The Ark is an outreach center providing emergency financial assistance to the low-income population of Athens-Clarke and surrounding counties.  About half of The Ark’s funding comes from congregations in Athens-Clarke County; the remainder comes from private grants and donations.  The Ark’s services are available to all citizens in the area, without reference to religious affiliation, race or any other consideration beyond need.

Clients (called neighbors) always receive compassion and a fair hearing from Ark volunteers, but financial assistance is contingent on documented loss of income or exceptional, necessary expenses.  The former must not be the neighbor’s fault.  Thus, The Ark promotes self-determination in those being served.  Assistance is available to all citizens of Clarke, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties, without reference to religious affiliation, race or any other consideration beyond need.

The Ark does not simply provide handouts.  Assistance is there for the truly needy, not for those who simply want to avoid responsibility for their actions.  The “truly needy” can document a loss of income or exceptional expenses beyond their control.

The interview provides a one-on-one setting in which the neighbor can explain his or her situation while the volunteer draws forth the particulars of the case and explores a range of related elements.  The latter might include a food-bank referral, identification of other community resources, negotiations with creditors or detailing and assessing the neighbor’s options.  Hence, all neighbors receive assistance, the value of which – case studies indicate – far exceeds the monetary worth of any financial support that might be given.  Just as yeast is more critical to bread making than its quantitative importance suggests, so The Ark’s total contribution extends well beyond the dollar value of financial assistance.