the deposits required for a lease or utility services.
However, through the Samaritan House utility assistance program supported by Americans Helping Americans®, funding may be used to pay housing deposits for qualified residents as they move into their own home upon successfully completing the program there.
Jean-Ann explained that residents at the Samaritan House are required to save 80 percent of their income during their stay there.
“This is to help them with the necessary housing deposits upon successfully completing the program,” she said.
“However, most of the residents have significant expenditures upon their arrival, including outstanding bills that have already been incurred. This typically prevents them from saving the full 80 percent.
“As a result, most residents have limited funds even if they are working full time.
“Unfortunately, this increases the risk of becoming homeless again in the future.
“Paying a portion of these deposits through the Utility Assistance program increases the potential for future success.”
She noted that AMOS is the only agency in the community that assists with housing deposits, and residents may receive up to $350 for utility assistance.
“Our goal is to set the family up for success.
“If they go into their new home without depleting all the income they have saved, they are more likely to be able to maintain their housing expenditures moving forward.
“In essence, they aren’t starting out a month behind when they move into their new apartment/home.”
And again, Jean-Ann points out, “Americans Helping Americans® is the only financial support that helps with utility assistance.”
In-Kind
In addition to the grant-funded programs supported by Americans Helping Americans®, we also provide AMOS with school supplies for its Back To School Bash, this year scheduled for Thursday, July 30, as well as dental kits, winter coats and blankets.
Last year, AMOS received a total of 300 school supply kits, 200 dental kits, 200 winter blankets, 100 adult-size winter coats and 100 child-size winter coats to distribute to families in need in the local community.
Following its annual “Coats for the Cold” event held last year on December 4, Jean-Ann reported that a total of 270 families were served with coats and blankets.
“There are many people in our community who do not have the funds to buy winter clothing to keep them or their children warm,” says Jean-Ann.
“This event allows these individuals to come and get that clothing free of charge.”
Because of the support from Americans Helping Americans®, Jean-Ann reported “people in the community were able to meet their needs.
“Otherwise, these individuals would’ve gone without this winter season.”
And to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, Jean-Ann says, “Thank you for making this possible.
“The coats we received from Americans Helping Americans® were a wonderful blessing.”
