Heart Story: Struggle and Hope

This story was submitted by Melissa Self who works in Maternity Support Services at Community Action:

Earlier this year, I worked with a young first-time mom, Sara*, and her infant, Alex*. The father had been sent to drug rehab for heroin addiction. Sara and Alex were temporarily staying with friends with the expectation that she would move out once the Alex’s father was released from rehab. She had no friends other than the people she lives with, and although her family lived in a neighboring county, but they are not supportive as they have many issues of their own.

In addition to receiving services through Community Action, Sara was also connected into WorkSource, and was receiving some support from her case worker at DSHS. She eventually got a part-time job and Alex was enrolled into childcare program. Sara did not have a car so she walked all over town, pushing Alex in a stroller or used the bus for transportation.

I often still see her pushing Alex in the stroller all over town to appointments with case workers and to attend classes.

Despite multiple challenges, Sara was always on time for her appointments in the office and would follow through on any tasks or referrals. Melissa helped her fill out housing paperwork and got her on the waiting list for our agency’s family shelter. She was able to listen to her concerns and frustrations; Sara seemed to look forward to their visits, even though Melissa couldn’t solve all of her problems.

Melissa saw the couple in the office the other day, checking in about some shelter possibilities. Sara always has a smile for Melissa thought the stress of Sara and her boyfriend have not found permanent housing yet. In addition, Sara’s boyfriend has had a difficult time finding a job in this current economy. It is our hope that the connection Sara made during her visits to Community Action has given her hope and that she feels she has somewhere to go when she needs help or someone to listen.

*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.

Volunteers donate toiletry items in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

The ARRA AmeriCorps team gathered 450 donated toiletry items January 18, 2010 for the Oasis Teen Shelter and the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter. Team members had earlier decorated boxes and placed them in stores across Skagit County. The event was one of several AmeriCorps members produced honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Melissa Kelsay (left) Mary Evitt and Katja Gottbrect number among ARRA AmeriCorps members dividing donations for the Teen Oasis Shelter and the Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter.

Dave Shields (left) and Katja Gottbrecht counting donated toiletries.

Helping unload toiletries at the Teen Oasis Shelter are Justin Krupa, case manager, and Mike McMurry, Americorps member.

East County Angel Tree

This story was submitted by Lou Hillman, our Community Resource Coordinator at SCCAA's satalite office in Concrete:

From all of us at the East County Resource Center in Concrete want to thank our community for taking part in our "First Annual Angel Tree Holiday Celebration".

There were 113 children from our community in need of a little helping hand this past Christmas. In response, we hung tags with the child’s name and age on an "Angel Tree” in the Resource Center located at the library. The folks at the Town of Concrete Town Hall helped spread the word and in a few short weeks, community members came in droves and brought back lovely gifts for these little "angels". Towards the end of our deadline, there were only a few names left and with the cash donations from several anonymous donors, we were able to make sure that each child had a gift under the tree!

Vicki Dinkins, our new Department of Licensing/Chamber manager came up with the idea and supervised the event. She did a wonderful job of keeping us organized and focused.

Special thanks to so many that opened their hearts in the spirit of Christmas!! Word spread of our little project and our community came together in what was a magical moment. Richard Frank donated boxes of stocking stuffers as did Rose Weaver, John Hendrickson and the Sheriff's office donated brand new bicycles and gobs of brand new teddy bears in need of a loving new home. The Lions Club donated cash to help with the extra gifts needed.

Toys for Tots and the Marine Corps League, Detachment #1043 has requested we shout out an enormous thank you to the community for helping to make many Christmas wishes come true. Toys for Tots representative Murle Brown and his wife Kay, of the Resource Center were amazing Christmas elves.

We plan on having an "Angel Tree" again next year, and plan tol start a little earlier in the season; so get ready East County! Suggestions, ideas and donations will always be welcome!

Thank you all so very much for the outpouring of love, generosity and caring we all saw this year. It truly "takes a village....."

In appreciation to our wonderful community!!!

Lou Hillman, Resource Center Coordinator
Vicki Dinkins, DOL-Chamber Manager
Kay Brown, AmeriCorp Volunteer
Gaylyn Harrington, Resource Center Technician

Heart Story: Single Father

This story was submitted by Amy George, Food Access Program Coordinator located at our Mount Vernon office:

Recently, I assisted a single father who had just lost his job. He had full custody of his three children and was trying to provide a stable home environment with the $2,200 per month he received on unemployment. While that may seem like a lot to some, his mortgage payment was nearly $1600 per month. His budget also included the standard water, sewer, garbage, natural gas, electric, and phone bills. In addition, his children were not covered by health insurance. By the time he left my office, I assisted in getting him connected with Basic Food, Energy Assistance, and Apple Health for Kids (a health insurance program for children).

These are just some of the programs that are available to individuals and families who are faced with challenges such as these. Our mission here at Skagit County Community Action Agency is to foster and advocate for self-sufficiency among low-income people in Skagit County.

HOUSING PROGRAM CHRISTMAS PARTY

On Friday, December 11, 2009, the Housing Program of Skagit County Community Action Agency hosted a Christmas party at Crossroads Covenant Church on Pease Road in Burlington for its clients and their families.

Activities at the party included a pot luck turkey dinner, a raffle for the adults, a giveaway of the knitted hats donated by Mount Vernon Manor House residents and crafts for the children, who also were able to choose one gift from a box of donated toys, as well as a Christmas story reading for the youngest.

In the past 12 months, the Housing Program has helped provide emergency shelter to 178 people in sixty one families and nearly 100% of those families have moved on to permanent housing. The Transitional Housing Program worked with over 58 families and the Housing Program has been working hard to establish Skagit Housing Connections. This “One Stop” homeless service center has offered housing assistance and case management to more than 500 individuals since January of 2009.

Donations from the public have provided clothes, food, transportation, even a full week of summer camp to 15 children, as well as helped to stock the new William J. Shuler Family Development Center. Thank you for your support!

“SENIOR HOOKERS” DONATE KNIT CAPS

The “Senior Hookers”, a knit and crochet group from Mount Vernon Manors apartments, is a group of talented older adults who have been knitting and crocheting “Caps for Kids” all summer long with the goal of donating those caps to needy Skagit County children.

The members of the “Senior Hookers” are Laura Cabrera, Yrene Corona, Flo D’Amelio, Minta Holland, Judy Lemon, Coleen Renfro, Anna Rogers, Darnica Shanna, Gregory Strafford, Maria Vasquez, Eva Villalobos and Deborah Moskowitz, Resident Services Coordinator.

The group recently donated their collection of 122 caps to Skagit County Community Action Agency for distribution to the community. For more information contact Susan Rowe at susanr@skagitcap.org or 360-416-7585.

Skagit Literacy

Assembled in the Skagit County Commissioner's Hearing Room, over fifty community leaders and learners struggled to hold back tears as one of Skagit Literacy's GED students, Porfiria Mendiola, read her moving story. She began by describing how a stressful childhood left little time or energy for school. Although she faced difficult domestic and relational situations, her story closed with a beautiful account of a transformed family and a renewed freedom to pursue education. After a few other emotional readings and comments by students, teachers and even State Senator Kevin Ranker, the Skagit County Commissioners proclaimed October 19th - 24th as Adult Literacy Week. The special recognition of this week has been a statewide effort for the past 5 years.

As part of the Adult Literacy Week event, Skagit Literacy and Skagit Valley College published a booklet containing 106 essays written by students enrolled in English language classes at the college and through Skagit Literacy. Those essays were judged and three winners received $100 awards and read their essays to the gathered assembly in the County Commissioner’s Hearing Room.

The students whose essays were awarded this years prizes are Porfiria Mendiola, Dolores Garcia and Benita Jaramillo, pictured above receiving their award certificates from State Senator Kevin Ranker and Skagit County Commissioners Ken Dahltstedt, Ron Wesen and Sharon Dillon.

After the students read their essays, a warm celebration full of engaging conversation and creative hors d'ourves followed with Senator Ranker presenting the students certificates, shaking hands and chatting between camera flashes.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges states that with "more than 1 million adults in Washington State lack[ing] the basic education skills they need to succeed in an increasingly complicated world" the need for adult literacy is quite evident. For the last ten years Skagit Literacy, a part of Skagit County Community Action Agency, has been working towards this goal of increased literacy with diverse programs ranging from GED (general education diploma) to classes for English language learners. If you feel passionate about this effort and would be interested in volunteering or supporting Skagit Literacy, contact Rachel Mehl, the Volunteer Literacy Program Coordinator at (360) 416-7585 or rachelm@skagitcap.org. She offers a volunteer information session on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6pm.

For more information on adult literacy visit the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges website.