About Us
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United Christian Ministries of Jackson County, Inc., was founded in 1989 by a consortium of local churches. The purpose of United Christian Ministries is to help people with urgent physical, economic, social, or spiritual needs so that they can move toward relative independence. We provide a food pantry, personal items, and household items, as well as assistance with necessities (temporary shelter, utilities, heat, rent, and medical copays) to residents of Jackson County. We collaborate with many local supportive agencies to help our neighbors. We are staffed by three employees and over 40 volunteers.
We serve about 10,000 clients each year and distribute thousands of food bags annually. The demand for assistance has increased every year.
Year Pounds of food distributed
2024 236,184 pounds of food
2023 152,000 pounds of food - a three-fold increase from 2019.
2022 128,000 pounds of food
2021 76,000 pounds of food
2020 70,000 pounds of food
2019 40,000 pounds of food
UCM is fully funded through the generosity of donors - churches, businesses, individuals, and grants. We receive donations of money as well as pantry items. Grantors include Jackson County, Dogwood Health Trust, Great Smokies Health Foundation, Nantahala Health Foundation, North Carolina Community Foundation, WNC Bridge Foundation, Rotary Club of Sylva, Church of the Good Shepherd (Cashiers), Food Lion Charitable Foundation, WNC Community Foundation, Balsam Mountain Trust, and more.
Many local businesses, civic groups, and churches support UCM in two ways: with monetary support, and by collecting donations of items to give to clients, such as canned food, shampoo, etc. Additional funding comes from local businesses such as NAPA, Peoples Golf, and more. The support of our community is crucial to our success.
Staff
Executive Director: Ann Selby (aselby@ucmsylva.org)
Assistant to the Director: Andi Green (agreen@ucmsylva.org)
Outreach Coordinator: Eric Schmitz (eschmitz@ucmsylva.org)
Board of Directors
United Christian Ministries is governed by a board of directors. This board consists of representatives from 15 local congregations and agencies, who are elected annually to provide oversight and support for our ministry. Each member serves a three-year term. UCM aims to have broad representation from local churches and agencies to help guide the vision of our ministry.
Current Board of Directors
Officers: Frank Royce, Chairman; Dwight McMahan, Secretary; Marcia Jones, Treasurer
Board Members at Large: Stacy Adams, Chad Cagle, Evie Caron, Jim Dean, Jacke DeLeeuw, Karen Doucette, Frances Hess, Dwight McMahan, Peg Shafer, Annette Sutton, Josh Sutton, and Emily Taylor