OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Welcome to Who’s Who in the 352, an exclusive 352Today feature in which we get to know some of our region’s movers and shakers a little better. This week’s subject is Karla Greenway, who as CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services helps provide the support and resources necessary to lift those out of the gaps in society into which it can be tragically, unaccountably easy to fall.
How long have you been involved with Interfaith Emergency Services?
I started the week of Thanksgiving in 2010 so I’ve been doing this for 15 years.
Can you tell us a bit about how IES grew from a food pantry/soup kitchen to an organization that provides support all the way from the streets to home and job placement?
When you have people in front of you presenting with challenges for which there are no resources, it is painful. So as we saw trends in terms of growing needs and gaps in local services, we attempted to fill the gaps that we could. When Interfaith saw an increase in homelessness we added a shelter to serve as overflow for the Salvation Army’s shelter. When people came for groceries and were suffering physically because they couldn’t afford their prescribed medications, Interfaith opened a thrift store to create a funding stream to purchase medications. As we identified needs that we believed we could adequately address, we added programs. And as we grew, the community’s heart grew with us to support our efforts. Some of the support that allowed us to expand came through government funding and some came through generous donors who believe in our mission. But the vision comes from God and we strive to stay in His will. As long as we are on the right path, He provides everything we need to serve our clients…