Two sisters living in house without Air conditioning - June 14, 2015

Two woman who frequent the Expanding the Table food truck one evening were talking with the Hospitality volunteer.  During the discussion the topic came up about the heat wave we were having and they were asked if they were staying cool.  The one sister indicated that they did not have any air-conditioning in the house and in fact her much older sister collapsed the day before but was OK now.  Change for a Dollar asked if they needed a repair to their HVAC unit but she indicated they never had one for the house.  In the past they had a small window unit AC but now just relied on fans.  C4$ purchased two small widow units for their bedrooms so they could escape the heat.

Lowes - $276.06

Summerville Woman helping others loses job - June 15, 2015

A Summerville woman is helping a friend by housing her friend’s daughter as the young lady recovers from a drug addiction.   The mother felt it best that a change of environment would be better for her daughter upon release from rehab.  The mother arranged with a friend a living arrangement to benefit the daughter but both families are of limited means.  The friend recently lost her job and was now struggling financially but remains optimistic as she continues to support her friend and her daughter.  The mother had worked with ARC Change for a Dollar in the past helping others in the community.   She reached out to ARC to see if we could help out her friend.  Change for a Dollar helped by paying an overdue electric bill.

SCE&G Payment - $250.00

Summerville Homeless man in need of food - June 4, 2015

A Summerville homeless man living in a small community church was in need of food.  The small church that is helping him out temporarily as he seeks employment does not always has food on had to provide “guests” with regular meals.  ARC Change for a Dollar purchased a couple of bags of groceries and gave to him to take back to the church where he stays.  Approximately a weeks’ worth of breakfast, lunch and dinner items were provided.

Bags of groceries - $39.94

Single Mom, lapse in pay, overdue electric bill due - June 4, 2015

A single Mom from Knightsville is working but the current company she works for was sold to another company.  As a result of changing payroll systems there was a delay in issuing paychecks for more than a week. The woman who lives paycheck to paycheck with nothing to spare and often falls short was up against an overdue electric bill.  Her pay was to be brought up to date on the following payday but her electric would have been disconnected prior to that.  ARC Change for a Dollar assisted the woman with a payment to SCE&G to prevent the shutoff.

SCE&G Payment - $182.95

Single Mom helped as she supports young homeless girl – May 31, 2015

A Summerville single mom recently took in a young lady who was kicked out of her house.  The woman has several kids of her own and the additional child has put a strain on the budget but felt compelled to provide a safe place for this girl to finish school.  She was managing and was not seeking help and acknowledged that God would provide for her and her family’s needs.  ARC wanted to help her out as she works to provide a safe stable environment for her “extended family”.

BiLo Gift card - $100.00

Divorced woman struggles to support family - May 22, 2015

A Summerville woman recently divorced still has two adult children living at home with the adult son who has disabilities.  As a result of the divorce her income was insufficient to maintain the mortgage and she lost the house.  She had a part time job but lost that recently as well.  She has been living in a small apartment with her children for the past several months.  Thankfully, her daughter recently got a job to help with the expenses but she was still falling behind in her rent as she looked for a job herself.  ARC Change for a Dollar helped the family by making a partial payment towards the rent.

Rent payment - $300.00

Disabled community volunteer in need of help - May 25, 2015

An ARC owner met a woman at an Expanding the Table serving who herself has been involved for years with helping those in need in the community.  She is disabled and in recent years her disability has gotten worse.  Being of limited means herself and now struggling with her disease she has all but stopped her help of others.  This has been a difficult thing for her to accept.  After years of service in helping with food panties and the homeless community in general she was convinced that it was time for her to accept some help at this time.  Her disability / Medicare coverage does not cover all the costs associated with her physical therapy and it has put a strain on her finances.  She was in danger of having her electric disconnected.  ARC Change for a Dollar made a payments to her SCE&G account to avoid a shut off.

SCE&G payment - $169.70

Young lady graduates - May 22, 2015

An ARC owner requested we help out a young lady who was high school senior about to graduate.  She had been put out of her house a while back by her mother, the living conditions were less than ideal. The mother of a friend of hers offered to take her in.  This woman who took her in is a single Mom with three kids.  The conditions that were set for this young lady was she had to quit her job and focus on school so she could graduate.  She did just that and has been a trouble free part of the family.  While achieving the goal of graduating, neither the family nor the young lady had any means to celebrate the graduation.  ARC change for a dollar provided gift certificates for her to get her hair and nails done for graduation.  We also provided a gift certificate for new shows and another kind person purchased a new drees for her.  She celebrated the accomplishment of graduating in style.

Gift certificates - $170

Battered woman assistance – May 20, 2015

An ARC owner requested assistance for a woman who was living in a very abusive relationship.  In addition to the physical abuse the woman was not allowed to work independently and could only work with her husband so he could control her behavior.  The ARC owner was looking for an opportunity to intervene and when the police got involved one evening she called DSS.  DSS arranged to remove the woman and the children from the home.  The woman was temporarily placed at her parents’ home but they are still too close to the abuser and this family has very limited means.  Change for a Dollar was able to refer to some services, victims’ advocacy and a safe house.  As the woman had no financial means to do anything Change for a Dollar set up an emergency fund for her to access as she escapes form this terrible situation

Emergency Fund - $500

Single woman with sick granddaughter - May 12, 3015

A disabled Summerville woman has been going through a difficult divorce and has been struggling to make ends meet as she is still not getting any child support.  She recently moved into an apartment with her two granddaughters after being homeless for a short period of time.  One of her girls recently was diagnosed with a respiratory ailment that requires the use of some electric powered medical equipment.  Her husband has not been helping financially and her disability payments were stretched especially with the additional electric consumption for the medical equipment.  She has fallen behind in her SCE&G monthly payments.  Change for Dollar helped by paying an outstanding payment that will prevent any electric shut off.

SCE&G Payment $292.91

Elderly couple in need of assistance - May 6, 2015

An elderly gentleman and his wife were in need of assistance.  For years he was serving in his local church as a Deacon and was very active.  In recent years, due to health reasons, he has been limited in what he can do and is on a fixed income.  He has had to stop serving at his local church but he and his wife remain faithful and do what they can.  In recent months he had some unexpected expenses that caused him to fall behind in his electric bill, this was upsetting for him as he had prided himself in always being able to provide for his family.  ARC Change for a Dollar was approached and asked if we could help him through this difficult spot.  Change for a Dollar paid a portion of his electric bill thus keeping him out of the arrears / disconnect process.

SCE&G Payment $336.73

Newlywed looses job, falls behind on bills - April 29, 2015

The pastor of a small local church approached ARC Change for a Dollar for assistance for one of their members.  A couple who attends their church regularly recently got married and moved in together, both were working at that time.  The husband shortly after moving in with his wife lost his job and is still looking for work.  In the interim the utility bills grew as the family size had increased and they fell behind in their payments to SCE&G.  Their church helped them out some but they were still short on the bill to prevent the shut off.  Change for a Dollar made an SCE&G payment to prevent the disconnection of service.

SCE&G Payment $626.52

Panhandler approaches ARC Owner - 4/20/15

An ARC owner was approached by a panhandler in the parking lot of Target.  The woman claimed to be a single mom living in a motel at the moment and was receiving a small amount of disability benefits.  It was towards the end of the month and she was about a week away from receiving her benefits.(She produced her disabilities papers and ID showing her payments of approx. $800 per month)  As she had not yet established South Carolina residency she was not yet eligible for food stamps.  She had spent the last of her money for the room for her and her two children but had no money for food.  She was told that they would not give her cash but offered to help buy some groceries.  She graciously accepted a gift card to Target for groceries.

 

Amount: Target Gift Certificates - $40

Food Gift Certificates for homeless - 4/14/15

An ARC owner reached out to several homeless folks from Summerville about their needs.  One woman who has been living in her truck for several months and struggles with some mental health issues welcomed the help in the form of $50 worth of gift certificates (alcohol and tobacco excluded) for Piggly Wiggly where she routinely shops.  Another woman who frequents the “Square“ in town during the day spends her nights at a small local church in the middle of town.  Her and her boyfriend relocated here from Pennsylvania for a better way of life but he lost his job shortly after arriving and found themselves on the street.  The small local church has been housing them but they were very much in need of the gift certificates ($50) making it possible for her to shop at the “Pig” for necessary items.

 

Amount: Piggly Wiggly Gift Certificates - $100

Neighbor of ARC Owner seriously ill - 3/24/15

An ARC owner informed Change for a Dollar that her neighbor was recently hospitalized and diagnosed with a very serious and rare lung disease.  The prognosis is very poor and he is being treated at MUSC.  Also, the wife of the sick gentleman only recently stated a new job and has no paid leave to visit and stay with her husband while he is in the hospital.  Her boss has been very supportive but there is a loss of income now as well.  While the neighbors have been very helpful to the family the loss of the wife’s income on top of everything else has put additional strains on the family.  Change for a Dollar helped out the family with some gas cards to cover the cost of repeated trips downtown to MUSC.  Additionally, they were given some BiLo food cards to help relieve some of the strain on the budget.

 

Amount: Gas Card & BiLo food card - $250

Summerville man lost his home / now homeless - 3/19/15

A Summerville man has been struggling with health issues and recently got divorced.  He was continuing to pay his mortgage but lost his job due to health issues.  He started selling goods at the local flea market and spent what was left of his savings.  He ran out of funds and recently was foreclosed on and evicted from his home and is now homeless.  He had a prescription from his doctor for his medication but could not afford to pay for it.  ARC Change for a Dollar help him by paying for the prescription.

 

Amount:  Prescription - $20

Recovering addict / single mom needed help - 3/12/15

A Summerville woman who is a recovering drug addict has been doing well in putting her life back together for herself and her 12 year old son.  She is part of a very small local church who has been helping her with her recovery.  She was going to school for a period of time and is now seeking employment.  She was getting some income while attending school but has fallen behind on the bills while looking for employment. The small church she attends had helped her financially in the past but was unable to continue to do so.  The pastor of the church approach ARC Change for a Dollar to see if there was some help available.  Change for a Dollar paid a portion of her electric bill and put her in touch with the SCE&G Customer Advocate who is helping her get her bills under control.

 

Amount:  SCE&G Payment - $330

Prescription assistance for mentally challenged man - 2/26/15

A 52 year old patient the Medical Outreach Clinic in Summerville is mentally challenged and still lives with his elderly mother.  He recently suffered a mild stroke for which he was hospitalized and thankfully recovered quite well.  He was directed to continue with follow-up medical care and had been trying his best to continue with his medication.  His mother brought him to the free clinic at the direction of another physician.  He was given a prescription for medication which he was unable to afford.  He had no income and his mother was on a small social security payment so the Change for a Dollar program paid for his prescriptions and upcoming refills.

 

Amount:  Pharmacy bill - $150

Medical clinic patient stranded - 3/5/15

A patient who visits a Summerville free medical clinic was stranded one evening at the clinic.  She had gotten a ride to the clinic by a friend but the friend was not going to be able to pick her up.  She had made several calls to other friends who were not able to assist.  She called a taxi company and was quoted a price for transport to North Charleston but she only had $10 to her name.  ARC Change for a Dollar assisted with the cab fare.

Amount: Cab fare - $20

Wounded Warrior family assistance - 3/3/15

An SC&G Customer Advocate notified ARC Change for a Dollar of a wounded Afghanistan war veteran that was in financial trouble. The wounded warrior suffered multiple injuries in a roadside bombing including severe brain trauma.  He is currently disabled at over 100% and is receiving benefits and medical care through the VA.  The young man has been trying to live independently but suffers from a variety of seizures that he routinely needs to be hospitalized and treated for.  Ironically, a couple of the prescriptions, of the many he is on, are not covered by the VA or his insurance.  The prescriptions cost him over $1,000 per month.  Between the hospital stays, the seizures, and the high cost of living he has had to move back in with his parents.  The family continues to try to find additional doctors to assist in his care and spends a lot of time monitoring him so he does not get hurt during his seizures.  The family has decided to forego the rent and any utilities on his place as any hopes of him living independently in the future are slim at best.  This has put a strain on the family financials and Change for a Dollar tried to ease some of that burden with some food gift cards.

 

Amount: BiLo food card - $200