Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge receives $2.9 million grant from TVA for Energy Makeover

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

The City of Oak Ridge has been selected for a $2.9 million grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority that will “undoubtedly change the lives of people living in legacy Oak Ridge homes by helping them save money on their utility bills,” officials said Friday.

This grant is part of TVA’s Extreme Energy Makeover project and will allow the start of an unprecedented revitalization of the legacy homes in the Oak Ridge community and provide assistance to those that need it the most, a press release said.

“The City of Oak Ridge is honored to be selected for participation and award for use in the Extreme Energy Makeover program, which will be used to encourage use of the legacy housing of the city when it was a ‘Secret City,’” City Manager Mark Watson said. “This investment will demonstrate our housing’s continued value for residents for years to come. As historical housing, our demonstration project has shown that electrical usage can be substantially reduced creating a ‘win-win’ for our residents, TVA, and the Oak Ridge electrical system alike. We look forward to the challenge and partnership with TVA to become a model for the entire TVA service region.” [Read more…]

Celebrate two years of ‘Dine and Donate’ by eating out on Monday

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Burchfield's and Ray and Fanny Smith

Burchfield’s, located inside the Oak Ridge DoubleTree, is a popular spot for locals like Ray and Fanny Smith. The restaurant is one of only a few Dine and Donate participants to offer breakfast, and there are extensive choices for lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Burchfield’s has been a proud culinary supporter of ADFAC for nine years, dating all the way back to ADFAC’s first Feed the Need event in 2007! (Submitted photo)

 

In the past 24 months, thousands of breakfasts, lunches and dinners have been enjoyed by members of our community—and all for a good cause. On the second Monday of each month, local citizens are encouraged to eat out at participating Dine and Donate restaurants. The restaurants, in turn, provide a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

Monday, September 14, wraps up the second full year of Dine and Donate with the following participating restaurants:

  • Burchfield’s in Oak Ridge
  • Gallo Loco in Oak Ridge
  • Gondolier in Clinton
  • Hoskins in Clinton
  • Mediterranean Delight in Oak Ridge
  • Papa Murphy’s in Oak Ridge
  • Razzleberry’s in Oak Ridge
  • Salsarita’s in Oak Ridge

[Read more…]

3M presents Supplies4Nonprofit Organizations

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3M Supplies for Nonprofit Organizations

Pictured from left to right above are Mike Swisher, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; Annie Cachiero and Cande Seay, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties; Anderson County Chamber President Rick Meredith presenting awards; Charlotte Bowers, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County; Janet Wood, Emory Valley Center; David Erb, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; and Terry Allen, Anderson County Rescue Squad. (Submitted photo)

 

Nonprofit organizations serving Anderson County have received a grant from the Annual 3M Supplies4Nonprofit Organizations product donation program, or S4NPO, in partnership with Good360.

The photo above was taken at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Services Coffee in August. Pictured from left to right are Mike Swisher, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; Annie Cachiero and Cande Seay, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties; Anderson County Chamber President Rick Meredith presenting awards; Charlotte Bowers, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County; Janet Wood, Emory Valley Center; David Erb, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; and Terry Allen, Anderson County Rescue Squad.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ADFAC school supplies distribution under way

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Clinton Fire Department and ADFAC School Supplies

Members of the Clinton Fire Department spend a morning packing school supplies, loading the fire truck, and delivering them to Clinton schools. (Submitted photo)

 

Since Thursday, July 9, volunteers from all over Anderson County have been sorting donated school supplies for Oak Ridge and Anderson County schools, packing them in bags and backpacks that are loaded into vehicles and distributing the packed items to classrooms.

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties has been coordinating the collection, packing, and distribution of school supplies for 26 years. As a result, teachers aren’t obliged to spend their hard-earned money on items needed by their growing number of students from disadvantaged families.

Last year. ADFAC provided school supplies to more than 2,500 area students from disadvantaged families. This year, the local nonprofit service organization’s staff hopes to increase the number of school supplies by 12 percent with the help of ongoing support from the community. [Read more…]

Centrus donates $2,500 to ADFAC

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Centrus Donates to ADFAC

Centrus Energy Corporation’s Jeff Cooper, right, presents the 2015 Corporate Membership contribution to ADFAC’s Executive Director Annie Cacheiro, left, and Corporate Committee members Ray Smith, second from left, and Barry Stephenson. (Submitted photo)

 

Centrus Energy Corporation donated $2,500 to ADFAC and became the first 2015 Grand Benefactor Corporate Member, the nonprofit organization’s Corporate Committee announced this week.

Jeff Cooper, Centrus’s Lead Cascade Project Manager, recently presented the donation to Ray Smith and Barry Stephenson, ADFAC Corporate Committee members.

“This corporate contribution is going to help lead the way for other corporate contributions for ADFAC,” said Smith, who is a member of the ADFAC Board of Directors. “It’s so appreciated and will truly help AFDAC fulfill their mission of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.'” [Read more…]

UCOR contributes to ADFAC as benefactor sponsor

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UCOR ADFAC Donation 2015

UCOR President and Project Manager Ken Rueter, right, presents the 2015 Corporate Membership contribution to ADFAC’s Ray Smith, left, Board of Directors and Corporate Committee member, and ADFAC’s Executive Director, Annie Cacheiro. (Submitted photo)

 

UCOR recently contributed to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties as a benefactor sponsor for ADFAC’s 2015 Corporate Membership Campaign, a press release said.

UCOR President and Project Manager Ken Rueter presented the contribution to ADFAC representative Ray Smith and Executive Director Annie Cacheiro. UCOR is a partnership between URS and CH2M Oak Ridge LLC.

Smith, an ADFAC board member and Corporate Committee member, said: “This campaign is geared toward encouraging area corporations to support the very important mission of helping those most in need in our community. UCOR has been a corporate member for several years and we greatly appreciate their continued generosity.” [Read more…]

ADFAC: Dine and Donate returns Monday, June 8

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Eli Mauk-Olson at Buddy's bar-b-q

Just in time for a summer picnic, treat for dad, or office party, Buddy’s Bar-B-Q in Oak Ridge and Buddy’s ORNL Café are participating in the June 8 Dine and Donate event. Eli Mauk-Olson, a recent graduate of Robertsville Middle School, appears ready to celebrate the end of the school year! (Submitted photo)

 

School is out, and Father’s Day is around the corner: These are just two of many reasons to celebrate with a Dine and Donate meal!

On Monday, June 8, six local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. Launched in October 2013, Dine and Donate is a yearlong event, with different restaurants participating on the second Monday of each month.

“Whether celebrating the fathers in our lives or simply beating the heat, dining out at least one of Monday’s Dine and Donate restaurants is a fantastic way to enjoy the season,” said ADFAC Board Member Cande Seay, who also chairs the Dine and Donate committee.

The restaurants participating on Monday are: [Read more…]

ADFAC: Give Mom a late Mother’s Day treat—on purpose!

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Popeyes Dine and Donate May 2015

Two children stop by Popeye’s in Oak Ridge for a quick after-school snack. Dedicated to providing “Louisiana Fast” food, Popeye’s menu takes a step outside the box, offering chicken and seafood prepared spicy or blackened. Side items range from freshly made biscuits and Cajun fries to red beans and rice and jambalaya. (Photo submitted by ADFAC)

 

On Monday, May 11—the day after Mother’s Day—several local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

Across Oak Ridge and Anderson County, these 12 restaurants provide a unique opportunity for a slightly late gift that gives back to the community.

“The moms in our lives do so much to help us and others,” said Cande Seay, chair of the Dine and Donate committee. “A special meal out is a great way to show your appreciation of Mom’s hard work. Dining out on Monday, May 11, at one of our fabulous Dine and Donate restaurants gives you the chance to treat your Mom and pay it forward in her honor!”

Restaurants participating on Monday, May 11, are: [Read more…]

Land Bank has first housing strategy meeting on Thursday

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Oak Ridge Land Bank Housing Strategy

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation will host its first housing strategy meeting on Thursday. The goal is to address the city’s housing situation while building partnerships in a collaborative effort to promote the city “as the place to live and work by improving our community’s neighborhoods,” a press release said.

The work session is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Agenda items including the state of housing, a mobile tour, and partner presentations by ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties), Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, and Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. [Read more…]

Support local restaurants, ADFAC with ‘Dine and Donate’

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Soup Kitchen

The Soup Kitchen—specializing in homemade soups, breads, sandwiches, and salads—has been an Oak Ridge favorite for decades. Located at 47 E. Tennessee Avenue, the Soup Kitchen will be open from 11 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Dine and Donate on Monday. (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, April 13, seven local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

Launched in 2013, “Dine and Donate” is a yearlong event, with different restaurants participating on the second Monday of each month.

“We have truly enjoyed watching Dine and Donate grow over the past year and a half,” said ADFAC Board Member Cande Seay, who also chairs the Dine and Donate committee. “It has been wonderful to see so many families and individuals enjoying meals to support ADFAC’s work in the community!” [Read more…]

Support local restaurants, ADFAC with ‘Dine and Donate’

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Nature's Marketplace Dine and Donate March 2015

Spring is in the air at Nature’s Marketplace, located on the east end of Oak Ridge. The restaurant features freshly made soups, sandwiches, side dishes, and baked goods as well as gourmet market items. Nature’s Marketplace is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Submitted photo)

 

Our driveways are no longer covered in ice, and the first buds of the season are beginning to bloom—there are many reasons to celebrate the approach of spring! Why not observe the change of seasons by dining out to support the less fortunate?

On Monday, March 9, several local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

Restaurants participating on Monday are: [Read more…]

ADFAC: Love is in the air with ‘Dine and Donate’

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Papa Murphy's Dine and Donate

For Willow Brook fourth-grader William Mauk-Olson, nothing says “love” like a giant chocolate chip cookie! Papa Murphy’s in Oak Ridge offers several different kinds of “take ‘n’ bake” pizza (even gluten free!) with over two dozen topping choices; other offerings include freshly made salads and sweet treats such as cookie dough and cinnamon rings. (Photo submitted by ADFAC)

 

On Monday, February 9, several local restaurants will “share the love” by donating a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, ADFAC’s February Dine and Donate event provides an early opportunity to treat loved ones to a special meal, a press release said.

Restaurants participating on Monday, February 9, are: [Read more…]