The People we Serve: Resourceful, Kind, Funny and generous
Community Service of Newburyport Pam Gray gave an impassioned talk at our annual fundraising breakfast last week about what our organization does and what it means to clients.
Thank you so much for joining our breakfast this morning. I am fortunate to have worked with Community Service for almost two years now. The reason I'm here is because I believe in giving back to our community. I trust that is why you are here as well. Today I will share some first-hand glimpses of who we serve and the difference we can make.
“Poverty is lonely and isolating and prevents people from accessing the support we all can provide.”
`— Pam Gray
First, let me say that the people we serve are incredibly resourceful, kind, funny and generous; people are who they are regardless of income!
Let me start with Brenda (names changed of course!). I met her recently when she discovered CSN through a flyer. She is nearly 70 years old with a debilitating illness which restricts her to a wheelchair 90% of the time. She inherited her home from her parents, who were lifelong residents in our area. Brenda left college in her 20's to care for her older sister who was dying from cancer. In her mid 40's, Brenda began caring for her ailing parents, each of whom lived into their 90's. Her entire life was working and caregiving.
She became ill in her 50's and finds herself alone, trying to maintain the family home. Brenda receives SSI and food stamps. Her home is aging and needs the usual upgrades-heating system, the roof, etc
Why, you may ask, doesn't she downsize to a condo or apt? Simply, she can't afford to. She has no mortgage but has property taxes that are rising every year. She is unable to work, and her social support system is nonexistent. She is alone and struggling to make ends meet. She had a life of opportunity which became a life of caring for her family and now she needs someone to help care for her.
How can CSN help her?? How can YOU help her? She needs assistance with utility bills and help with groceries. Food stamps do not cover many necessities such as adult incontinence products, toilet paper, and prepared foods for those, like Brenda, who are challenged to cook for themselves. You cannot buy a rotisserie chicken with food stamps! She has urgent dental needs that she cannot afford.
Poverty is lonely and isolating and prevents people from accessing the support we all can provide.
The second family I'll share with you is Lina and her 3 children. Lina escaped a relationship of DV over 6 years ago with her then, young children. She is a bright and caring mother. She utilized the services of Jeannie Geiger and DV shelters until she secured subsidized housing in our area.
Her journey has required utmost care as her abuser's family members hold jobs in state and local government offices-places where you apply for benefits and housing. Her children's pediatrician must be on guard from his efforts to access dates of his children's appts. This all requires a lot of physical, mental and emotional energy. Lina was ecstatic when she learned she obtained housing in our area. Her family would be in a new, safe and clean apartment! Sadly, she has been met with judgement and disapproval from other residents and housing staff alike.
She is poor, she doesn't have new clothes, and she is a woman of color. People look her up and down and shake their heads at her. Lina said to me, " l know I don't look like them. They think I don't belong here. But I don't bother anyone. I know I'm poor and I don't matter to them". Her concerns with her new housing (constant smoke in the building, nasty notes on her door) are met with dismissal and offers to leave at her own cost. Her voice is not respected as yours or mine would be.
In addition, she has a life-threatening illness and has nearly fainted in our office when coming to pick up essential personal care items. Because of her illness, she cannot work. Amidst all these struggles, Lina recently turned to me and asked: "If anything happens to me, (meaning if she dies) can my kids call you?" My heart broke. They, too, are isolated due to poverty and the constant threat of being found by Lina's abuser. Relocation takes money.
How has CSN assisted? Aside from providing personal care items and food, we have purchased medically necessary meal replacements for Lina. Medicaid doesn't cover it. We paid for driver's education so that her daughter can drive Lina to medical appointments-often in Boston. We have partnered with other helping agencies to assist her daughter pay for certification for job training. We sponsored her twin boys to attend summer camp for 2 weeks, providing them with the opportunity to grow and develop friendships.
The stories are endless, and they are both tragic and inspiring. We helped a client obtain an out of state birth certificate so that he could get an ID and get a job. When you are living out of your car, it's challenging to accomplish these tasks without assistance.
I'd like to read a thank you note from a client in West Newbury. Car repairs are key to the assistance we offer, supporting a family to get groceries, drive to medical appointments and to get to work!
Finally, we also have clients who come back after moving out of the area to say hello and thank you! They come back with news of their new jobs, their enrollment in school and their stable housing.
They return to CSN and offer to volunteer, to give back, to pay it forward so to speak. I like to believe this is because we have created a safe environment where people are welcomed with dignity and respect. Your support is greatly appreciated and is critical to our work.