Bus ticket for woman stranded in Tennessee - Oct 16, 2015

The daughter of a Summerville woman who regularly attends the Expanding the Table dinners was working in Tennessee with her brother while her children stayed with a grandmother in Summerville.  She and her brother had some trouble with the law while in Tennessee and served a short jail sentence.  Both were anxious to return home to Summerville but needed to attend some counseling classes upon release from jail.  They both thought they had completed all the requirements.  They were stopped by Summerville police one night and a checked indicated that the sister had a warrant in Tennessee for missing a counseling session.  She was extradited back to TN and cleared up the issue in a matter of days but was now stranded in Chattanooga.  The family asked for assistance in getting the young woman back to her children in Summerville.  Change for Dollar paid for a bus ticket from Chattanooga to Summerville.

Bus Ticket – $127.00

Homeless women gets in out of rain storm – Oct 2, 2015

A young Summerville woman who regularly attends the Expanding the Table dinner is homeless.  For many months she was living in a storage unit until being evicted a couple of months ago. Since it was during the summer she was sleeping in the local parks on the warm evenings and was looking to set up a secluded “camp site” but had not yet found something.  With the recent record rainfalls and no place to get of the elements Change for a Dollar put her up in a local hotel for the duration of the storm.

Hotel room, 3 nights - $188.01

Knightsville Dad finally gets job – Oct 1, 2015

A Knightsville Dad who recently got divorced and shortly thereafter lost his job has been struggling with his bills.  His home was in danger of being foreclosed but was able to buy some time.  He has a pay as you go electric account with Berkeley County Electric and Change for a Dollar helped him out with a small payment on his account last month.  He was very grateful.  He recently got a job and was expecting his first paycheck next week.  He only had $11 left on his electric account and was fearful the electric would be disconnected before his first paycheck.  Change for a Dollar helped out with another payment to his electric account.  He has offered to repay the gift in the near future.

Berkeley Electric – 125.00

Homeless man out of jail, off to rehab – Sept 27, 2015

A homeless man from Summerville had to spend two weeks in jail for being convicted for public intoxication.  He is well known in the community and liked by all who know him but continues to struggle with his alcoholism.  As luck would have it his counselor had him scheduled to go into detox followed by rehab on the day he was picked up to serve his time.  He was devastated as he was prepared to make some changes in his life.  Change for a Dollar monitored his time in jail and when he was released he was sober for 2 weeks and still looking forward to changing his life around.  When he got out of jail there was a few days delay before he could get into rehab as he detoxed in jail.  Change for a Dollar put him up in a hotel for a few days away from his “stomping grounds” and set up a network of people to check in on him and support him until he was off to rehab.

Hotel Stay - $188.01

Homeless Dad, bus ticket to family up north – Sept 27, 2015

A homeless single Dad with two small kids had been living in a small local Summerville church for several months.  He was unable to get work as he needed flexibility to be available for his kids during the summer.  A shelter in Walterboro was supposed to take them in but there was an issue with some paperwork and he was turned away.  He was a regular at the Expanding the Table dinners and many of the volunteers tried various ways to help him out.  They got close to the two kids and even helped them with school supplies at the start of school.  After several attempts to work things out for himself and his kids in Summerville some family in Illinois finally agreed to take them in.  Change for a Dollar assisted with bus tickets and food gift cards for the 2 ½ day bus trip.

Greyhound - $213.30 + $100.00