Recently, a panic-stricken man in crisis called to say, “Father, can you help me?”
It was a man about to enter middle age who lost his job after a lengthy hospitalization. He explained an all-too-familiar chain of events that plague those who are living on the edge: because of his lengthy hospital stay, he lost his job, and with that, his ability to pay rent. Like all of our clients, he lacked an emergency fund and was living paycheck to paycheck. It seems he figured we were his last chance for help.
After having talked a while, I learned that after his discharge from the hospital he was cleared to work without restrictions. It was evident his two immediate needs were making a delinquent rent payment and finding a job.
Minutes after hanging up, I received a call from an employer who informed me he was looking to immediately hire 20 full-time employees with benefits. I cannot begin to tell you how happy this man was after informing him that in addition to being able to help him with rent, there was a full-time job with health insurance available. Having a car, there was no problem commuting.
Although owning a car is not an absolute necessity in finding meaningful employment, having one, in most cases, makes the difference in being successful finding a job while avoiding homelessness. This is true for countless individuals and families. We have found this to be the case for many of our clients.
Being four years into the operation of St. Gianna’s, we can definitively say that in order for the ladies to be successful in finding a job, having a vehicle is vital. Since most of our ladies have children in tow, they are in need of vans.
Just yesterday I helped a homeless man by providing him with breakfast, a trac phone, haircut (from a good friend), sport coat, shirts, slacks and a lead on a job. He, too, is in need of a car. We are praying, pleading for more vehicles, to help keep homeless individuals and families out of homelessness and those that have a home avoid homelessness.
I would like to thank our many patrons who support us spiritually with their prayers and penances, materially with donated items not needed around their homes and farms and financially with cash donations according to their means so we can continue helping the countless individuals and families that come to us in crisis.
Please know that we will continue to keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers and Masses.
