​Last November, many of the older adults who come to our centers suddenly went without their SNAP food benefits. Our community answered right away. Neighbors gave about $4,000, and our staff turned it into grocery cards that went straight into members’ hands that same month.

 

We learned something very important from that week: help works best when it’s ready before it’s needed. This led to us creating the Hardship Fund.

 

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The Hardship Fund gives our Social Services team a dedicated, year-round way to help members through a short-term crisis so they can stay in their homes with the primary focus being on food. This includes:

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• Grocery cards when a member’s food runs short

• Home-delivered meals while other help is on the way

• Help with benefits, including applying for and keeping SNAP and energy assistance

• Emergency utility help to keep the heat and lights on through a hard winter

 

We pay utilities and vendors directly whenever we can. Every gift to the Hardship Fund is used only for this purpose.