Boys will be Joys

Over the last several weeks, I spent a lot of time away from the clinic, because we were preparing for a very important fundraiser for our organization. This week, I jumped right back into the action and remembered why we do what we do.

A lot happens at the clinic. Obviously, we provide medical care, but we also provide resource navigation and conduct our intake assessments. Some weeks can be joyful when people make improvements in their health, or job, or receive much needed assistance. Some weeks, though, are heavy. This was one of those weeks.

I shared a post on FB this week about how many people are just one crisis away from homelessness. Then, I saw it first hand.

Have you ever had your contract with your electric company lapse? Do you know what happens to your rates when you are on a month to month contract? This may seem like a small crisis, but to some, it is a major crisis.

Imagine living on a fixed income, possibly with a disability, and too old to work. Every bit of your SSI is budgeted for your monthly expenses. Your SNAP benefits are less than $30 a month, so you visit food pantries to supplement your groceries. All of a sudden, your power bill jumps from $150/mo to $500/mo. Then before you realize what has happened, it is $900 the next month. Then, disconnection because you don’t have any way to pay that bill.

Imagine losing a child to terminal illness. Imagine losing a child to a lifestyle of addiction. Imagine waiting to see if your third child is going to make it off of life support or not. Imagine all of this at once. You now have grandchildren who need someone to help them out. You’re that person. You barely have enough to support yourself, but you’re going to sacrifice anyway.

These are the stories that break our hearts. Stories that we shed tears about after they leave.

We call power companies to ask for assistance, we help clients get online and apply for programs because they don’t have a computer or don’t know how to use one. We help them choose their new contract with the power company. We make calls to see if there is still room to sponsor two more kids for Christmas. With each unique situation, we search for solutions.

They talk and cry. We listen.

Some weeks, it is just a lot. This week, my heart is heavy.