Success Stories

A Drop of Water

In the world of social services, it is easy to feel that our services are just one drop of water an ocean of needs. Mother Teresa’s admonition that “the ocean would be less without that drop” transports us back to the simple truth. Every family is a universe.

Baldwin County residents remain on edge following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ivan, the Summerdale tornados and recent floods. What will happen next? Locusts? Earthquakes? One must keep one’s perspective. Every disaster-affected family is important and like that drop of water, an essential part of our collective community. Serving these families, and there are hundreds of them, is the mission of the Baldwin County Long Term Recovery Committee. Committee members, with leadership from the South Baldwin United Way, represent all of the emergency aid programs. National disaster recovery ministries also participate. United Way maintains a website with complete disaster related information located at www.southbaldwinunitedway.org.

While each family has a story to tell, a particularly compelling “case” has been identified in Summerdale. This family is our first rebuild, a daunting but essential task. It is a story of trials and of triumphs. By the time all is said and done, this will be a story about stepping out in faith and trust and gratitude.

The house was nothing fancy. It was small, wooden, mortgage free and home for two persons with medical disabilities. An elderly woman and her 54 year-old developmentally delayed son lived there quite happily for over thirty years. Neighbors and relatives checked on them frequently and life was good. Their combined social security income pays for food, medicine and utilities. They could not get home owner’s insurance. Hurricane Ivan came along in mid-September and caused some damage. The check from FEMA, about $4,480, would, with help from family, cover the repair costs. Mom, bedridden and 81 years old, and her son were able to stay at home while they made repair plans and awaited the FEMA check. Then, the Thanksgiving Saturday tornado swept through Summerdale and profound devastation struck.

Summerdale’s tornado lifted the house from the foundation and set it back down, leaving a wrecked mess of lumber and debris. Thankfully, no one was home. However, as a non-declared FEMA emergency, this little family was in serious trouble. A daughter-in-law in Silverhill offered them temporary housing even though her house is already overcrowded. Both need hospital beds. One is crammed into the living room and the other in the kitchen. Mom and son are miserable. They cannot understand why they can’t go home. Daughter, Vickie, is the primary caretaker for them and she is moving heaven and earth to figure out some solutions. Enter the Long Term Recovery Team with some ideas, some funding, some hope.

Team members have recruited volunteers who will do the work to rebuild a modest home. The wreckage has been cleared, paid for by some donations. Materials will cost about $30,000 and local agencies have already raised about $20,000. Donations will come to furnish the home. It is a step in faith, a testament to the goodness of our community that assures us that this rebuild will happen. This little family is our flagship, the first of many who need help and lots of it, to return to normal, albeit a new normal. And, that is the primary goal for Long Term Recovery, creating new normal for disaster families who have fallen between the cracks, and, like that drop of water, need to rejoin the ocean.

Living on the Edge

Kathy and her two children live with her mom in Bay Minette. Until Hurricane Ivan, they patched together a fairly decent living. Kathy shares housing costs with her mom, averaging about $500 / month. Kathy pays daycare for her 8 month-old and buys groceries. She earns about $800 / month working as a cashier at a gas station. When the gas station suffered the wrath of Ivan and closed for about 4 weeks, Kathy went without work and without pay. When people live on the edge of survival, any additional crisis is catastrophic. Kathy applied for disaster unemployment benefits but that process is slow, much too slow when there are hungry children to be fed. Hurricane Ivan's devastation continues to wreak havoc in the lives of Baldwin County families.

The disaster immediately affected Kathy's ability to care for her children. Eight year-old Susie, Kathy's eldest child, has special needs. Since birth, Susie has relied on a feeding tube for daily nourishment. Mom uses six cans of PediaSure daily, which costs $7.88. She was out of money and out of PediaSure when the call came into the North Baldwin United Way office.

Kathy was referred to Catholic Social Services in Robertsdale, a United Way agency, for assistance. She came to see the caseworker the very next morning and explained the situation. Kathy said, "I apply for food stamps and get $16 / month, for which I am very grateful. I just need help until I go back to work or get the unemployment check." Catholic Social Services gave her a voucher to buy a ten-day supply of PediaSure.

As a United Way partner, CSS works to meet the basic human needs of families in crisis. Hurricanes or personal disasters exacerbate the struggle that most working poor deal with on a daily basis. Michele Prockup, CSS director says: "United Way funds stay local. Whatever is contributed is spent right here to help Baldwin County families. We are grateful and blessed to be a United Way partner."

Emergency Needs #1

Husband and wife with four children, trailer damaged as a result of Hurricane Ivan. FEMA allowed $ for housing. However were not able to find any. Have been living in the trailer with rain coming in, mold growing and walls falling. Transporting children back and forth to school...car broke down...both have jobs but now can't get to work or school. Have received word FEMA trailer available Monday. Eccumenical Ministries is attempting to assist with utilities or means of transportation.

Emergency Needs #2

65 year-old women had damage to her house as a result of Hurricane Ivan. While insurance company has been out to survey the damage, they have given her limited information. FEMA has "denied" her request until they see what insurance will pay. In the meantime, she is living in the house. She did pull up the carpet but has mold growing on three walls. Extra expenses with evacuation. Ecumenical Minsitries is giving her assistance with medicine, utility bill and working with the insurance carrier.

United Way, It's A Baldwin County Thing

Leslie lives in Bay Minette with her two children, aged 10 and 6. She was 8 months pregnant when she came to Catholic Social Services. The doctor told her not to work due to complications from this pregnancy. The baby's father does not live with the family but does help out financially from time to time. When the power bill came, Leslie was broke. The boyfriend was laid off from work and could not help. Leslie called the North Baldwin United Way office and was referred to Catholic Social Services in Robertsdale.

With a disconnect notice in hand, Leslie arrived for her appointment with the caseworker. She had to pay $118 to keep the power on without a break. "I just don't have any money right now. I didn't know where to call, so the United Way gave me your number. It doesn't seem like much, but $118 might as well be $1,118 right now. When I get back to work, things will straighten out, but for now, I really need some help." Catholic Social Services paid the bill for Leslie and gave her a referral to the North Baldwin Ecumenical Association, another United Way supported Agency.

The United Way is all about partnerships. Agencies work well together, all focused on meeting human, social needs in Baldwin County. Every time we help a family, there is a ripple effect. Many times today's recipients of help become the donors of tomorrow. They never forget that the United Way was present in their time of need. Local dollars are used to help local people. It's a Baldwin County thing.

Emergency Needs #3

Woman with one child. Home destroyed as a result of Hurricane Ivan. Has beeen living from house to house. Received FEMA trailer. Has been working for 2 weeks to obtain necessary permits. Ready to move in and found, when electric company came out, that the power pole must be replaced. Limited work since Ivan. Ecumenical Ministries is assisting with the cost of the new power pole.

Emergency Needs #4

34 year-old woman, self-employed. Cleaning business. No regular work since Hurricane Ivan. Boyfriend's house was destroyed as was brother and sister-in-law's. Now, all are in the same household...and working, however, limited income. Needed food and when advised Ecumenical Ministries could help with utilities also, client burst into tears.