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

Single Mom In Need

Audrey was referred to Community Action Partnerhship of Mid-Nebraska late in August 2010, unable to pay her rent. Audrey is a 21 year old single mom, with a full time job, a child under a year old, with no child support.  Audrey’s hours had been cut and she felt the only option left to pay bills was to get a cash advance.  By the time we met she was visiting 3 cash advance places every payday and falling farther behind.

Over the past 5 months we have worked closely together, sometimes meeting twice a week.  Several funding sources have pitched in to help with rent and utilities.  It seems each time she nears self-sufficiency; there is another bump in the road.  Since meeting, Audrey has had her wages garnished and bank account emptied, and has faced large car repair, along with a worker’s comp claim for carpal tunnel.

Audrey remains positive and dedicated to being ‘debt free’, meticulously following a budget!  She has a high desire to succeed in all areas of life and has taken advantage of Financial Peace Classes and has completed the Food Education Program through UNL.  Audrey has applied to the Early Head Start program in hopes of giving her wonderful son a jumpstart on life while reducing her enormous daycare expenses.

Without the varied resources available and our continued contact, Audrey told me she would “just give up.”  Thank you to all who support Community Action, each of you play a very important part in

         Helping People and Changing Lives. 

Funding Cuts to Essential Program Services

Federal Budget Proposes Cuts to

Essential Program Services

President Obama has released his Fiscal Year 2012 budget that substantially reduces Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding. This funding is crucial in providing essential community based resources provided by Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska (Mid) to a 27 county area service area in south central and south west Nebraska.

Community Services Block Grant funding is used to support innovative and needed community programs. Reduction in funding will leave rural families and senior citizens isolated and unable to access many need resources. The Community Services Block Grant helps support several programs including:

• Food Rescue
• Financial Literacy
• Health Services
• Small Business Development
• Free Tax Preparation
• Senior Centers
• Homeless Prevention Assistance

In a rural area, Community Action may be the only source of help for working families and those struggling through uncertain economic times. This loss of funding will leave our area and its residents without a vital resource.

Last year, Mid provided services to 22,193 unduplicated individuals in 9,088 households. For every CSBG dollar, our agency leveraged $6.17 from state, local, and private sources, including the value of volunteer hours. Karen K. Lueck, Chief Executive Officer for Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska states “A reduction in Community Service Block Grant funding would devastate our ability to provide economic security and stability for rural Nebraskans. We fully support responsible fiscal stewardship but these projected cuts will put already vulnerable populations at an even greater risk.”

Just to be Warm & Safe

A client who is in an abusive relationship came to the office recently in need of housing & food. During the search for housing we helped her make contact with the landlord for low income housing. Fortunately there was an apartment that had come available that day. As we continued to work on helping her on the first month’s rent deposit, a local person called wanting to donate money to help someone in need. Everything started coming together for the client, & you could see her spirits being lifted. As she was without transportation, the client now had a ½ mile walk to work from her new apartment. The same hour a new warm heavy coat was donated to our office. What an amazing day for the client who had felt so down. Watching her walk out of the office with her head up and smiling, we knew we had helped her struggles become a little easier.

Family Development Programs

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

Why we do what we do

Cheryl MacDonald, EWM Outreach Worker, shared a story about a woman who came in and was enrolled for the Every Woman Matters program.  Most of the women who sign up for EWM receive a good report.  This woman did not and after surgery, chemotherapy, and scheduled radiation, the doctors are hopeful for a full recovery.  She came back to the office to present Cheryl with a special doll and to tell her that she feels that the Every Woman Matters program saved her life.  The doll is a symbol of hope, faith, and amazing strength of will.  This special doll will reside in Cheryl’s office as a reminder that we should all be thankful and never take the precious gift of life for granted.  Well done, Cheryl, and all who reach out and touch those we serve. 

                                                                                                     

This is just one of so many success stories that you could tell and should tell.  What you do does make a difference in the lives of children and families.  I am proud of each and every one of you for what you do everyday to help people and change lives.  

HEAD START WELCOMES EARLY HEAD START SERVICES

Head Start, a program of Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska, has opened a brand new Early Head Start facility at 601A Central Avenue in Kearney. Center Based services began on Monday, January 17 th, while weekly home based visits began in August 2010. The newly renovated facility will have its Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Thursday, February 10 th at 4:00pm. The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting and interested individuals may tour the facility immediately following the ribbon cutting.

Early Head Start is funded to provide comprehensive services to 48 pregnant women, infants and toddlers. Seven Early Childhood teachers provide center based services to 28 participants in four infant/toddler classrooms, while the remaining 20 participants are provided weekly home visits by two EHS family educators. The objective of the Early Head Start program is to enhance the cognitive, social and emotional development of income eligible children through the provision of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social and other services and to involve parents in their children’s learning and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals.

Lois Butler, Head Start/Early Head Start Director states, “The years from birth to age 3 are absolutely critical in human development. Early Head Start is designed to complement Head Start, which serves preschoolers. This seamless 0 – 5 service model will benefit children long term.

Early Head Start enhances children’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development while helping parents with the goal of achieving self sufficiency through the family partnership and goal setting process. EHS creates an environment that builds upon and responds to the unique strengths and needs of each child and family, including: high quality early education, home visits, parent education, comprehensive health services, nutrition, and ongoing support to parents through case management and peer support groups. For enrollment or volunteer opportunities, please call (308) 865-5026.

Meredith Collins

Planning Director

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska