Making A Difference: Rev. Sally Allocca

Rod Carter
Published: September 4, 2008

  Making a Difference is not just one person at a time - it’s one community at a time.
  And that’s how one local pastor is changing the lives of those around her.
 
  EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, PEOPLE IN THE MARKET FOR FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIES AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, COME TO THIS EAST LAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PARKING LOT.
“I think this has made a tremendous difference for East Lake.“
WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU CAN GET ANYTHING FROM FRESH SQUASH TO PUMPKINS IF YOU LIKE, OKRA AND TOMATOS…TO POTATOS.
  EVERY SATURDAY FROM 7 AM TO NOON… LOCAL FARMERS BRING THEIR HARVEST TO THE TABLE.
  PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CHURCH LOVE IT.
THE FARMER’S MARKET AND OTHER PROGRAMS HERE ARE PART OF SOMETHING CALLED “PEER”... PROMOTING ENRICHMENT, EMPOWERMENT, RESOURCES..
“Surprise, thank you for making a difference.“

  AND IT’S ALL THANKS IN GREAT PART TO THIS MONTH’S MAKING A DIFFERENCE AWARD WINNER… REV. SALLY ALLOCCA OF THE EAST LAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
 
“We are so pleased and honored to present you with a making a difference award, for everything that you do in this community.“

  “SALLY” AS EVERYONE CALLS HER,  WAS GENIUNELY SURPRISED TO SEE SO MANY GATHER TO GIVE HER A PAT ON THE BACK.
  SHE CAME UP WITH THE FARMER’S MARKET IDEA.
  SHE WORKS HARD TO KEEP THE MARKET GOING,  TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
“We work to find out what resources are already here and educate people about those resources and what’s not here and try to draw those resources to the neighborhood.“
 
THOSE RESOURCES NOT ONLY INCLUDE THE FARMER’S MARKET - BUT SENIOR LUNCHES, A HEALTH FAIR, EVEN A FULL TIME HEALTH OFFICIAL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

“We also distribute 130 boxes of fresh produce to the low income seniors in the neighborhood through grant monies and through baskets that individuals buy.“
 
REV. SALLY SAYS, WHAT SHE DOES, SHE DOESN’T DO ALONE… AND DOESN’T DO FOR GLORY.

“I enjoy it… It gives me great pleasure. I get to meet a lot of great people. I get to see the difference it makes in people’s lives. It just really fullfills me… It’s a great joy.“

  MANY HERE BELIEVE   REV. SALLY’S WORK, IS MUCH LIKE MAKING MUSIC - A WEAVING OF NOTES - RESOURCES IF YOU WILL,  TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND LASTING.
  DANA COCKRELL IS ONE OF THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT NOMINATED HER.
 
“Rod: what would this community be like if she weren’t there?
Dana: That’s a good question.  Our community is on the cusp of lots of things..we’re right there on the borderline of being great and going down… And her vision was to talk to people who are already here to remind them of what we area and what we could be, versus letting someone else move in and do it.“

  AND WITH A TIRELESS SPIRIT AND ZEST FOR CHANGE… FOLKS HERE SAY SHE’S DONE JUST THAT.

“Sally is a person who never tires of making life better for everybody else… She always has ideas and her mind never turns off and she’s always looking for ways to make the community better.“

“And if you ever meet her, you’ll know she does all that she does, with an infectious smile…
  She knows, something as simple as a piece of fruit for sale… a little helping hand is why reverend sally allocca is making a difference.
  Rod Carter nbc 13 H-D News.“