Needy Fund assists grieving Upper Cape woman with housing, food
Many times when we are in the midst of a crisis, we can’t see our way out of it. Such was the case for a woman residing on the Upper Cape who had lived with her mother and sister in the same residence for more than 35 years.
After her elderly mother died, the woman, who is a health care worker, contracted a debilitating illness requiring her to convalesce in a short-term rehabilitation center. During her stay, her sister, with whom she also lived, died unexpectedly.
The grieving woman suddenly became responsible for 100% of the housing costs that she had previously shared with her sibling and parent. The waiting list for an affordable one-bedroom rental is very long, but with no other immediate housing options, she needed to stay in her current rental until a smaller unit became available.
The added pressure of potentially being evicted and losing her home was unbearable. Luckily, the woman contacted the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund.
Working with other social service agencies, the Needy Fund provided her with rental assistance, heating fuel and food vouchers to help get her through the difficult time until she was able to return to work while searching for a suitable rental unit.
More:Needy Fund kicks off holiday season fundraiser
More about the Needy Fund
Many human service agencies offer assistance to those in need, but the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund has been helping with a host of immediate, short-term emergencies such as food, rent, medical costs and other basic expenses since 1936. In 2022, the Needy Fund received more than 7,500 requests for assistance as of November and provided direct financial assistance to more than 4,000 clients.
No cash is given to Needy Fund recipients. Instead, the nonprofit pays vendors through a voucher program. The case described above was provided by the Needy Fund on the condition of anonymity.
Last year's total: Cape Cod Times Needy Fund campaign raises $1.62M, exceeding goal
How to donate to the Needy Fund
Donations, which are tax-deductible, may be made at needyfund.org. Checks also can be made payable to the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund and mailed to Cape Cod Times Needy Fund, P.O. Box 36, Hyannis, MA 02601.
How to get Needy Fund assistance
Those needing assistance may contact the Needy Fund at 508-778-5661 or 800-422-1446.
Questions can be emailed to info@needyfund.org. The Needy Fund is also on Facebook (facebook.com/NeedyFund) and Twitter (@NeedyFund).
Total Contributions to Date: $365,171.22
Anonymous;$24,000
John and Gail M. Hull Foundation;$2,000
Matakese Chapter No 158 Order Of The Eastern Star;$1,000
Jeff & Rebecca;$1,000
In memory of Caroline Whitten;$500
Dena and Ken Carlone;$500
Richard and Helen Sullivan;$500
Paul and Amy Greeley;$500
Penn and Brenda Szittya;$300
Bob Griffin and Judy Zehentner;$250
Anonymous;$250
Vincent and Mary Birbiglia;$250
In memory of Peter J. Bergeron, Olivia J.Roux and Henry J. Roux;;$250
In memory of John and Jane Wade from their children;$250
David and Diana Brassard;$250
In honor of Samantha Lozada;$250
David Wilk;$250
Anonymous;$250
Anonymous;$250
Michael Pierce;$223.91
In memory of Betsy and Maurice Wood from Rita and Joe Wood;$200
Lloyd and Ann Swaim;$200
Retired Men's Club Of Cape Cod;$200
Robert and Frances Clay;$200
Katharine King;$200
Catherine and Richard White;$100
Deborah Norris;$25
Mark Jurentkuff;$26
Melinda and Kenneth Aguiar;$50
Ruben and Anne Deveau;$100
Anne Speyer;$100
Robert Strange;$100
Edward Brown;$50
In memory of Jack Denaro;$26
In memory of Jackie & Harry Purmort from Cynthia Purmort;$50
Ronald and Nancy Church;$40
Mrs. Karen Wren;$25
Virginia Howden;$100
William and Jennie Platt;$40
Linda and Kenneth Duffy;$100
In memory of Pamela P. White;$40
Sherry and Clayton Lang;$50
In memory of Doc; John and Bob;$25
In memory of Gerry Govoni;$50
Judi and Ron Lech;$35
Barbara and Chet;$100
Sharon Leavitt;$50
In memory of Mr. Ward, Dad, Mom, Bobby, Larry, George, and Marilyn;$70
David and Ann Schissler;$100
Robert and Mary Uek;$100
Anne and W. Ward Ellsasser;$25
In memory of Bob Hoey;$50
Richard and Heather Wolfe;$50
Elizabeth Lannon;$30
Gregory and Lois Cronin;$100
Sandy;$150
Joy and Roscoe Riley;$30
Paul and Martha Kelley;$100
Anne DeSimone;$150
Charles and Carol Andrade;$50
Anonymous;$100
In memory of Annie Grace;$50
Theresa Tokla;$25
Bob and Lorraine Kevorkian;$100
Judith Sweeney;$25
David W. Halvorsen;$100
Francis and Eleanor Barry;$25
Andrea Johnson;$50
Elizabeth Tyldesley;$100
John and Elaine Cahill;$100
Friends of Wing Island;$50
Joe and Karen Pacheco;$100
Richard and Patricia Porcaro;$50
Bill Frawley;$25
Anonymous;$20
Anonymous;$50
Susan & Jimmy Christiano in memory of our cousin,Peter Giacomozzi;$100
Anthony and Mina Giovannone;$100
Anonymous;$100
George and Diana Colley;$25
Darren Grebe;$100
Mary M. Connelly;$50
Thomas and Phoebe Hoffrage with Barbo's Furniture Community Giving Program;$100
In memory of Beverly Green;$50
Peter and Ruth Chilson;$30
John and Mary Myers;$30
John and Shirley Farrington;$100
Robert and Doris Fair;$100
Peter and Karen Vergoni;$50
John Zartarian;$100
Leonard DiCarlo;$100
Anonymous;$25
In memory of Deborah Kochka;$100
Anne Marie Giampietro;$25
Joseph and Donna Hannigan;$100
Susan Schappert;$150
Anonymous;$10
Alan and Lois Young;$100
Thomas P. Niejadlik;$100
Anonymous;$50
Kevin M. Murray;$100
Anonymous;$100
Frances Mudge;$30
In loving memory of Jack and Jean Manoog;$100
Katie Balcke;$25
Linda and Gilmore Cooke;$100
Susan Fitzgerald;$50
Luke and Jane;$25
Marianne Austin and BNY Mellon Community Partnership;$196.69
Joseph and Karen Luciano;$100
Stanley and Jane Lincoln;$100
Allan Saperstein;$100
William Goode;$100
Chris and Mary Argys;$30
Diane Willett;$25
John and Susan Gardner;$100
Joa and Roanne Angiello;$100
Jane Cronin;$50
Alan Roos Jr.;$25
Charles Berthelson;$50
Robert and Carole Taylor;$100
Anonymous;$100
Donald and Patricia Marchand;$25
Kathleen Cohen;$5
In memory of Bosco;$50
Brian and Beverly Carney;$10
Shannon Hulst;$100
Dorothy Howell;$100
In honor of Bill Breisky & the great work done by reporters of his era: KSD, RD, TM, GB, JP, CMc, PE, SM, JK & more from Ink-stained Wretch;$150
In honor of Nancy Drew;$50
Amica Company Foundation matching a gift from Louise O’Neil;$175
Ed and Irene Conrad;$100
Daniel and Margaret Sullivan;$100
In memory of Bob and Louise Sharp from Sandra Schultz;$25
William and Mary Cahalane;$100
Therese R. Galligan;$35
Kenneth and Janice Lyman;$100
Carole Maroney;$100
Charles and Donna Spillane;$100
Mary McCarthy;$100
Monica Prangley;$100
Alexander Walsh;$100
Anonymous;$100
Anonymous;$100
Mary LeClair;$50
Lucy Mitchell;$50
In memory of loved ones from Jane Walsh and John Greene;$150
Eugene G. Fahey;$25
Madonna Tasha;$50
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Needy Fund provides Upper Cape woman with housing and food assistance
