Path

Our Mission and History

Mission:

Path's mission is to serve, through well-equipped volunteers, the economically disadvantaged people in Smith County with both emergency assistance and programs to empower and encourage them to become productive citizens.

PATH's programs address the multiple factors affecting low income families that keep them in poverty, place them at risk of becoming homeless or in need of crisis intervention services, and limit the potential of children and adults to live stable, secure and prosperous lives.

In order to fulfill our mission, PATH has established a strategic plan titled "Five steps on the PATH to success." PATH's programs can be encapsulated in five steps, they are:

Prevention, Rescue, Stabilization, Growth and Independence.

We pray that this strategic plan will open new doors for program participants, donors, volunteers, and staff.

History:

It all started in 1984 when Mrs. Gertrude Windsor saw a great need in Smith County. A great need requires the community to gather together and Mrs. Windsor gathered. Men and women from all races, congregations and professions came to set up an organization destined to be a helping hand—the mission arm of the faith-based community in Smith County. Its organizers worked together to cross racial, ethnic and religious boundaries, encompass business and government with God's faithful, and chart a course to "help those in need find their own way." The result of those efforts was called People Attempting To Help (PATH).

More than 20 years later, the people of PATH are still drawn together by a powerful vision of collaborative services forged together by years of struggles and successes. PATH's original mission is still in action every day.

Approximately 400 volunteers serve in PATH's diverse programs addressing hunger, housing, emergency services, special children's needs, unemployment and deteriorating neighborhoods. The PATH staff and volunteers touch thousands of lives are each month through its caring services that are both efficient and effective.

PATH remains a flexible organization, growing and changing to respond to emerging community needs.