Pictured from Left to right: Odalis Ponce, Bowater CU Member Service Associate; Shelby Mathews, Bowater CU Marketing Coordinator; Mike Engelhaupt, Bowater Member and GSC Board President; Tina Smith, GSC Community Outreach Director; Eli Patton, Bowater CU Member Service Associate; Nicole Andrino, Bowater CU Marketing Specialist
Bowater Credit Union member Mike Engelhaupt has won the $1,000 Pay It Forward prize for his favorite local nonprofit, the Good Shepherd Center in Madisonville, TN.
Through its Pay It Forward program, Bowater Credit Union invites members to nominate their favorite nonprofit organizations serving Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk counties. Up to five grants of $1,000 are awarded each year, and the Good Shepherd Center is the third recipient recognized in 2026.
For 40 years, the Good Shepherd Center (GSC) has been dedicated to helping Monroe County families facing hardship. Based in Madisonville, the organization serves more than 650 families a month through a variety of programs, including a food pantry, clothing and household essentials closet, and emergency assistance for medical, and utility expenses.
The families served by GSC include veterans, seniors, and children, all of whom are treated with compassion, dignity, and respect. The organization receives no federal funding and relies entirely on grants, fundraising events, and community donations to continue its mission. This year, GSC celebrated its 40th anniversary and recently hosted its third annual fundraising gala, which sold out in support of its important work.
The Good Shepherd Center Board President explains, “We are able to support 1 out of 5 families in poverty, but how can we support the other 4 out of 5?”
In recent months, Good Shepherd Center has identified transportation as a growing challenge for many of the families it serves. Without reliable transportation, individuals and families often struggle to access the organization’s services. To help bridge that gap, GSC has partnered with local churches to launch a mobile food pantry program.
Since its launch two months ago, the mobile pantry has provided assistance to approximately 40 families each month. The program collects supplies from Cleveland and Cookeville and distributes 25-pound food boxes to families in need throughout the community.
“Both Good Shepherd Center and Bowater Credit Union share a commitment to making lives better,” said Shelby Mathews, Marketing Coordinator at Bowater Credit Union. “Their dedication to serving families in need aligns beautifully with our mission and our belief that better begins here. We are honored to support an organization that is creating a meaningful impact throughout Monroe County.”
The Good Shepherd Center welcomes community support through donations and volunteer service. Food, clothing, hygiene products, and household items may be donated at its Madisonville location Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. Financial contributions can be made online or by mail, and volunteers are always encouraged to get involved.
For more information about the Good Shepherd Center, visit Good Shepherd Center or follow the organization on Facebook.
Bowater Credit Union’s Pay It Forward program will continue through 2026, with up to two additional grants to be awarded in December. Any Bowater Credit Union member may nominate a qualifying nonprofit organization for consideration. The deadline for the next award cycle is November 30, 2026.
Established in 2010, the Pay It Forward program was created as a way for Bowater Credit Union members to direct charitable support to organizations making a difference in their communities. Since the program began, Bowater Credit Union has donated more than $61,000 to local charities and nonprofit organizations throughout its service area.
For more information about the Pay It Forward program, visit https://www.bowaterecu.org.
Bowater Employees Credit Union is a federally insured credit union providing savings, checking, lending, and financial education services to individuals who live, work, worship, volunteer, or attend school in Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk counties. The credit union serves more than 20,000 members through five branches and manages approximately $300 million in assets.
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If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please call Nicole Andrino at 423-303-5618 or email [email protected].