Fina Badolato for the Times Herald-Record
Life’s twists and turns often catch us by surprise.
Take the Orange County single mom of two young sons who broke her ankle – but didn’t have any sick days available from her job. She ended being out of work for several weeks, recovering from her injury. By juggling and budgeting, the mom tried her best to keep up with the household bills and expenses.
Then another unwelcome surprise turned up. Her car broke down, leading to the additional expense of a rental vehicle.
That was the turning point. Soon the mom found herself behind in paying the rent for her family’s apartment, where they had resided for four years.
Another local single mom’s serious financial troubles were directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At her job in the health care field for 13 years, this Orange County mother of a teenaged daughter suddenly found herself out of work for an undetermined period of time. Because her immune system was compromised, her doctor insisted that she not work at this particular time.
She did receive some disability benefits, but sadly, it wasn’t enough to pay the family’s necessities. They were in danger of losing their apartment of six years, as she had not been able to make the rent payments.
Both of these moms found themselves in difficult, frightening and frustrating predicaments – and both were worried about keeping a stable roof over their children’s heads.
For more than three decades, the Fund has helped residents of the Record’s readership area – Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties in New York, and part of Pike County, Pa. – get back on a path to stability.
The fund’s work, however, is never done; many other local folks are in need of temporary help during these challenging times. Please consider starting 2021 by bringing help and hope to your neighbors in need, by contributing to the Times Herald-Record’s People for People Fund.
About the fund
The People for People Fund offers a one-time grant to steadily employed local people who have normally been self-supporting until an unexpected financial emergency arises. The fund’s assistance should significantly resolve the problem and help the individual resume financial stability.
Since 1985, the fund has helped thousands of local people. To learn more about contributing, volunteering or applying for help, call 343-1663.
Donations can also be made via the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan NY at cfosny.org.