“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

Couple displaced by hurricane, hotel stay – Oct 30, 2016

A couple was displaced from their home when a tree crashed through their trailer during Hurricane Matthew.  They have a claim that is in process with FEMA but that takes time.  The husband is disabled and receives regular disability checks but that is not due for another week.  They have run out of funds paying for stays at a local hotel.  A couple of churches in town have helped with a few nights but they were facing the need to check out.  The hotel manager has a relationship with ARC and gives Change for a Dollar a special rate.  The manager referred the case to Change for a Dollar.  We were able to help with an additional two night’s stay.

Two nights hotel stay – $125.34

Divorced single mom in need of assistance – Oct 23, 2016

A young single mother recently got divorced and wound up losing her job shortly thereafter.  An ARC owner became aware of her situation.  She had secured a new job but was struggling with some past due bills from when she was out of work.  The ARC owner asked if Change for a Dollar could assist.  Upon checking with her the most pressing need was that her electric was due to be disconnected.  Change for a Dollar assisted by paying the amount needed to prevent the disconnect.

SCE&G Payment - $131.00

Young homeless couple has a baby – Oct 12, 2016

A young homeless couple was living in their car.  The woman was pregnant and expecting in October.  The hurricane was coming around the due date for the baby so the couple scraped up as much money as they could and rode out the storm in a hotel.  The woman went into labor the day after the storm and the baby was delivered.  The couple was looking for and getting some assistance from a very benevolent woman who was allowing the mother to temporarily move in with the baby. The baby’s father is waiting to enter the homeless shelter.   Change for a Dollar helped with several days stay in the hotel for the couple.

Three days EconoLodge - $168.54

Young mother fighting cancer – Oct 2, 2016

A young woman is battling cancer.  An ARC Owner reported she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for the cancer.  She continues to miss work on the days she has chemo and as a result she is struggling to pay the bills.  ARC Change for a Dollar has helped them out by paying current electric bill.

SCE&G Payment - $258.12

Homeless man needed new car battery – Sept 21, 2016

A homeless man owns a late model vehicle that has some minor problems.   He recently got divorced and lost his job at the same time.  He has been working odd jobs and has applied for unemployment but still is not earning enough to get an apartment.  He recently had car problems with a bad battery and bad alternator.  He had some funds to pay for the new battery but it would have depleted most of his savings.  Change for a Dollar assisted him in paying for a portion of the cost of the battery so he can continue his job hunt and periodic work days.

Partial battery purchase price - $70

Elderly homeless woman has cancer – Sept 21, 2016

A 76 year old homeless woman is battling lung cancer.  She has been living in her van for some time but has managed to get by on her small income, at least until her illness has recently gotten worse.  She was in the hospital earlier this month but when discharged the hospital put her up in a local hotel for one week.  She is scheduled for ongoing chemotherapy and was concerned about enduring the treatments while living in her van.  When her hotel stay ran out she was found sitting on the curb at the hotel by a young woman who was staying at the hotel who knew of Change for a Dollar. She gave our contact info to the hotel clerk who called us.  Change for a Dollar met with the woman and talked to her about options in the community.  Nothing seemed to be of any help to her.  In the end Change for Dollar paid for an additional night at the hotel so she didn’t have to stay in her car during a very rainy evening.   Unfortunately, there was little more we could do than to pray for her.

One night hotel stay - $60

Homeless man needs transmission repair – Sept 14, 2016

A homeless man living at the local shelter has been living there for several months. He has worked diligently to address his issues and has been working, saving and has been able to purchase a used vehicle.  He has the opportunity to promote himself to a new job at the Vovlo plant construction but was in need of the vehicle to complete that process.  He recently purchased a nice vehicle for a good price but unfortunately shortly after he picked it up there appeared to be some transmission problems.  He had additional savings to pay for most of the repair bill but was a bit short.  Change for a Dollar assisted in helping him pay for the transmission repair.

Transmission repair -  $350

Disabled homeless man in crisis – Sept 5, 2016

A local homeless man was in the hospital.  The hospital discharged him to the street where he had no options.  He is disabled in that he has kidney failure and is on dialysis three days per week.  To complicate his situation he has a bad hip and struggles to walk with a walker.  To make matters worse he battles an addiction to crack that he was pleading for help with.  Unfortunately there was no shelter that could take him in due to his conditions.  A couple of ARC owners were trying to find a way to help.  Thankfully he agreed to attend an NA meeting and connected with the folks there.  He still was living on the street and was in great despair and begged for help.  An option for him to stay with his brother in Texas materialized.  The ARC owners got him to dialysis the next day in preparation of the trip and bought him the bus ticket.  He was also set up with a large duffle bag to replace his plastic trash bag “luggage”.  Additionally he “negotiated” himself a loan of a much needed wheelchair from the dialysis center for the trip to Texas.  The ARC owners felt compelled to replace the wheelchair at the dialysis center as well.  A day later he contacted the ARC Owners to say he made it.  He was very appreciative of all the help and was headed for an NA meeting followed by looking for a good church.  TFJ!

Bus ticket –$165, duffle bag $26.95, wheelchair $157.32 – total $349.28

Local man needed a rain coat – Aug 25, 2016

An ARC owner serves on the ETT food truck.  She was talking with one of the guests that frequents the truck and only has a bicycle for transportation.  He needs to ride his bike to get to occasional work and at times gets caught in bad weather.  He was in need of a rain coat slicker to stay dry on days that it rains.  Change for a Dollar helped out by paying for the coat and the ARC owner delivered it to him.

Dick Sporting Goods - $43.19

Women getting divorce in need of assistance – Aug 19, 2016

An ARC owner has a routine appointment with a massage therapist in Summerville.  The young woman recently found herself in the middle of an unexpected marital separation/divorce.  She shared her story the ARC owner.  The woman has two children and she was left with several outstanding bills that she was unaware since her husband was not paying the bills.  The ARC owner inquired as to the most pressing need, there were many, and Change for Dollar assisted with a grocery food gift card to help ease the burden on the budget.

BiLo gift card - $150

Several homeless and poor in need of medications – Aug 6, 2016

Several men from the Lowcountry Home of Hope, a men’s homeless shelter in Summerville, had emergency room stays and visits to the doctor. Out of the three only one had a job but it was small hours and minimum wage.  For all of them the cost of medications were too expensive to purchase.  Change for a Dollar worked out an arrangement for a small discount with Gurerin's pharmacy and had their prescriptions filled.  Additionally, there was a women in the MUSC program for battered women who was also having difficulty paying for her medication.  MUSC contacted Change for a Dollar to see if we could assist.  Change for a Dollar assisted by paying for two prescriptions for her as well.

Guerin's Pharmacy - $100.00

Family of four needs AC – Aug 1, 2016

A family who attends the Expanding the Table dinners was talking with one of the volunteers. The volunteer found out that the family did not have any air conditioning in their home in this current oppressive heat wave.  A visit to the home verified it was hotter inside the house than it was outside.  Change for a Dollar purchased a window unit air conditioner for the family of four to provide some much needed cooling for their home.

Air-conditioner - $193.32

Kids need school uniforms / family needs AC – July 28, 2016

A family from Lincolnville attends Expanding the Table dinners. Two of the young children actively participate in the evening’s activities.  As the volunteers got to know the kids it became evident that the family didn’t have the money to purchase school uniforms for the young boy and girl.  They live within the N Charleston School district and must wear a school uniform consisting of tan khakis and blue shirts.  One of the volunteers offered to take the two shopping and Change for a Dollar provided the funds for the boy and girl to get uniforms for school.  Additionally, the volunteer found out that the family did not have any air conditioning in their home in this current oppressive heat wave.  Change for a Dollar also purchased a room air conditioner to provide some minimum amount of cooling for their home.

School uniforms plus Air-conditioned - $150.00 + $193.32

Large homeless man needs clothing – July 26, 2016

A very large homeless man is living in a local homeless shelter. Unfortunately there is very little clothing in his size. The shelter receives regular donations of clothing from the public and the residents do get vouchers from Trident United Way to shop at Goodwill but nothing in his size is available.  He wears a 6XL in shirts and has a couple of shirts and a sweatshirt but was in need of more shirts.  Due to his size and his disabilities he has been unable to get a job.  He had unemployment for a couple of months but that has stopped.  He lacks the funds to purchase clothing in his size, even if he found his size locally.  Change for a Dollar purchased four shirts for him online and they were delivered to the shelter.  He was very appreciative.

Online clothing purchase - $96.44

A family of four relocating to Summerville – July 3, 2016

A family of four had to relocate to Summerville from Spartanburg.  They attended an Expanding the Table dinner one evening and in talking with one of the volunteers it became evident they were struggling.  The husband had been looking for work but was not yet successful.  They were referred to many resources by the ETT volunteers to check into for work and assistance along with all the food panty’s and soup kitchen hours.  They were staying in an extended stay motel in North Charleston as they looked for work and a place to stay in Summerville.  They were at the point of seeking a shelter as they were soon to become homeless.  They were due to run out of money shortly for their accommodations and asked if they could get some assistance.  Change for a Dollar assisted in extending their stay for several days at the motel.

Motel charges - $315.00

Family loses all in house fire – July 1, 2016

A young family who is a close friend of an ARC owner recently suffered a house fire in which they lost everything.  They currently have no food, clothing or any of their belongings.  They will have to wait through the July 4^th holiday weekend before they can get any assistance and or insurance claims processed.  Change for a Dollar assisted the family with a food gift card to ease the burdens at this time.

Bi Lo Gift card - $100.00

Battered woman in need of assistance – June 24, 2016

A young woman recently was in an auto accident and suffered some injuries.  She shared an apartment with a boyfriend who is a coworker as well.  As a result of her injuries she had been unable to work.  To make matters worse she was recently assaulted by her boyfriend which aggravated her injuries.  He has since moved out of the apartment and she has filed a police complaint.  Even if she gets well enough to return to work she cannot return to her previous employer as her ex-boyfriend still works there as well.  She was struggling with making rent and other payments in these difficult times.  Change for a Dollar assisted her by paying her current electric bill. 

SCE&G payment - $84.06

Grandmother with custody of granddaughter needed rent assistance – June 21, 2016

An Expanding the Table volunteer, while serving dinner one night, met an elderly woman who lives in a trailer park in Summerville who has custody of her middle school age granddaughter.  She indicated to him that she is employed but struggles to make ends meet.  She recently lost some time at work and has been struggling to make all her payments.  She was making partial payments on her lot rent and promised the property manager that she would make up payments when she got her tax refund.  According to the property manager she did so as promised.  Change for a Dollar also checked with her and confirmed she is up to date on utility bills etc. but was still a little short on the arrears on the lot rent for her trailer.  Change for a Dollar assisted her with paying the remaining arrears on the lot rent bringing her current.

Lot Rent Arrears - $200

Homeless man new to town needed phone minutes – June 11, 2016

A homeless man who returned to Summerville from Florida was awaiting a bed at the local homeless shelter and was living on the street.  He has a small disability income but had run out of phone minutes and money.  His phone was his lifeline as he communicated with the shelter and a local friend who has promised him a room in the near future.  While he was waiting to get into the shelter Change for a Dollar has assisted with getting him some minutes on his phone so he can communicate with others.

Boost Mobile minutes - $54.13