“She dreamed of a day when the under-served could walk into a place where they would find help writing a resume, learn what to expect during a job interview, take the first steps toward getting a G.E.D, in short—she dreamed of a place where a beaten, defeated person could dare to hope.”

Dan Huth, close friend to humanitarian Cheryl Blankinship, spoke the words that explained the mission of the newly rejuvenated Pickens County Community Resource Center. The center held an open house and dedication ceremony Tuesday in the new center’s facility, located at 87 Cares Drive in Jasper.

The center will provide job readiness training, resume assistance, interviewing skills, GED classes, and job referrals. The goal, per program director Jackie Childers, is to help these individuals become employed, self-sustaining community members.

Computer terminals, on-site volunteers and various literature to guide program members are part of the atmosphere that make the center feel so welcoming and warm. Mike Martin of St. Vincent de Paul Society said,

“This will give them faith that things can get better.”

Denise Duncan of the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce also lauded the efforts of those involved in the process. She said,

“Talk about a resource center many communities don’t have…we ARE the community of care.”

The center, located directly behind the CARES building, will be staffed by volunteers who will be there to guide people in the job-seeking process. The hours of operation will be Mondays 1-3 p.m.; Wednesdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (class day); and Fridays 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

On class day participants will learn why resumes are important and what to include (and exclude) from them; the importance of references; how to interview and describe your skills to prospective employers; planning a job search and computer lab assistance.

The Pickens County Community Resource Center has been opened through the collaborative efforts of MUST Ministries, Inc. (MUST), Pickens County Family Connection, The Thrift Store and CARES. The Center offers services rendered through the MUST Ministries, Inc. Employment Services Program.

The project would have been exactly the type of thing Cheryl Blankinship would have embraced. The site was dedicated in her memory for the tireless work for the less fortunate she undertook in life….and for the donation she left in her passing. It only makes sense the dedication of the center is to Blankinship’s memory as her $700,000 estate was left entirely to Pickens County charities.

Huth eulogized her stating,

“For those of you who didn’t know Cheryl, she lived a quiet, almost reclusive life. She cared deeply about the under-served…the homeless…the uneducated…the abandoned…hungry…cold.”

When she inherited the money she left to charity, Huth waited to see the “changes” that money would make in her. He saw none, other than the purchase of a used car so he didn’t have to take her to run errands any longer. Errands that included not only grocery shopping for herself but also, mostly, to take the homeless to shelter or to run down assistance for those in need. He watched her continue to shop at the thrift store and discount stores despite her new bank account balance. The account that was left to continue in death the work she’d been passionate about in life.

Huth continued,

“She’d scoff if you called her a good Christian. She’d scoff if you called her a caring person. She was probably the best example of each of these that I’ve been privileged to know.”