Step of Faith Outreach is located in the heart of Lavonia, Georgia, and operates out of the Boyd Outz Learning Center. Founded and incorporated in 2005 by Ken Watkins, President and Founder, Step of Faith Outreach has served the community of Franklin County for more than two decades. Patsy Watkins, Vice President, has dedicated the last 18 years to the different programs offered within the organization. Their mission is to establish “a reputation of reaching the lost and broken-hearted while treating everyone with dignity and respect as we minister to the total person”. The goal is simple: “to help impoverished communities, family and individuals with food, clothing, shelter, literacy, and job placement opportunities”. Step of Faith Outreach accomplishes this by offering a variety of services to individuals and families within the community.
Serving students of Franklin County Schools, Step of Faith offers an after school program at the Boyd Outz Learning Center. Through this program, children from Pre-K through the twelfth grade are able to bus to the learning center where they are served a hot meal and snack, complete their homework, and participate in other educational activities. Parents are then able to pick up their children at the end of their workday. The program is open four days a week for Pre-K students and three days a week for all other students. Both parents and students benefit from this program, providing parents with peace of mind knowing their child is being cared for while finishing their work day, and giving students a structured, accountable environment to encourage their academic growth.
The Senior Food Assistance Program provides food bags to seniors within the community once a month. These bags include canned foods, meats, cheeses, cereals, and juice. Through their partnership with Northeast Georgia Food Bank, seniors aged fifty five and older can pick up food boxes the second Wednesday of each month. At no cost to them, community members can pick up their boxes at the Step of Faith Headquarters.
In emergency situations, Step of Faith Outreach is able to assist families experiencing immediate and critical needs. The Fire Disaster Assistance Program provides toiletries and food to families who have been impacted by a house fire. The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides food to families experiencing hardship at no cost.
Step of Faith Outreach expands its reach throughout the summer time. While summer break can be an exciting time for students, it can also significantly impact a students access to affordable and nutritious meals. From June 1st to July 31st, Step of Faith partners with Happy Helpings and Bright From the Start to serve Franklin, Hart, Banks, Elberton, and Madison counties. Through the program, students eighteen and under are provided free, nutritional lunches throughout the week.
The impact these programs have on our community is transformative for individuals and families alike, and the work of Step of Faith Outreach does not go unnoticed. The Harbin Family Foundation is proud to support Step of Faith Outreach and all of the incredible work they have done – and will continue to do – for Franklin County and the surrounding communities.