For over twenty years, Sheila worked at the same fast food restaurant, making salads for little more than minimum wage. After all that time, she earned just a dollar an hour more than the day she started. When a cut in her hours brought her to Crisis Assistance Ministry seeking assistance, her path began to change.

Angel and Tony earned trips to sleepaway camp through the Bruce Irons Camp Fund. But with their mom already struggling to make ends meet, the long supply list was a bit daunting. Fortunately, they were able to shop at the Free Store for flashlights, swimsuits, pajamas, towels, water shoes, toiletries, summer clothes, and more.

When his rent went up to just $33 less than his entire monthly income,  Jeff  joined the ranks of our city’s chronically  homeless. For the next 14 months, he made his home in a tent in the woods.  He didn’t know what else to do.  He couldn’t afford market rent on his disability income, and the waiting lists were so long to get into subsidized housing for seniors or individuals with disabilities.

When her husband walked out on her, Patricia and her 15-year-old son Jamil were plunged into an unfamiliar world of financial distress. Fully disabled after a surgical mistake years earlier, Patricia had relied on the income from her husband’s job to pay the mortgage and other bills. Left with only her monthly Social Security disability payments, she soon found the situation unmanageable.

Wendy first visited Crisis Assistance Ministry for help  decades ago when her children were small.  Today, she is a member of the agency’s Board of Directors. Watch the video and listen as she shares how your support changed her family’s future.

Since a degenerative bone condition left her unable to work, Gaylene has been making ends meet with disability and social security income. Gaylene’s power was scheduled for disconnection until your support provided an emergency payment directly to the power company to make sure she could return to a warm apartment.