GRACE was formed in this community almost 40 years ago to be a safety net for those who just need a bit of a hand to get by. But we also, occasionally, get the opportunity to help the helpers.
This past month, we met such a client. He and his wife came in for rental, utility, and assistance with their internet bill. But that was just part of the story. This client had been facing medical challenges and battling stage 3 cancer. His weekly chemo treatments have depleted his energy and ability to care for himself to a level where his wife is no longer able to work because he needs full-time care. Despite this battle they were facing together, they had also just been given full custody of their two grandchildren. They had been doing the best that they could to manage, but now with the addition of their grandchildren, finances were strained. Their only source of income during this time had been social security and that amount had just barely covered rent, utilities and his health insurance.
There is a program opening soon that should help them cover his health insurance costs and the client believes that once that happens, while things will be tight, they will be manageable. But until that program comes through, they needed GRACE.
Through our partnerships GRACE was able to bring their bills current, give them clothing packets and coats for their grandchildren, access to the food pantry twice a month, and went ahead and issued holiday assistance. The hope of our clients and their care manager is that by covering these things, they will be able to build up their finances so the path forward will feel smoother. They didn’t ask for this, but GRACE had the ability to not only provide assistance, but be a blessing for the future, and we were honored to do so.
