Submitted by Meghan Keaney A... on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 2:52pm.
Real People who have been helped by United Way (names changed to protect privacy)
Basic Needs
Mary was working two jobs. She lost her second job and then the hours on her first job were cut. Mary had already found a new job but was behind one month's rent during the time that she was unemployed. Assistance from the Community Support Fund helped Mary pay towards the rental arrearage. These funds allowed intervention early enough that client was able to avoid an eviction action in court. Mary lives with her partner and their child. It is likely that Mary and her family would have ended up in the shelter system. Instead, through the Community Support Fund and negotiation with the landlord, the family retained their housing and avoided homelessness.
Monique has been working in the social services field for many years. With the downturn in the economy, she was laid off from her job. She has four children - one of them is asthmatic and as a result has used a nebulizer. Because of his medical condition, Monique had a protected account with her utility company which has means that her electricity could not be shut-off. Even though that was the case, Monique was faithful about making monthly payments although she was never able to afford the full amount. Over the past few months, her son has graduated from a nebulizer to an inhaler. As a result, her electric account is no longer protected. She had to pay half of her balance to avoid shut-off immediately and needed to set up a payment plan for the other half. United Way's CSF was instrumental in helping Monique and her family pay off some of the account and make arrangements with the utility company to avoid shut-off.
Barbara is a single mother living in Braintree who lost her job in November. She was already behind on her rent so her landlord went to court and evicted her and her four children. Finding themselves homeless, the Barbara and her children had been staying with different friends and family until the week before Christmas. Barbara tried to apply for shelter but with her unemployment and her child support she made too much money for benefits, so she had been paying for a hotel room. She was able to find a landlord willing to rent an apartment to her, but Barbara did not have enough savings to cover the first month's rent. The CSF assisted Barbara with the first months rent and she and her children were able to move into the apartment.
Andre (79 years old) became homeless for the first time in his life 8 years ago. At the age of 71 he found himself at Pine Street Inn seeking shelter and other resources. He was overwhelmed by the environment of the shelter, and was quickly referred to the Elders Living at Home Program for case management services. Andre’s case was complicated, as he had lived in the U.S. since he was 16 years old, but did not have a legal immigration status.
In working with Andre, it became clear that his story was unique. Andre had come to the U.S. in 1946, after World War II. He was 16 years old at the time, and had spent the previous 4 years in Mathausen, a concentration camp in Austria. Andre is French, and he and his family were taken by the Nazis to this camp and charged with being part of the French Resistance. His entire family was killed in the camp.
At the end of the war, Andre was rescued by the Red Cross and brought to the United States. He has worked as a chef throughout the country for most of his life. It was only as Andre became older, with debilitating health issues, that he found himself less able to work. He had spent all of his savings, and with no “official” status in the country, he found himself with few options. It was then he became homeless.
After 2 years of extensive case management to address his complex immigration situation, Andre had finally obtained enough documentation to enable him to get his Permanent Resident Alien status. He was also able to find housing in a building specifically for elders. Andre has lived there successfully for 6 years and is part of a community that cares about him.
Andre is now at a crossroads in regards to his health. Due to the lack of healthcare he received while in the concentration camp as a youth, Andre suffers from a myriad of health issues and he receives limited MassHealth due to his status as a Permanent Resident Alien. He now has the chance to become a Naturalized Citizen of the United States. As such, he is eligible for Social Security benefits and a more comprehensive healthcare plan through MassHealth. Andre will now be able to access homecare services and will be able to live independently longer. He will also be able to transition either to an Assisted Living facility or a Nursing Home when appropriate.
Emergency assistance funds from the United Way have been vital to Andre’s ability to improve his life. Without help from the Community Support Fund, he would not be able to afford the $595 fee to apply for Naturalization. It is only through the generosity of the United Way of Mass Bay and its donors that Andre will be able to have access to the resources he needs for stability in his housing. On behalf of Andre and MBHP, we send our grateful appreciation of your support.
Youth
Larry was a 6th grader last year and his mother was concerned about what she would do with him during the summer. She is a single parent with four other children. The prior summer he was sent with his father to New York City, where he was to be in program for the summer. Unfortunately , that did not materialize ; he instead spent his summer inside a New York apartment, afraid to go out and no options for programs. We gave her a campership for the summer where he could participate in a variety of programs (internet safety,healty choices,athletics, swimming,crafts, and discussion groups).
Halfway through the summer Larry was having issues at home around anger. His mother made an appointment with a psychologist which Larry refused to go when his mother came to pick him up. This was a side of Laryy we had not seen before. The staff spoke to Larry and his mother ( she allowed the staff to speak with him about his reasons for not wanting to go) and eventually he agreed to go and try it. He continued to go for the rest of the summer, sometimes hesitantly, and he began speaking to one of the counselors about his issues ( a counselor who had mentored him in the past). He is now a full participant in our programs year round and the counselor continues to mentor him.
Without the funding from the United Way, we would not have been able to offer as many camperships as we did and Larry may have been one that was denied.
E.L. is a charming young eight-year-old girl that started attending the YWCA's City Camp two years ago referred to us through the Department of Social Services. She came to us diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome- sometimes described as a high functioning form of Autism. She was bright, polite, respectful, but quite shy, and her parents were supportive looking for a small camp setting where she could get some help with her social skills.
Obtaining addtional infromation from E.L's parents, as well as doing some research on Asperger's Syndrome, City Camp counselors gained insight into the behaviors they might expect, as well as strategies to help her integrate into the camp setting. With our small ratio of campers to staff, E.L. quickly became a counselor favorite. They designed activities to encourage her to get to know her other camp mates, and to help her camp mates include her in the activities they engaged in. They helped E.L. to shine as she used her intellect to solve camp challenges, and demonstarted her exceptional reading ability during reading time. She also demonstrated a high level of energy as she became more involved in the Camp's active games.
In speaking with E.L.'s parents on a regukar basis at the bus stop,we always received glowing reports that E.L. would talk about all the fun she had at camp each day. E.L.'s mother calls us in late winter wanting to be certain that E.L will be able to attend camp again each year. In fact, she has a second daughter that she also sent to camp in 2008, who also had Asperger's Syndrome. E.L's parents indicated that Camp has brought some "normalcy" for both their children during the summertime, as well as some needed respite for them,
Jacinta has been comming to the club since the age of 6. She is an exceptional 6th grade student at the Daley Middle School. She is the youngest of four siblings being rasied by a single mom who came to the U.S. from Nigeria. Jacinta's family is very supportive and appericiative of the club. Jacinta is self-motivated and disciplined. At the club she studies in the Learning Center for 90 minutes before heading to the gym or the cafe for a snack. She ends her day in the Tech Center where she has been chosen to particpate in Clay Tech & Photoshop. Jacinta is a rsing star who hopes to be a fashion designer. With the guidance of staff members Frank & Dave, Jacinta is honing her computer skills to achieve her career dreams.
Samantha, previous attendee:" I enrolled in MRT" Young Artist At Play's summer theatre program four years ago and going on 5. When I had first heard about the program I was a little nervous about meeting new people and how they were going to accept me. I quiclky made new friends and I still talk to them today. Ever since I can remeber I always wanted to act . Acting is my passion! Being on stage makes me feel so powerful and well respected . Before YAAP, I had always been nervous perfroming in front of other people. I only thought that becuase I thought i woulld make a fool out of myself. But ever since I met YAAP directors Wendy and Emily, that all changed. They both taught me that MRT everyone will laugh with you, not at you! They also taught me that there is never a perfect momentin acting. You would just go with the flow Whenever I would mess up Wendy and Emily would tell us to say ' I messed up and I am proud!' There is never a dull moment at MRT! Everyday our directors and musical directors come in the theatre with a lot of energy! If i had a rough morning and I was not feeling good , I would just see their smiling faces and I would smile. I absolutely love it there! It's my home away from home. This porgram has helped me in other arenas such as my academic work and at my dance studio. In school I have been reading the part of Anne Frank and everyone laughs when i get into chacater. It doesnt bother me, I am good at it. Also , I perfromed in a Christams Concert at school and I had a solo and I was't nervous at all. I am as of right now a part of Pied Piper perfromed at the Academy of Perfroming Arts New Engalnd in Chelmsford Center. I am playing the part of Cassie MacDonald who is the leading lady. I eventually hope to see myself on Broadway. Every teacher I have had said to me " Send me tickets when you get to Broadway. I hope you conquer your dreams." I would like to thank the sponsor of the YAAP program for letting me attend this wonderful and exciting program."
There are many success stories, both indiviual and program. This story involves a new program that began in 2008 in our Occupational Therapy Program; the "Paul Mart". A pilot program implementing a retail envrionment was instituted that exposed students as customers and employees of a store. As a customer a student was given the choice of purchasing an item, paying for it and reciving change. Students learned tha sometimes items that they want cost more thna the allotted money they received. They learned to save their money to buy an item at a later date. As an employee, the student was exposed to recording items purchased, reciving money and making change. At the annual Family Day event the students proudly manned the store and sold bakery items and small office supplies to family members. The new program was so well received that it will be expanded in 2009.
Chandara is an ethnic Chinese/Vietnamese who grew up in Cambodia and came to the U.S. five years ago. A number of Asian children in VAG have lived in refugee camps. VAG's Artbotics program sparked his early interest in computers and the made clear the correlation between technology and art . He is now enrolled at UMass Lowell where he majors in computer sceince . Chan said that he will always use art in his work. His sense of community service was also finely honed in VAG. He knowns four languages and speaks to everyone with poise and confidence about the benefits of the VAG program. He initiates ways to serve the group , such as supporting the teacher and other newer students. He has devloped two Facebook groups for VAG to facilitate instant communication between members.
T. came to Vandgurdian Art Group(VAG) at age 15. Raised by a single mother, he learned at a young age to find his way and survive in the world. VAG allowed him an opportunity to expresshis social concerns through art and to exhibit his work in public . After he left VAG, he enrolled in Loyola Univeristy in Louisiana in Fine Arts. He chose the school in part becuase of its proximity to New Orleans , where he could help rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina. Every summer, he has returned to TRM to mentor and encorage newer members. He knows the value of TRM and its VAG program, forit has become like family to him. He has a strong social conscience and is planning to live life his life in service to others. He revised his studies to reflect that ethic and will be minoring in Latin American studies next year.
Johnny's time in VAG, he was both mentored and a mentor to younger students. As a result of his activities as a videographer for VAG,he became a self-employed independent videographer and contracted with TRM. He stayed in school, graduated and was admitted to Massachusetts College of Art . He found his classes easy- in part becuase he could coinceptualize projects and think in 3-D. He was offered two competitive work-study jobs, one in videography and the other in mueseum constriction, becuase he had the skills and experience.
Michael has always dreamed about being a fashion designer. However, he had no idea how to get into the field... that is, until he joined VAG. He was taken to a Portfolio Day at the New York Fashion Institute of Technology . Previously, he didn't know it existed, but now he has a clear knowledge of how to achive his goal.
Megan Age 15:"Before I came to United Teen Equality Center(UTEC) I was having a hard time at school and home, some of my friends were strating to do drugs. I was so frustrated that I was considering droping out of school. I walked into UTEC for the first time and got right to work painting on a wall in the new teen center. That afternoon at UTEC we also attended an infromational meeting about the Freash Roots farm. Iliked the farm, so I signed up and worked during the fall harvest. I had such a good time That I joined the Freash Roots culinary program during the winter. The staff and all of my new friends at UTEC were there for me, and they saw how hard I was working at home and in the center and showed me why it was so important to stay in school. This spring, I got my first job working here at UTEC. I have also decided that after college , I want to go to law school. I am glad that I found UTEC. I don't want to think about where I would be if I wasn't here."
All the kids that participated in the 2008 SEGL program continued with us in the year round University of Massachusetts Lowell String Project (UML) Children from the Boy's and Girl's Club, who have never been exposed to music before, excelled at the " Creative Sound Play", a component we integrate into the Summer String Camp. Some of them decided to study a String Instrument and ar now a member of the UML String Project.
Lien, 17 years old. Lien was a dancer and youth organizer . Her quote was "During the past summer I learned a lot in Teens Reaching Out. I learned you can still have fun without drugs nad people need to be responsible for their choices."
Alternative House (AH) feels that all of our partcipants achieve great success every day due to high level of support provided and the specialized academic and social team building activities we provide. What is observed on an increasing level each day of the camp are the smiles, extreme happiness and excitement to tell visitors wgat thet have been doing and places they have visited.
The youth we work with usually enter our program, severely traumatized,most either act aggressively on a continuous basis and/or exhibit the other extreme behavior i.e., withdrawn,non-talkative and isolated. The consistency AH provides on-site over a 2-year period of time for our youth truly helps them open up to being happy, thriving children again.
One major success for Spindle City Corps has to be the implementation of the Year Round Spindle City Corps. A continuation of the summer program the 2008-2009 Year Round Program provided 12 teens with employment throughout the school year doing community service based projects, such as sorting clothes at the Wish Project, making cloth Snowmen at Winterfest, and painting benches at Harmoney Park. Like the summer program our partnership with the National Park Service and Youth Outdoor Programming allowed our members to go on a winetr hiking weekend in New Hampshire, and to take part in innovative self-esteem building activities such as rock wal climbing
