The Cooperative Christian Ministry is a faith-based organization with a home base right here in Middlesboro. According to their website, they have been serving Middlesboro since 1979.

Recently, the ministry received a donation from Kentucky Utilities for a total of $2,000.

The ministry has many areas of service it provides for the community. They feature a food pantry that has food for families in need. They have food baskets that are designed to be nutritionally balanced and can serve a family for five or six days. This service is emergency basis only and is provided at maximum once every three months.

Along with the food, they also provide hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes when available.

CCM aids families in keeping their utilities in service by paying a percentage of the bill when a cutoff notice is served to the resident. As with the food basket, this is an emergency service only and is only provided every six months.

CCM also has a thrift shop called the Second Chances Thrift Shop that is open to the public and serves their clients. Every client that is approved is given a voucher for 10 pieces of clothing per person per household. Clients can receive a voucher every three months.

If CCM cannot offer the services a client may need, they provide referral services for people to seek the aid.

For more information on Cooperative Christian Ministry, visit their website at http://ccmkentucky.wixsite.com/ccmky.