Editorial
Front Page - Friday, April 16, 2010
Night out on the NorthShore offers incentive laden late night to support community
Erica Tuggle
Mother and daughter pair, Rhonda and Peyton Jocsing, attempt to dance the waltz on the NorthShore sidewalk in front of Good Dog. The Night on the NorthShore event will feature businesses in the district from the Veterans Bridge all the way to NorthShore Two.
- Erica Tuggle
For the NorthShore Merchants Collective, a hand-up, not a hand-out, not only applies to community members, but also in helping the non-profit organizations that are under strain because of the level of increased need over the past year and a half.
The Night Out on the North Shore event on April 22 will showcase NorthShore shops open late from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with special offers, discounts, giveaways, food and games in an effort to engage the community to visit the NorthShore. On this night, 10 percent of sales will be donated to the Northside Neighborhood House.
Shoppers can enjoy specials like half price guacamole at Taco Mamacita, hor’s douvers and wine at the Smart Furniture Gallery, a drawing at the end of each hour for a free pair of “ear bobs” from Tangerinas and several other refreshments and prizes from the merchants of the Northshore. The Chattanooga Theatre Centre will also be offering a late night show of “Enchanted April” available in real time captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Missy May Periano, the marketing committee chairperson for the NorthShore Merchants Collective and owner of the Hanover Gallery, says these events are held to show the support the collective has for the efforts of the Northside Neighborhood House.
The Northside Neighbor-hood House has been a staple to the community since 1924, providing 86 years of service for the North Chattanooga area as well as all those north of the river such as Red Bank, Soddy-Daisy, Hixson and all the way up to Bakewell.
Rachel Gammon, executive director of the Northside Neighborhood House, says their services fall into three categories of emergency direct assistance; for those who have a disconnect for a utility; educational programs, such as after school and summer classes for the youth, GED programs for adults and programs designed to keep seniors active and engaged; and a thrift shop that offers low cost household items. Gammon says their goal is to provide all adults and children the tools in education to be able to be self-supporting so that return visits for assistance are not needed.
The non-profit also maintains a food pantry and a counselor from the Partnership for Family and Children on-site, assists with transportation and prescription needs, and partially supports itself with the income from the thrift store. Although, Gammon says, the past 18 months have been particularly difficult for the agency because of the increased needs of the community.
“In 2009, we had a 40 percent increase in people assisted and helped with 200 additional utility bills as compared to 2008,” she says.
Although the need has increased, the funding and donations have not, she says. The proceeds from Night Out on the NorthShore will help provide funding to supplement the decline of donations over the past couple of years, and put the agency one step closer to implementing parenting classes, more after school programs and assisting other areas of need, Gammon says.
Peirano says, “This event is not only supporting the Northside Neighborhood House, but at the same time, is encouraging people to shop locally. That’s why we picked the local organization; to show that we want people to come out and shop local and support local.”
Night Out on the NorthShore include Merchant Collective businesses from the Veterans Bridge, all the way down to NorthShore Two and down Manufacturers Boulevard and North Market Street as well.
Gammon says, “I applaud the NorthShore merchants for helping our cause in this difficult time. Taking 10 percent of their sales and contributing it to a non-profit really says a lot about their drive to support the community.”
Periano says, “We have made so many changes in the past couple of years. We look tidier, better and fuller each day. We would like people to see more of the new businesses and see the presence of the North-side Neighborhood House on the NorthShore. Everyone can also just to enjoy a night out on the town while supporting local organizations and businesses.”
Parking for the event is available through hourly metered parking on the street with no additional charge for parking on the street after 6 p.m., as well as free patron parking at owner-operated lots on the NorthShore, parking lots at Renaissance Park and at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, where the charge ranges from $1 to $4, with free parking for those attending an event at the Theatre Centre.
Monthly updates on the number served by the Northside Neighborhood House as well as donation opportunities and the merchant’s offerings during Night Out on the NorthShore are
available on http://www.nnhouse
.org/.
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