Jackson residents reach out to those in need Volunteer Pat Merchant enjoys some playtime with a child at the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
Merchant serves on the center's board.
Just call Jackson the Volunteer City in the Volunteer State. Every community has a base of people who reach out to others in need, but different threads have combined to weave a larger tapestry of caring for those who live in Jackson and surrounding Madison County. A range of services is provided by volunteer-based area organizations. They include a midnight basketball league operated by the Jackson Police Department and the family life focus of the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse to the Kiwanis Center for Child Development's emphasis on special needs children. There's also the Star Center, which uses technology to help those with disabilities lead independent lives.