The St. Jude Community is committed to being a good shepherd in the community. There are several charities that we support through the donations of our church members. A list of these supported organizations and their mission follows:
Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic: This clinic operates with the donated services of 14 dentists and serves over 700 patients annually. The clinic delivers high-quality dental care to people in the Western North Carolina area who cannot otherwise afford these critically needed services. They are the only non-profit provider of truly free comprehensive dental care in Western North Carolina and in all of North Carolina. ( http://www.brfdc.org/ )
Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers: The mission is to provide free medical care for acute and chronic illnesses to the uninsured and low-income individuals who live and work in our community of Jackson and Macon Counties. The clinic also offers diabetic management, education, and a behavioral health specialist to the patients. It has been operational since 2005.
( https://highlandscashiersclinic.org/ )
Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry: The Food Pantry operates year-round on Monday and Thursday from 4:30-6:30pm. They help meet the food needs of families in the Jackson County area that fall below the poverty line. The Pantry is staffed by volunteers from 11 area churches. St Jude volunteers to distribute food boxes during February. ( http://www.fishesandloavescashiers.org/home.html )
Literacy Council: Mission to improve literacy in the Cashiers area. The Augustine Project provides tutors to assist readers at the Blue Ridge School during the school day. It also teams with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to provide a free hard back book to young children below the age of 5 and provides tips to parents, as well as a book giveaway 3 times per school year at Blue Ridge School and Summit charter School. ( http://www.cashiersliteracycouncil.org/ )
Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center: This pro-life non-profit organization provides free & confidential services to those individuals (moms & dads) who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant. (http://www.smpcc.org/)
St Jude Children’s Christmas Outreach: A City on a Hill coalition of eight local churches attempt each year to ensure, that, through the Christmas Angel Tree Project that no child in our community goes without a Christmas present. You can help through your donations at our annual 2nd collection at the beginning of October each year. You can even be a part of the volunteer group of shoppers. As a shopper, you will purchase the items for the child and St Jude Catholic Church, through the “City on the Hill” coalition, will distribute the presents to the child’s family at the Village Green in December.
Cashiers Cares: Is a community-based organization raising funds and awareness for select charitable organizations serving the Cashiers and southern Jackson County area. Funds raised are distributed to each of these non-profit groups. It has been operational since 2008. ( http://cashierscares.org/ )