In this episode we speak with Shawne Farmer, the Executive Director at Interfaith Outreach Association (IOA). As an organization that serves populations in the city of Lynchburg as well as Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell counties, IOA continues to make an impact on the well-being of our community.

Together, we explore the services that the IOA actively provides to our community through simple home repairs, emergency assistance to those facing utility cutoffs or evictions, life skills and job readiness classes for formerly detained individuals and more.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.interfaithoutreach.org

Cami: Hi, welcome to Anne, so much more. I am here with Sean Farmer of Interfaith Outreach. She's the executive director and Interfaith Outreach is one of our community partners. And so this year particular, we have been taking the time to talk about how Centra is interacting with community partners, organizations, nonprofits, all around all of the communities where we serve. And it has been incredible. I feel so much more knowledgeable about our communities. And then every time I hear about another organization, I'm like ready to go. I'm like, I want to come and join you. So I'm so excited to hear about Interfaith Outreach. But first, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Shawne Farmer: So, I'm Shawne Farmer. I'm executive director of Interfaith Outreach, and I've lived here in Lynchburg almost 30 years and... Yeah, and I've been the director of Interfaith for 12 years.

Cami: So, Lynchburg has been home for quite a while. What's your favorite thing to do at Lynchburg?

Shawne Farmer: Go to the restaurants probably.

Cami: Yes, we've got some good ones.

Shawne Farmer: We do have fabulous restaurants. For sure.

Cami: It's become this fun place to go walk around downtown and experience some of the local flair. Lynchburg is coming into its own and I love seeing that happen kind of in each of our communities that we have around us. So you've been with Interfaith Outreach for 12 years. What brought you to Interfaith?

Shawne Farmer: Well, I had spent some time in nonprofits before at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest and Interfaith Outreach. And then I had also taught in the school system as well. And I just, after working with a lot of children and in nonprofit, I thought it would be great to work for a nonprofit that could help families, support families that could empower children to be all they can be.

Cami: Oh, I love that. So for those who have never heard of Interfaith, tell us what is at the heart and the mission of what you guys do?

Shawne Farmer: We have six programs that pull the resources together from the community to keep families together safe at home.

Cami: So what do those programs look like?

Shawne Farmer: We have an emergency assistance program where we offer assistance with rent and utilities. We have a progressive release program where we go into the jails and teach life skills classes to men and women. We also offer aftercare when they get out so they can be successful. We have a free furniture program for families that are displaced or who have been homeless. We have a vision program where we provide rides to medical appointments for people who are blind. We have a rebuilds program where we do simple home repairs for elderly and disabled people. And then last but not least, our newest program is the H

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