tree line = proofOnce again we were with the Lutheran Social Services Mobile Food Pantry and we were slammed. It's obviously unnerving to see that many people in dire need, but if they're out there, it's great that they're seeing us.
I had an elderly client who was living on a fixed income of under $500 a month. She wasn't on food stamps. She didn't know about utility assistance or the summer cooling program. She was paying $96 a month in Medicare premiums that she didn't need to pay for. I mean, if you're forced to look on the bright side, she had her Golden Buckeye card and was registered to vote. But beyond that, she was horribly under served in terms of benefits. So it was nice to talk to her.
It's rare that we see someone like that. We get a lot of people who were recently laid off or have some benefits but don't know about one or two programs from an unfamiliar office. Seeing someone who was eligible for almost everything but had almost nothing was eye opening. It's not just about getting people to apply, it's still about getting people to know. (And knowledge is power!)
And we'll be back on the road with Lutheran Social Services after the State Fair. As always, we look forward to it.
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