Project Narrative

The Mississippi Goodwill Festival, Incorporated is a project that is designed to serve the individuals and families all over the United States. The Mississippi Goodwill Festival, Inc. is a chartered, registered, non-profit organization located in Central Mississippi in the County of Attala, City of Kosciusko, which is the Capitol seat of the county.

The demographic data that was utilized to assist in the identification of services and assistance needed from this organization by the individuals and families of Attala County is as follows:

(1) Attala County is located in the Second Congressional Districts in the State of Mississippi.

(2) Twenty-four percent of the families in this county are below the poverty level with an average per capita income of these families being $8,324. Thirty percent of the county residence have an average per capita income of between $9,000 and $15,000 per year and thirty-three percent of the county residence have an average per capita income of $16,000 to $34,000 per year.

(3) The educational make-up reveals that sixty percent of the county's residence possess a High School Diploma or GED. With twenty-five percent of the country's residence possessing some postsecondary education or a college degree and that fifteen percent of the counties residence did not complete school nor are out-of-school residents.

(4) The communities of the County are highly traditional, multi-cultured communities with the predominant ethnic breakdown of the county being made up of forty percent African American and fifty-five percent Caucasian, and five percent Native American and Hispanic.

(5) The Board and staff for the organization consist of eight members. The President and Chairperson of the Board preside over all Board agendas and activities. The eight member Board consist of the President, Vice-President, Tresurer, Assistant Treasurer, the Program Director, the Field Investigator, and the Member-At-Large. The Board provides the administrative and clerical support for the organization.

(6) The major funding sources for the organization is provided through (a) fundraisers, (b) vendor services, (c) donations, (d) gifts, and (e) festival participation. The relationship to the community is embedded in the "Good Samaritan Concept" which is to assist individual, families, and community patrons that are in need of various services and financial assistance, to aid these families in meeting life's expectations and become more self-sufficient. Emphasis is given individuals and families of natural disaster, catastrophic events, bereavement, and in individuals and families that are destitute.

The Mississippi Goodwill Festival Inc. has helped seniors with utility bills and medicine prescriptions, people who have lost homes due to fire, contributed to kids with kidney and liver transplant and the list goes on.

The Mississippi Goodwill Festival, Incorporated is a program that is designed to serve the underprivileged and disadvantaged individuals and families of Mississippi in particular those individuals and families in the County of Attala, in Central Mississippi.The Mississippi Goodwill Festival, Inc. is a chartered, registered, non-profit organization located in Central Mississippi in the County of Attala, City of Kosciusko, which is the Capitol seat of the county.

The Board for the organization consists of eight members. The President and Chairperson of the Board preside over all Board agendas and activities. The eight member Board consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, the Program Director, the Field Investigator, and the Member-At-Large.

The Board provides the administrative and clerical support for the organization. The major funding sources for the organization is provided through

The relationship to the community is embedded in the "Good Samaritan Concept" which is to assist individual, families, and community patrons that are in need of various services and financial assistance, to aid these families in meeting life's expectations and become more self-sufficient. Emphasis is given individuals and families of natural disaster, catastrophic events, bereavement, and in individuals and families that are destitute.

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

The demographic data that was utilized to assist in the identification of services and assistance needed from this organization by the individuals and families of Attala County is as follows. (1) Attala County is located in one of the poorest Congressional Districts in the United States. 24 percent of the families in this county are below the poverty level. The unemployment rate for this county is 13.9 percent. 23.6 percent of the families in the county are headed by unemployed females. The ethnic breakdown of the county served is 45 percent African American and 55 percent Caucasian. Existing social services at the local level are insufficient and the caseload is extremely large to the point that there is little education and training available to effectively penetrate the cycle of poverty in the area. The average per capita income of this county is $8,324 and ranked among the lowest in the Mississippi.

MISSION and GOAL

Based on the aforementioned data the Mississippi Goodwill Festival organization has chosen as its mission one of service to the underprivileged and disadvantaged of the area. The goal of the Mississippi Goodwill Festival, Inc. is one of providing the necessary support services and assistance to the 100 individuals and families in most need. To provide outreach and referral services to a minimum of 100 families per year. To assist 25 individuals in securing vocational training through the local Vocational Training Center.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the goal is to assist individuals and families, by helping them to identify their greatest economic needs, and assist them in the development of their own goals to meet their needs. The program director resources with various other local organizations and agencies for services available and offered.