Drop Collaborative prepares for new year with new goals

The Drop Collaborative is one of many non-profit organizations getting ready for the new year, and they have many different objectives to push towards. They do not just serve the community, however. They also serve the organizations who serve the community.

Community organizer Victoria Hewlett said the collaborative started in 2015 as a way to provide valuable farming training to students in Carter County.

“[John Drop] found a lot of kids here did not know how to farm,” Hewlett said.

This was bad, she said, because for many, farming is part of the regular culture of Carter County. She said Drop formed the collaborative using land in Stoney Creek in order to provide official training in this line of work and to preserve these local traditions. From there, it took off.

“There is a decline in family farming, especially in this region,” she said. “There are real elements of rural culture that get lost.”

Now, the collaborative partners with organizations across East Tennessee. Some local examples include Unaka High School and Recovery Soldiers, in both cases providing learning opportunities for teamwork, work ethic and more.

Whether the work is done on their own property in Stoney Creek or on the recipient’s land, the crops they harvest all go back into the community, whether it is Second Harvest Food Bank or other organizations who distribute it to people in need.

“It has a huge multiplier effect,” Hewlett said. “Recovery Soldiers was able to harvest it and feed their families.”

Coming into the new year, she said the Drop Collaborative has three main goals: two forms of outreach, including their coloring book contest they recently held as well as their adult outreach, and what she described as a partnership with Kids Like Us, an organization who helps children get ready for the adult world, particularly children with learning disabilities.

She said they need the community’s support in order to make these goals a reality.

“Collaboration is the most important thing,” Hewlett said.

This search for sponsors for the collaborative can be any amount, and sponsors can feature their logos or message on their new coloring book, on promotional material and more.

Those interested in learning more about the collaborative or want to get involved can contact them at 423-707-8798 or by email at victoria@dropcollaborative.com.

SportsPlus

Local news

RipTide Car Wash gets final site OK; city may review zoning code

Community

Senior Center Schedule

Local news

Carter County Legends Lunch: A tradition of fellowship and memories

Local news

Seeger Chapel improvements improve spiritual development, cultural experiences at Milligan

Local news

Betsy Band does it again

Local news

Celebrate the season with ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol’

Local news

Milligan Musical Theatre presents ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’

Local news

Food City kicks off Race Against Hunger campaign

Community

Hampton and Watauga Lodges to host Thanksgiving Dinner

Local news

ETSU introduces new awards at Celebration of Research

Local news

Experience the magic of ‘The Polar Express’ at the newly renovated Jackson Theatre

Local news

Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department honored at 2024 TRPA Conference with multiple awards

Local news

Carter Mansion Specialty Tours will focus on Christmas traditions

Local news

Autumn Heritage Celebration is this weekend at Sycamore Shoals

Church News

Church Briefs

Church News

Can I know I’m in the place where God wants me?

Local news

FEMA hosts Industry Day for owners of rental property

Arrests

Johnson City woman arrested on assault, underage consumption charges

Local news

Study reveals TN child care workers face poverty wages

Local news

Region A.H.E.A.D. shares $436,000 in flood recovery grants to small business owners

Local news

Local girl will play in softball tournament in the Netherlands

Local news

Step into the ‘Cabaret’ with ETSU Theatre

Local news

Carter voters overwhelmingly back Trump, Blackburn, Harshbarger

Local news

Tri-Cities area McDonald’s honoring veterans with free meals