Jackson Neighbors In Need (JNIN) was formed in the fall of 2009 to keep people warm during the cold winter months, and to make sure that no one disd from the cold. The idea for JNIN came about in the wake of a tragedy. Mountain Projects’ Executive Director Patsy Davis saw too many community members who couldn’t pay their heating bills, had exhausted all available assistance, and had nowhere to turn for help.
Several local organizations provide utility assistance, but these funds are limited and in November of 2009 the money had run out. The next person in line was a grandmother trying to raise two grandchildren. Mountain Projects had to turn her away because all of our local agencies had exhausted their heating assistance funds. Rumor has it that the children were doing their homework by candlelight when the house caught on fire, killing the grandmother and both children. This tragedy absolutely broke Patsy’s heart, so she met with Bob Cochran, Director of the Department of Social Services at that time, and Charles McConnell, retired Superintendent of Jackson County Schools, to find a way to make sure this would never happen again. They sent out a call for volunteers, and the group formed Jackson Neighbors in Need (originally called Save the Warmth) to help people when they were out of money and in a bind, to help bridge the gap to keep the heat going when it was cold.
The new group met monthly and began raising money to help keep people warm. In that first year, the program offered help with heating bills, minor weatherization projects, and cold-weather shelter for the homeless. We have moved away from weatherization and sheltering the homeless, since there are other local groups that focus on these needs, but in 2018 we added an emergency fund to help people with urgent needs like medication, minor car repairs, and small household basics. In the first year JNIN spent around $6,000 and served 25 families. During our 2024-25 heating assistance season, the group served 165 households at a cost of $47,513.46.
JNIN works closely with other helping agencies like the Jackson County Department of Social Services, United Christian Ministries, the Community Table, and Mountain Projects. Mountain Projects provides us with office space and handles finances for the group. JNIN started with the commitment that all work would be done by volunteers so that every penny collected could help clients. As the years have gone by, we have paid for a few necessary expenses like audits and phone service, but we still have almost no overhead. Our financial support comes from individuals and businesses in the community, churches, grants, the Town of Sylva, and Jackson County Commissioners. Members of the JNIN Advisory Board include representatives from local agencies and churches, as well as appointees from the commissioners.
For more information about Jackson Neighbors in Need, how to help, or how to get help, please call us at 828.331.7177.