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With a little help, hard-working mom goes back to work and providing for family

Dear W.C.

I am a single mother with two children. I had a job until several months ago when my job was lost to the poor economy. My boss could no longer afford several employees and had to let us go.

My kids and I always have just gotten by with our expenses. My unemployment does not cover our rent, utilities, food, car payment and health care. One of my children had a hospital visit this year due to a needed surgery. I cannot make these medical bill payments on top of all the other expenses. Can you please give me some advice on how we can keep a roof over our heads and still be able to eat?

-- Unemployed mom

Dear readers,

Another job lost in our struggling United States of America. I deal with these situations daily.

I contacted the employer and he informed me he had the business for 35 years. He told me he could no longer compete with the low labor rates in foreign countries. He had to lay off all his employees.

This single mother relied on her job to provide for her family. She did not have a savings account or a contingency plan. She was a good employee who showed up for work each day and worked hard, hoping it would pay all the many necessities of raising a family on her own.

I stopped by this mother’s rental unannounced. I had called the number she provided on her letter of request, but it was no longer in service. I was very happy to find a clean apartment. Both children were home. I like timing my visits after school or on weekends because meeting the children is so important. I always want to check on their well-being and find out if there are any special needs.

After we spoke for several minutes she introduced me to her children. They were very well mannered. I talked with them and the mother about The Time Is Now to Help and how we were there to give them assistance.

We went over her expenses and spoke about her job loss. The mother was very organized and had a list of numerous places where she had recently applied for jobs. There was a reduction in pay at all of them, but after the last few months, she knew she had to take any pay to try and survive.

The main problem was bringing them up-to-date on back rent and utilities. I called the landlord to assure her we were bringing the rent up-to-date. She agreed to not evict them and admitted the only reason they were not evicted was because they were such a nice family and always had been excellent renters. I also assured her we were paying her overdue utilities as well. The landlord was happy that we had stepped in to help this deserving single mother and children.

I asked about her car payments and she took me to see her car. She was one payment behind and after seeing it was a good car in excellent shape, I told her The Time Is Now to Help would also bring her car payment up-to-date. The loss of a car can be a huge problem and it is often more expensive for us to replace the lost car than to save a car in good condition from being repossessed, as long as they can manage to continue with the payments after our initial assistance. This mother was capable of making the budget we set up, but she needed a job.

After talking to her employer, her landlord and a neighbor, I was convinced this mother would be a responsible employee. She went back to two potential employers for two part-time jobs, totaling 40 hours, and used me for a reference. I called the employers and God bless both of them for giving her jobs.

Our many fellow Americans in need are thankful for your generosity, caring and sharing. Together we make a big difference in the lives of many. God bless all of you for making all our good works possible.

Health and happiness and God bless everyone,

W.C./Sal

Please help: Make checks payable to The Time Is Now to Help, P.O. Box 70, Pell Lake, WI 53157. The Time Is Now to Help is a federally recognized 501(c)3 charitable organization licensed in Wisconsin and Illinois. You will receive a tax-deductible, itemized thank-you receipt showing exactly what every penny of your donation provided for the poverty stricken.

A very special thank you to: Turner Broadcasting System, Bill and Lois McEssy/McDonald’s, Fox Charities, Kunes Country Auto Group, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Shapiro Family Fund, Clarence and Marilyn Schawk Family Foundation, Paul Ziegler and the Ziegler Charitable Foundation, Petco Foundation, Lake Geneva Petco, Martin Business Group, Engineered Reflector Products, Dick and Jean Honeyager, Martin O’Brien, William and Dorothy Tookey, Leon and Lou Jane Koldeway, John and Constance Decker, Douglas and Gwendolyn Gerber, Kenneth Bortin, Joanne Abbe, Mary Cucchi, Heidi Hall, Shawna Kneipper, Gene Krauklis, Lisa Loepke, Judith Mackessy, Diane Palma, Kim Likness, Jeanne Mc Donald, Frank and Ann Huml, Randall and Margaret Smith, Beth Rendall, Albert and Ellen Burnell, Dr. Mark and Cynthia Brower, William and Jean Isaacson, Joanne Henney, Stephen Ahlgren, David Thomason, FJ Doolittle, Sylvester and Virginia Seick, Michael and Kathe Beach, Gary and Hazel Schopp, June Davidsen, Deborah Topacio, Milton and Carol Ann Ancevic, Dale and Nina Slowek, Anne Dorsey, John Poiron, Jeanne Racine, Michael Butler Sr., Lois Zingle family (in memory of Elmer Zingle), W.C. Family Resource Center/Food Pantry volunteers, and all the God-loving volunteers of all our caring food pantries, 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.

We desperately need cars. Please donate a used car to help our fellow Americans get to work and other daily necessities.

Please visit timeisnowtohelp.org.

You can help

-- What: The Time is Now can be contacted by mail or online only.

-- Mail: P.O. Box 70, Pell Lake, WI 53157.

-- Online: www.timeisnowtohelp.org.