Many visitors to VEAP’s On-site Food Pantry are facing a temporary crisis due to job loss or medical issues. Our social services team works collaboratively with everyone who needs an extra boost to get through a difficult time. Recently, our staff met with Charice, who was experiencing a financial crisis following the birth of her daughter…
Charice’s pregnancy was difficult and immediately after labor, the hospital placed her baby girl on oxygen and into neonatal intensive care. She remained hospitalized for four months, with Charice at her side. During her hospital stay, Charice was unable to work and lost her job of 10 years. She was extremely worried about rent and making ends meet. Including her infant, Charice has two other young children at home and ensuring there was food on the table was becoming a challenge. Fortunately, thanks to savings she had set aside from her tax return, she was able to cover her rent for several months. But that money was quickly running out and she had little left when she visited VEAP’s Food Pantry.
Charice met right away with our Social Services team who utilized our financial assistance program to assist her with rent for August. Charice and our team collaboratively strategized to develop a financial plan of action for the upcoming months. Charice then used her recently received renter’s rebate to cover September’s rent and her Minnesota Family Investment Program financial support to cover October.
VEAP contacted the Kids @ Home program through the City of Richfield, which provides eligible families with 48 months of rental support. We urged them to consider Charice’s application—even though she wasn’t currently working. We wrote a letter on her behalf to support her application and waited anxiously to hear back.
Charice finally received good news: not only was she accepted into the Kids @ Home program, she was also accepted into an employment training program! She started the training in November and recently landed a full-time, stable position that allows her to spend time with her children. Her baby girl is now well enough to go to daycare and Charice is finally feeling her life has stabilized.
VEAP is so much more than a food pantry—and we are making sure this holiday season everyone who needs extra support in our community has it. Thousands of families in our community—even in what some consider “wealthy” suburbs—struggle to put food on the table and make ends meet. Your support ensures we are able to provide holistic social services to everyone who requests our help. Thank you!
