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The Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency has several Commodity Distributions coming up in September.

Commodity Distributions are allotted times set aside at specific locations for families in need of essential living materials that might be costly or difficult to access.

UETHDA’s current reach extends to Hancock, Hawkins, Greene, Unicoi, Washington, Sullivan, Carter and Johnson counties.

The following are anticipated Commodity Distributions for this month: Elizabethton at Grace Baptist Church, 1114 Broad Street on the 7th; Bristol at Reallife Church, 1317 Weaver Pike on the 8th; Sneedville at Hancock High School, 2700 Main Street on the 9th; Rogersville at Persia Baptist Church, 141 Old State Highway on the 12th; Kingsport at Gravely Baptist Church, 647 Gravely Road on the 13th; Johnson City at Wesley Memorial UMC, 225 Princeton Road on the 14th; Greeneville at Eastview Recreation Center, 456 E Bernard Avenue on the 15th; Mountain City at First Christian Church, 401 West Main Street on the 20th; Erwin at Hulen Baptist Church, 215 Hulen Avenue on the 21st.

On the dates listed above, the timeframe for pickup will be 9:30 a.m. – noon or until supplies last. Everything will be distributed on a first come, first served basis

Commodity cards are not needed, however to make sure enough Commodities will be available to those planning on showing up, UETHDA strongly encourages people to complete an application the week prior to the distribution date which will reduce wait time during the actual pickup. Applications will be available at the event as well.

Someone else is able to pick up participants’ commodities, however they must be listed and authorized on the individual’s application.

Typically, Commodity Distributions happen when an entity capable of supplying items to members of the community identify geographic areas that house disadvantaged people and then determine what items are needed to help them. In this case, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing the resources for these distributions.

The Human Development Agency’s overall mission is to serve their eight-county area in East Tennessee with education assistance as well as direction and support to individuals and families to reach stability and their greatest potential.

UETHDA mainly accepts assistance with their programs in the form of volunteering.

The organization encourages those in need to visit one of the Neighborhood Service Centers located in their region that are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Some of UETHDA’s other assistance programs are LIHEAP, or the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Commodity or Emergency Food Assistance, Head Start school readiness and health services, Financial Aid programs, Rent Assistance and more.