Alex and Ashley have always worked together as a team. While their roles are different, they work together to support their children. Ashley cares for the growing family and subsequent growing household chores. Alex works in the HVAC industry, often traveling to Utah for work. Alex and Ashley are happy with their modest life finding joy in their family, friends and their church.
Like many other families, when the coronavirus came to the U.S., Alex and Ashley fell on hard times. Due to travel restrictions and closures, Alex lost his job working HVAC. Though the family was worried, they were confident Alex would work again soon.
Unemployment can be overcome, but its’ ability to shake the foundations of families is staggering. First, the family filed for unemployment and food stamps to hold them over until work resumed. This is the first step most people make when they fall on hard times, and usually people in Alex and Ashley’s situation receive help. However, when they applied for food stamps, Alex and Ashley were denied because they made $40 too much to qualify. This $40 put the family over the amount to receive assistance, but was not enough to feed the growing family throughout their time without income.
Alex and Ashley are hardworking people and asking for help was not easy. It was a blow to the family when they were denied assistance and their circumstances only got worse. Due to the number of people filing for unemployment, Alex was repeatedly denied. Though the family does qualify and has repeatedly filed, they did not receive unemployment. With money quickly running out for food and utilities, Alex and Ashley were growing more and more desperate.
Then one hectic day the family learned the fuel pump on their car had gone out. At this point, Alex and Ashley were seriously cornered. Alex finally got a break and was promised a future job working in HVAC. However, he would not get paid for two weeks past his start day. Knowing they needed several weeks of assistance, Alex and Ashley turned to the community for help. Feeling hopeful that steady work was on the way Alex and Ashley swallowed their pride and reached out to the Samaritan Center for help.
The family came to the Samaritan Center and met with a social services case manager. Because Alex and Ashley were good stewards of their limited income, their housing and utility bills had been paid. But paying the bills had left little money for food or to fix their car. The Samaritan Center was able to help the family with food, diapers, and other items to hold them over until steady income became available. When the case manager assigned to Alex and Ashley found out about the fuel pump, she knew she had to help. After a few phone calls the Samaritan Center was able to pay for a new fuel pump for the family car.
Alex and Ashley’s story is just one example of how the Samaritan Center works to provide when there is a need in the community. For many people accepting assistance has a stigma behind it. However, hardworking people can still find themselves in the same situation as Alex and Ashley. That is where the Samaritan Center can step in and provide a helping hand.