Community Services touch many lives

Recently, we helped a family with 6 children who moved to North Platte. The children are all below the age of 8. 

He is a disabled vet and with a limited income. She is working with Arbor program and also with me on job search. 

They are trying to get on the housing list to stay in their current location because it has 5 bedrooms. It is very difficult to find even a 4 bedroom rental in North Platte. 

As we start to work on her resume, it seems that her spirit has picked up and she is smiling and having more confidence. 

That’s all for now, but I want to encourage each of you, because what we are doing and saying does make a difference. 

"Helping People, Changing Lives  "

Helping After The Diagnosis

Annie and John, an elderly couple both retired and on a fixed income, had spent the last month in a hospital in Omaha due to Annie’s recent diagnosis with cancer and Chemotherapy treatment.  While at the hospital, John had to spend some of what little money they had on lodging, fuel and food; running them low on funds designated for their monthly utility and housing costs. They could not return to a home with no heat and John found himself trying stretch the little money they had left. 

     Finally he contacted Community Action to see about getting some assistance.  John and Annie both stopped in with hospital discharge papers and Doctors orders on hand to prove their need.  The elderly couple lives in a mobile home which uses propane as the main heat source.  With our help and a combination of what little money the couple had left and Salvation Army funds, this couple was able to afford their heating bill for the month helping to make their living situation a bit more comfortable. 

"Helping People, Changing Lives"
   Community Services Program 

          Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska

With a little help - -

Rose & Sam were an older couple. They had always worked hard & never expected help from others, but when Sam became sick, it was hard for the couple to keep up with all of the bills.

After several months of Rose struggling to keep up with the bills on just her income, she relented and came into our office for help.

At first it was just for food, but eventually, they needed more help. With United Way funds, we were able to keep their electricity on, & soon after, Sam was able to return to work.

We have not seen the couple since, but are certainly hoping that all is well with them & that things continue to go well.

Community Service Coordinator - Lexington

Dream Home

Vickie had dreamed of owning her own home, but for several reasons in the past, she was never able to.  By chance, she came upon an affordable home that while it was small and needed some fixing, was sturdy.  Vickie was on a fixed income, because of her disability, and was unable to come up with the deposit money to get the utilities on.  With help from United Way funds, we were able to get the utilities on for her.  We were also able to refer her to our Weatherization program for her home.  Vickie was almost in tears by the time we were done helping her.  She had never really thought that home ownership was going to be something that she could do and so when at last everything was falling in place, it was a bit overwhelming for her.  We saw her not too long ago and everything was still going well.  The help we give doesn’t have to be huge.  Sometimes just a small amount can mean a whole lot.

Martha Penaflor Community Services Coordinator
Lexington