TEN program to bring volunteers to city

A new non-profit agency hopes to bring 18-to-25-year-olds from outside Bedford County to spend 10 months here doing volunteer work for agencies such as Shelbyville Housing Authority, the Senior Citizens Center and Shelbyville Parks and Recreation.

TEN, named for the 10-month commitment required of participants, is the brainchild of the Rev. Bobby Scott, pastor of Gateway Church on Madison Street. Scott said the program's tagline will be "What can you change in ten months?"

The non-profit which will manage TEN was founded a year ago, although Scott said he wasn't able to spend as much time on it during his campaign for state representative earlier this year. It is a formal non-profit corporation but hasn't yet received its 501(c)(3) tax-deductible status.

TEN is leasing a building at 539 Tate St. from the housing authority, and will soon convert it into dorm rooms for the volunteers and an apartment for a resident director. If all goes well, a five-month pilot program, with only 4-6 participants, will begin in January. The first full 10-month program is scheduled for September 2010, with 9-12 participants.

Scott said the non-profit will work with churches and colleges to recruit volunteers for the program, and he said all participants will be carefully vetted. He said a typical participant will be a high school graduate or college student who isn't sure about a career path and who might want to take a break for volunteer work. He said the experience which volunteers will receive during their work will benefit their career and citizenship once they return home.

Scott said the program will be funded by donations, and he's seeking those right away, since TEN will have to begin making lease payments to SHA next month. Monetary donations are the primary need, although Scott said he wouldn't turn down volunteer labor for the carpentry, plumbing and painting needed to renovate the facility. The building, at the corner of Tate and Elm streets, was the former home of the nonprofit Creating Positive Images (CPI). Scott said he'd been looking at various buildings and locations until real estate agent Harold Segroves suggested the Tate Street facility.

For more information about TEN, contact Scott at 685-2081 or bobscott.fa@gmail.com. A web site for the program is under construction at shelbyville10.wordpress.com.