Embrace Iowa replaces single mom’s tires so she can drive safely in winter. You can help, too.
Last winter Mary Campbell was in a tough spot. She had just lost her job and couldn’t find work in Keokuk, where she lives. She had a couple job leads in nearby communities, but her car’s tires were almost bald, making it dangerous to drive in winter conditions.
That’s when Embrace Iowa stepped in with a grant to replace Campbell’s tires — allowing the single mom to safely get to job interviews and drive her two teenagers to school and activities.
With her new tires, Campbell soon secured a good job as a caretaker for an elderly woman in Nauvoo, Illinois, a 20-minute drive from Keokuk.
The Des Moines Register’s annual Embrace Iowa campaign helps Iowans like Campbell with grants of up to $750 to pay for things that fall outside of standard assistance programs — like car repairs, beds, working appliances, or medical expenses.
Embrace Iowa applicants apply through 16 local Community Action Agencies serving all 99 counties across the state. First-time applicants are given priority in the review process, and applicants must be at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
“I know it’s just tires, but for me the tires were life changing because they gave me the chance to find a wonderful job,” Campbell said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who donates to this program.”
More:Embrace Iowa 2021-22 campaign surpasses goal, raises more than $411,000
How you can help and donate to Embrace Iowa
This holiday season, you can make a difference in the lives of your Iowa neighbors by helping Embrace Iowa raise $400,000 in the 2022-23 campaign. Embrace Iowa accepts funds year-round, but the official fundraising campaign runs from Thanksgiving through Feb. 1, 2023.
You can donate to Embrace Iowa online at iowacommunityaction.org/about/donate. Or checks can be mailed to Embrace Iowa, P.O. Box 10611, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0611.
One-hundred percent of donations are used to help the applicants, not to pay staff or agency costs. Following your donation, a letter will be mailed for tax purposes.
Missy Keenan is a freelance writer based in Des Moines.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How Embrace Iowa helped a single mother replace her car tires
