Greetings friends! So what's new? Well, spring has finally returned- sun is out, our world is blooming, one can't help but feel happy. Things are busy here. I started work on our new program, Project Dignity- we will be providing low income adults and families with basic personal care and household care necessities. This includes soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, laundry detergent, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, baby items, etc. Basically, all the items one needs to look after themselves besides food. There is a huge need for these items. Food stamps only cover food, so you can imagine how hard it is for people to manage all the other items they need. I spoke with the Worcester County Food Bank recently and they are happy to have our help in providing these items. In Worcester County, 10% of the population live at or below the poverty level- over 80,000 people. In Worcester alone, 16% of the population is at poverty level. I was researching the issue and found a study that was done a couple of years ago by Feeding America. It found that 34% of low-income families found it
difficult to afford basic household necessities. 73% of low-income families
have cut back on food in order to afford household goods. 21% of low-income
families skip or cut back on medical expenses to afford household necessities.
74% of families were forced to skip washing dishes or doing laundry. 33% of
families unable to afford household goods report bathing without soap or
reusing diapers in order to get by. Not having access to basic items directly
affects quality of life. It leads to hygiene and health issues, high levels of
stress and discomfort, stigma and robs people of their basic dignity. Now, all I have to do is get some funding so that we can get started. I am working on a grant for the Worcester area, it's almost done, but I need our accountant to finish some financial statements that I have to include in the grant. I also started a grant application for the greater Boston area. I feel really passionately about expanding in this direction. I hope we get funding within the next couple of months so that we can get moving.
In other news, here is a photo from our recent donation to DCF. It's always one of my favorite donations to do. There is such a need for items for children and the DCF staff are really happy to have items like ours to give to the children they help.
Well, that's the latest for tonight. There's lots more to write about, but I need to go and work on my PS email blast that has to go out tomorrow morning. Until tomorrow friends....
