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Donations doubled to help those in need

Editor's note: The Time is Now to Help was founded by a local businessman who knew extreme poverty as a child. With the help of donations from the community, The Time is Now is able to help local residents in need.

Dear W.C., My rent is past due. Our gas is shut off and I have received an eviction notice. I can’t stand to see my children shiver. Please, I do not want to be put on the street with my children.

Dear W.C., I am disabled, struggling to get by on disability. I have cut back on my food and turned my heat off because I cannot afford the utility bill. Please help…

Dear W.C., I lost my job I’ve had for 22 years months ago and my family has nowhere else to turn for help. I have looked for another good-paying job but there are none to be found. I now work for $7.45 an hour. It’s better than nothing, but we need some help …

Dear W.C., My car is broken down and I can’t get to work. I cannot afford to have it repaired or replaced. Help; I do not want to lose my job.

Dear W.C., I have been living out of my car for the last two weeks. Our company shut down last year and I lost my job, my home, everything …

Dear W.C., I could not afford my utilities so my landlord says my children and I have to get out. There is nowhere for my kids and I to go …

Dear W.C., I am 81 years old. I have very little food. I can’t afford my prescription medications. I need help. Becoming homeless with no shelter is my greatest fear.

Dear readers, I have never seen such a huge increase in requests for assistance. The volume of mail I have been receiving is increasing each week. The letters have become more desperate. I have been struggling to keep up with the requests financially.

Without your support I could never relieve the pain and suffering of poverty for families, single parents, children, senior citizens, and handicapped. Together we make a big difference in easing the pains of poverty.

One of our wonderful supporters, a true believer in The Time Is Now to Help, has stepped forward with a matching grant. I would like to announce the MLH 2009 $25,000 matching grant. This grant needs to be matched by Dec. 18.

For every dollar donated, another dollar will be matched, doubling your donation to help our desperate fellow Americans in need. At this time, every letter requesting assistance that I answer has become more desperate, more heart-breaking. There are so many struggling that you do not have to look hard to find a friend or neighbor in need.

The news claims the economy is now improving, but I still see desperate situations and homelessness increasing. I still see struggling businesses having to lay off good employees due to their inability to pay them any longer.

My goal is to help individuals and families struggling to survive at this time. I cannot do this alone and look to you, my loyal supporters, to make that goal achievable.

Your support during this wonderful matching-grant opportunity is more important than ever. Every dollar you donate will generously be matched by the MLH $25,000 matching grant. I will give you a full disclosure of where every penny of this matching grant is spent. Every penny will be used to supply utilities, rent, household necessities, food, clothing, car repairs etc. It will not be used to provide any employee compensation, office expenses or overhead.

We are a completely volunteer organization and all office costs are paid for by my business, Lake Geneva Area Realty. One hundred percent of your donations are put directly to use to ease the suffering of our neighbors in need.

Please help me to answer not only the sampling of requests at the beginning of this column, but also the many, many more people desperately clinging to their last shred of hope, The Time Is Now to Help.

Thank you for caring and sharing.

Health and happiness, God bless everyone, W.C.

A very special thank you: Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust, Kikkoman Foods Foundation, Hemingway’s Restaurant, Paper Dolls, Oasis Salon, Distribution and Transportation Service, Martin O’Brien, Edward and Colleen Lesniak, James and Marilynn Dyer, Margarie Egger, Dan Mehring, Michol Ann Ford, Les and Pauline Malsch, Frank and Anna Guske, Donald and Penny Hallett, James and Betty Kroupa, Donald and Gladys Keith, Dale and Eileen Grzenia, Gerald and Marilyn Wilkin, Charles and Penny Gruetzmacher, Barry and Geraldine Lutz, June Davidsen, John and Kristi Hugunin, Dennis and Christine Haak, Muriel Lake, Dennis and Jeanne Ludwig, Sunny Sieben (in honor of Audrey Hersko’s birthday), W.C. Family Resource Center/Food Pantry volunteers, Michael and Sue Borden, Dick and Jean Honeyager, all of you who support The Time Is Now to Help donation boxes, and the businesses that allow our donation boxes. Anyone who would like a Time Is Now donation box in your business, please call (262) 249-7000.