A Case History
Case History: Tricia
Tricia is a 31 year old single mother of three who came to us through the TANF work program. In order to keep her benefits she was required to work at the Center at least 20 hours a week or she would be sanctioned. Because of her financial situation and other contributing factors such as no transportation, no telephone, lack of education, and low self-esteem, she did not have the skills required to exit the welfare system. Many of our clients are multi-challenged and women comprise the overwhelming majority.
"She needed a good support structure to help her gain confidence and learn marketable job skills".
The first step that the Center took was to provide food for her through our Emergency Food Program. We also gave her a Clothing Voucher which she could use to purchase clothing in our Thrift Store. Having tended to her physical needs we realized that Tricia needed much more than that. She needed a good support structure to help her gain confidence and learn marketable job skills. Equally important, she needed love, understanding, and compassion
She began working in our Thrift Store as a cashier and also helped prepare meals in the kitchen for our Community Lunch Program. Everyone at the Center encouraged her and Tricia began to reach out to others. Before long we could see a big change come over her. She had a smile on her face and the people that she was interacting with every day began to reach out to her! Through our partnership with McGuire AFB we supplied her with a job application and after she completed it we faxed it directly over to them. They called back and asked her to come in for an interview.
"Through the efforts of the Christian Caring Center another client had been removed from the Welfare System".
I will never forget the look on her face the day she came back from her interview with the news that she was hired. It was a very different Tricia than the one who had walked through our doors a few weeks ago. She was so proud of herself and she eagerly showed everyone her brand new ID card that McGuire had given her. They would even supply her transportation and there were Medical Benefits. Tricia could finally hold her head high because she now had a future to look forward to with her children. Through the efforts of the Christian Caring Center another client had been removed from the Welfare System. And this is only one story. There are many, many more. This is why it is crucial for the Center to be financially able to not only maintain the services we already provide but to expand our services, our building and our Job Training Program. There are hundreds of people like Tricia but we can only provide for their needs if we have the financial stability to impact the growing number of people on the already crowded welfare rolls. Those numbers are staggering! What a difference we could make in the lives of disadvantaged youth and families if only we had the money.
We hope and pray that the Bunbury Foundation will assist us in our efforts to eradicate poverty in the most precious resource this country has……..the American family.
Case History: Tricia
Tricia is a 31 year old single mother of three who came to us through the TANF work program. In order to keep her benefits she was required to work at the Center at least 20 hours a week or she would be sanctioned. Because of her financial situation and other contributing factors such as no transportation, no telephone, lack of education, and low self-esteem, she did not have the skills required to exit the welfare system. Many of our clients are multi challenged and women comprise the overwhelming majority.
The first step that the Center took was to provide food for her through our Emergency Food Program. We also gave her a Clothing Voucher which she could use to purchase clothing in our Thrift Store. Having tended to her physical needs we realized that Tricia needed much more than that. She needed a good support structure to help her gain confidence and learn marketable job skills. Equally important, she needed love, understanding, and compassion
She began working in our Thrift Store as a cashier and also helped prepare meals in the kitchen for our Community Lunch Program. Everyone at the Center encouraged her and Tricia began to reach out to others. Before long we could see a big change come over her. She had a smile on her face and the people that she was interacting with every day began to reach out to her! Through our partnership with McGuire AFB we supplied her with a job application and after she completed it we faxed it directly over to them. They called back and asked her to come in for an interview.
I will never forget the look on her face the day she came back from her interview with the news that she was hired. It was a very different Tricia than the one who had walked through our doors a few weeks ago. She was so proud of herself and she eagerly showed everyone her brand new ID card that McGuire had given her. They would even supply her transportation and there were Medical Benefits. Tricia could finally hold her head high because she now had a future to look forward to with her children. Through the efforts of the Christian Caring Center another client had been removed from the Welfare System. And this is only one story. There are many, many more. This is why it is crucial for the Center to be financially able to not only maintain the services we already provide but to expand our services, our building and our Job Training Program. There are hundreds of people like Tricia but we can only provide for their needs if we have the financial stability to impact the growing number of people on the already crowded welfare rolls. Those numbers are staggering! What a difference we could make in the lives of disadvantaged youth and families if only we had the money.
We hope and pray that the Bunbury Foundation will assist us in our efforts to eradicate poverty in the most precious resource this country has……..the American family.
