| By The Numbers!
| 613 |
Neighbor Visits
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1538
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Individuals in Households
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$60,000
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Amount disbursed on behalf of Neighbors
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2231
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Volunteer Hours Given - Valued at $44,620
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215
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Follow-up calls made
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74
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Neighbors reached by follow-up calls
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|  From Where I Sit...
Lisa Blackwood, Executive Director Hmmm...... it's a Monday morning here. As predicted, phones are ringing almost non-stop (as usual on Mondays), our coach for the day is problem solving and sorting through the needs of the current neighbor while another neighbor fills out the in-take form, I am working on newsletter and the upcoming Open House, a volunteer mailing and our statistician is entering data from the past week. Even though it is a bit hectic, we are not running over each other or even talking over each other. It's really very pleasant. Every day I just feel blessed that we are in our new setting. Pretty amazing transformation! Looking further I also see the young families that are coming in right now. Utility bills have been increasing (it's really hot!), kids have been home and eating more, flapping the door - running in and out and now school supplies and necessities. It makes life more difficult and the excitement of a new school year just a bit less exciting. School hasn't even started and Family Resource Centers are already receiving calls for assistance. I will say that families are looking forward to a schedule and the rhythm that fall provides and perhaps a short breather from high utility bills. There is comfort in predictability. The unpredictable, that's the problem...... those pesky things that interrupt our plans. We all have experienced unexpected car or home repairs, unforeseen medical situations, lost hours due to illness, or reduced hours at work. At this time in our society "skimmed" debit cards or credit card fraud is often a problem. While in the end funds are returned there may be a delay of up to 10 days. Of course there are other factors that come into play - lack of education, history of felony conviction, domestic violence, divorce, lack of modeling financial strategy and poor choices. Asking for help is a difficult option, maybe a last resort, but Good Neighbors is here to help. Offering resources, problem solving and encouragement we strive to make a difference and support our neighbors in need. We are here to serve with one on one listening and with compassion. That's predictable! From where I sit, that 's an amazing blessing! Lisa J |
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Stories of Hope & Changed Lives...
Cindy is a survivor of domestic violence and had been living in a safe house. She and her two very young children were ready to move into a place of their own. With a steady income and limited child support they will make it fine. The struggle is how to save for and cover utility deposits so she can move into her new place. Cindy will continue regular contact with her case manager and plans to move in a few days. Good Neighbors was able to offer some additional resources to help with food, connected the family with the Family Resource Center in the county school system and made a referral to John3O for help with some household items. GN, through SURE funds, was able to cover the utility and rental deposits. Cindy and her two children now have a safe and affordable housing arrangement. What a difference for this family!
Times are hard and choices are tough. One impulsive decision can start a major upset in someone's plans. Moving in to a trailer seemed like a great idea for this soon to be retired couple. It served them well with enough space and privacy. However the utility bills were enormous and a water leak, unrepaired by the landlord, made the utility bill much larger. After a few months of unresolved negotiations with the landlord, the choice to rent the trailer seemed like a bad decision. The landlord was irritated with constant complaints and decided to break the lease. So what seemed like a great idea at the time turned into a crisis! Marge and John decided to think through the choices more carefully this time and did their homework. Marge has gone back to work at two part time jobs and John is working some as well. They located a house near John's work. Much closer into town, he can even walk to work which saves lots of gasoline money (he drives an old car). The rental deposits were paid and the new landlord was willing for them to move in a few days early. However the new utility deposit was much larger than expected. SURE funds allowed Good Neighbors to cover the utility deposit and Marge and John were able to make the move over a weekend while they were off. Other referrals - food pantries, Welcome Table and CAA were also helpful.
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