22-05-2025
Emory Valley Center continues to serve disabled community in Anderson County
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Emory Valley Center is a grassroots organization in the heart of Oak Ridge that serves thousands of people in their community every day.
The EVC'S mission is to enhance the lives of children and adults with disabilities, and it has been operating out of Anderson County for nearly 70 years now.
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Dottie Thompson's daughter has used their services since 1973.
'We have grown and grown and now it serves so many people in so many different programs, but that's never to be taken for granted,' said Thompson.
Not only has the EVC given her daughter a place to learn, live, and participate in the community but Thopson said it also gave her a chance to pursue her dreams.
'I was a teacher and a school administrator, and I never could have done that had it not been for the EVC providing programs for my daughter,' said Thompson.
According to the president of the EVC, Jennifer Enderson, they serve over 3,200 people a year.
'Just thinking about when we started in 1955 and the services that we provide and where we are today, and I think one of the neat things is that we could potentially support somebody from birth until end of life,' said Enderson.
With a number of programs, from learning centers to group homes, she said they are always looking for ways they can fill gaps where they are needed.
'We continue to grow, we continue to look for ways that we can really help people in the community, and we can just support people who have disabilities, and I just I foresee the continuing growth of all of the things that we do,' said Enderson.
Being on the Emory Valley Foundation Board, Thompson hopes to ensure the organization's future.
'We do receive a lot of funds from the government, and you should never take it for granted,' she said. 'So, we always have to be advocates for our programs. We started an endowment with the East Tennessee Foundation, and we're trying to raise money so that this building will be here in the future and the programs will be self-sustaining.'
This will ensure people like her daughter always have a place to call home.
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'She's lived in a group home for 20 years. It's hard for me to believe, and it's comforting to know that she will be there after I'm gone if the funding continues,' said Thompson.
While the EVC has a number of programs, they also have a number of affordable and accessible homes.
Currently, they have 26 ADA accessible homes, and they are looking at turning one of their larger group homes into a duplex with a grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency.
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