Man in subsidized housing struggles – April 11, 2017

A Summerville man who lives in a subsidized apartment in Summerville was between jobs and was struggling to pay his bills.  He was waiting to get a check from a new job but wasn’t expecting much as it was based in part on commissions.  He had to travel a bit further to his new job so he was using more gas than expected and it was straining his budget.  He was a regular guest at the Expanding the Table feeding ministry and asked one of the volunteers if we could help.  After exploring his needs the best option was for Change for a Dollar to assist with the electric bill which averages $125 per month. Change for a Dollar paid one month’s charges to SCE&G.  The ETT volunteer also personally helped by putting $20.00 worth of gas in his tank at the local station.

SCE&G Payment - $125.00

Young family battling cancer – April 10, 2017

A young family from Summerville was in the process of making some changes which included downsizing their home to fit their budget.  The wife of the family recently got a new job as a teacher and their prospects were looking better.  The wife unfortunately at the same time was diagnosed with cancer.  The family had to put the move on hold and has moved in with one of the parents during this crisis.  The wife has not been able to work as she undergoes treatment as it makes her very ill.  The finances are now stretched even further.  Change for a Dollar was approached for assistance.   Her treatments for the cancer are at MUSC downtown and the trip consumes a lot of gas. Change for a Dollar assisted with purchasing the family gas cards to assist.

Gas cards - $150.00

Young couple stranded in Summerville – April 7, 2017

A young man formally from Summerville relocated to San Antonio Texas after he aged out of the foster care system.  When he graduated from high school he had trouble making it in Summerville and moved to Texas in hopes of better opportunities.  In Texas he connected with a young lady and began attending a local church.  He was still struggling getting his life on track and had still been communicating with his last foster family in Summerville.  He arranged to return to Summerville with his girlfriend on promises from the foster family to help.  He left Texas in spite of the pastor from his church advising against the move.  Upon arriving in Summerville the foster family never returned his calls and did not meet him at an arranged meeting place.  He and the young lady gave up after a couple of days living on the streets and trying to connect.  He called the men’s homeless shelter in town but they had no beds and could not take in the girl.  Change for a Dollar was contacted by the shelter to see if we could assist.  Change for a Dollar contacted his pastor in Texas and confirmed the story.  He had the opportunity to go back and live with the pastor and his family. Change for a Dollar assisted the young couple with a bus ticket to return to San Antonio.

Bus tickets (2) to Texas - $394.00 total

Disabled/evicted woman in need of help – March 24, 2017

A Summerville woman was evicted from her trailer because of repeated disturbances on the property by the return of her estranged/abusive husband.  The landlord warned her but she was unable to control her estranged husband’s behavior.  She is also disabled and receives disability but the check was not due until the first of the month.  She found herself in a homeless situation with no money and had paid the last of any cash she had for a neighbor to take in her dog until she found a new place.  She was also having trouble connecting with extended family as those relationships were also strained and there was little room available at those residences.  The weather in the evenings was forecast to be quite cool so to keep her out of the cold Change for a Dollar paid for two night’s hotel stay and a food gift card to a restaurant close by the hotel.  She was hopeful with the coming weekend she would be able to connect with someone to help her out.

Two nights’ hotel plus food gift card - $160.00

Woman in need of special clothing – March 17, 2017

A woman struggling with several medical conditions is very poor and struggles to get medications, etc. for her health care needs.  She recently was seen by the doctor who recommended some special therapeutic clothing that would help her fell more comfortable as she healed.  A volunteer from the clinic the woman goes to approached Change for a Dollar to see if we could assist with the purchase.  Change for a Dollar paid for the specialty clothing and the volunteer also chose on her own to purchase a couple of blouses for her as well as a nice gesture to boost her spirits.

Specialty Clothing - $56.45

Homeless in need of Rx medications – March 15, 2017

Several residents of the local homeless shelter were suffering from a variety of medical conditions.  The residents were able to be seen by doctors at hospitals under their charity prograams and at the free medical clinic in town.  In many cases they were given prescriptions but the majority of them did not have sufficient income to afford the medications.  Change for a Dollar has a relationship with a local pharmacy where they offer a discount on medications and Change for a Dollar pays for those medication.

Prescriptions for four homeless - $150

Disabled man in danger of eviction and electric shut off – Feb 13, 2017

A local apartment manager reached out to Change fir a Dollar for assistance for an elderly tenant who was on disability.  For whatever reason the tenant’s disability payments had been temporarily suspended and he was behind on his rent and his electric bill.  The apartment manager was patiently working with him as he rectified his disability payments but he was in danger of his electric being disconnected.  He had a past due bill that was beyond the means of Change for a Dollar to pay but the apartment manager said Summerville Baptist Church offered help as well but also could not pay the full amount and was hoping someone else would also assist.  Change for a Dollar coordinated with Summerville Baptist and the disconnect amount was paid preventing him from being shut off.

SCE&G Payment- $150

Homeless man in crisis – Feb 10, 2017

A homeless man was at a recent serving of Expanding the Table and was very upset and crying.  He was intoxicated and was talking of suicide as he was depressed about the anniversary of his departed wife which was a few days away.  A volunteer spoke with him for a while and was able to calm him down while another volunteer checked to see if the homeless shelter had a bed.  Unfortunately, because he was intoxicated, he could not go to the shelter that evening.  There was a bed available but he would have to be sober.  Change for a Dollar put him up in the hotel for the evening and the volunteer met him for breakfast the next day where he was in a better frame of mind.  He was transported to the shelter where he was accepted.

One night hotel stay - $65.00

Homeless family needed help with lodging – Feb 3, 2017

A homeless family of 3 has been living in a hotel after losing a job and getting evicted.  They used the little savings that they had paying for the hotel room.  The husband had recently gotten a new job but the wife has been unable to work due to a recent diagnosis for a disabling illness.  They were confident that once the husband started receiving a paycheck they could back on their feet.  They asked Ashley Ridge Church for help who referred the case to Change for a Dollar which paid for one nights stay at the hotel.

One night hotel stay - $77.28

Homeless family in need of lodging – Jan 30, 2017

A homeless family of 7 came to the local men’s homeless shelter seeking assistance.  They had recently relocated from upstate SC to the area but job prospects did not work out as hoped.  The family has two disabled children for which they receive payments but they used up all their funds for the month living in an extended stay hotel.  For the past few days they were living in their car.  The husband was promised a job and would start in a few days and the disability money would come in on the first of the month.  The staff, a volunteer and one of the residents from the homeless shelter chipped in to pay for a couple of nights stay at a hotel but they were still short one day.  Change for a Dollar was approached for an additional night to carry them over till they started receive payments/paycheck. 

One night hotel stay - $65.00

Family with sick wife has financial trouble – Jan 26, 2017

An ARC owner got a call from a friend who told her of a young family who was struggling.  The husband was working construction but it was slow during the winter.  The wife has recently been diagnosed with Lupus and has been losing a lot of time at work. With the loss of income the family has fallen behind on the bills.  The electric was in danger of being shut off.  Change for a Dollar helped by paying the past due bill preventing the shut off.

SCE&G Payment - $476.35

Movies for Kids – Jan 27, 2017

A couple of volunteers with the Expanding the Table feeding ministry regularly interact with many of the children who come to dinner.  Many of the kids come from families that are struggling financially.  It became evident to the volunteers that several of the kids have never been to the movies.  They approached Change for a Dollar to ask if we could help with taking the kids to the movies.  They took a group of girls to a movie with plans to take a group of boys in the weeks to come.

Movie Tickets - $49.65

Terminally ill man in need of assistance – Jan 10, 2017

A terminally ill man was living with his mother and his wife who are both disabled.  He was previously homeless following release from prison but recently was able to arrange to live with his mother and wife.  They shared a small single wide trailer but their combined disability payments barely covered all their expenses.  Before his illness progressed he was able to do some painting jobs but had become too weak to continue to work.  As a result the finances were stretched very thin.  He reached out Change for a Dollar for assistance with their electric bill.  They were not in danger of being disconnected but the bill was coming due next week and they didn’t have enough funds.  Change for Dollars offered some advice that they get on balanced billing with SCE&G to levelize their monthly payments and assisted with a payment towards their outstanding bill.

SCE&G Payment - $150.00

Single Mom struggling to make ends meet – Jan 5, 2017

An ARC owner was serving on the Expanding the Table food truck one evening when he became acquainted with a new guest, a single mom.  She had been coming to the truck for several days and the ARC Owner got to know her a little better.  She shared that she recently became single and was struggling to make ends meet as she cleaned houses for a living.  She recently lost a big customer and was have trouble keeping up as she didn’t have enough for day care to work when the child was not in school.  We referred her to several Lowcountry Human Services organizations that assist people but she had come up dry as the Christmas season had drained most resources.  The ARC owner ask if Change for a Dollar could assist with paying a past due electric bill to help avoid the service being disconnected.  Change for a Dollar paid the amount necessary to prevent the disconnect.

SCE&G Payment - $180.00

Heater for Elderly Woman– Dec 17, 2016

An ARC owner was on Facebook and became aware through a FB Friend that there was an elderly woman who didn’t have sufficient heat in her home.  She had one portable heater but it was not enough to keep her warm.  He asked if Change for a Dollar could help with an additional heater.  He reached out to the FB friend and told her Change for a Dollar could assist the elderly woman.  He purchased the heater and delivered it but in the process he learned that his FB friend had a son who really wanted a train set for Christmas but she didn’t have enough for that additional Christmas gift.  The ARC owner delivered the heater along with buying the train set himself as gift for the young boy.  Two folks had a good Christmas.

Cost of Heater - $34.99

Christmas for single mom with 2 kids– Dec 5, 2016

A single mom trying is to make a go of it after leaving an abusive relationship and was looking for a job.  She had no transportation and was walking everywhere but it limited her ability to get work.  Change for a Dollar bought her a bicycle to extend her ability to travel to and from a job. She subsequently got a job within a few days.  In the process it was discovered the family did not have a Christmas tree for Christmas.  The mom had a few presents for the kids but no decorations or tree. Change for a Dollar also purchased a pre-lighted 6 foot tree and few ornaments so the family could have a tree for Christmas morning.

Total cost, Walmart - $175.95

Homeless and poor in need of medications – Dec 2, 2016

Ashley Ridge Church has a relationship with a local pharmacy in Summerville where Change for a Dollar can acquire discounted prescriptions for folks in need.  The free clinics in town try to either provide medications or prescribe from the major chain stores discounted medication lists for the uninsured.  At times an individual will be discharged from the hospital or given a prescription from a clinic that is beyond their means to pay. Change for a Dollar refers them to our partnering pharmacy and Change for a Dollar covers the cost of their medications.

Total cost - $150.00

Family in trouble financially – Dec 1, 2016

An ARC owner works with a woman who recently shared some family troubles.  It appears the husband was not staying on top of the bills and now the family is looking at some serious financial difficulties. Their electric bill was in arrears and they would soon be facing a disconnect if a payment was not made soon.  Change for a Dollar was able to help the family out by making a payment on the electric bill which will help them get their finances back on track.

SCE&G payment - $200

Homeless man needed car part – Nov 23, 2016

A homeless man living in the local homeless shelter uses a late model vehicle to go to work on odd jobs.  He is currently trying to clear up many outstanding bills from a recent divorce.  He is currently looking for full time employment but vehicle problems have made that difficult.  He has made a few dollars to keep up on the repair the vehicle but recently came up short.  Change for a Dollar assisted in purchasing some of the parts he needed.

Total cost - $88.90

“Homeless” single mom assisted with residence – Nov 5, 2016

A single mother recently relocated back to Summerville from Florida.  She was staying with family in Florida but needed to leave due to an unhealthy environment for her children.  Her hopes for Summerville didn’t materialize and she and the kids wound up in the One80 Place homeless shelter.  After a month in the shelter it became difficult for her to stay for a variety of reasons, mainly that the kids were having difficulty dealing with the conditions.  She knew a landlord in Summerville and was able to secure a trailer and got assistance with paying the rent for the first six months.  Unfortunately, her only income was $500 in food stamps and she has been selling plasma for additional cash.  Change for a Dollar assisted with getting her settled into the trailer as they had nothing but a couple of bean bag chairs and a small table.  Donations of beds and other furniture were arranged and Change for a Dollar paid for sheets, bedding, some clothing for the kids, and a couple of heaters for the trailer which had very poor heating.

Total payments - $185.18