'It was the best decision I made': Needy Fund helps single mother with car repairs, rent
This single, 26-year-old mother remembers vividly the day she realized she could not stay with her boyfriend. It was too scary.
"The hotline scoured the entire state looking for a shelter that could accommodate me and my (child)," she said. "I thought I might end up in Pittsfield or Chelsea, but they eventually found a family shelter on the South Shore.”
After spending six months in the shelter, she was able to find a permanent place to live in Eastham, where she now lives.
It is an awful lot for a young mother to try to make a normal life for her young child, who is shuttled back and forth between parents on weekends under court order — at least for the time being.
A court-appointed guardian currently is investigating the case, including home visits to both parents, before making a final recommendation that she hopes can begin to normalize their lives.
In the meantime, she lives week-to-week trying to make ends meet — all the more complicated by court and guardian expenses and child support payments that don't arrive on time.
A friend suggested she contact the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund. “I was hesitant at first … but it was the best decision I made at the time.”
"I called them up one day when I was really feeling down. Even working, I couldn't meet all my bills without the child support," she said. "They listened carefully and made me feel like I had a friend on the other end of the line."
She emailed her application and all her bills to the Needy Fund, where they were studied before providing financial assistance.
The woman's lawyer paid for the gas needed to drive her child to her father's home on the weekends, but her car needed repairs.
The Needy Fund paid for one month's rent, which enabled her to buy new tires and get her brakes repaired so her car could pass inspection.
"I am very fortunate that I have found myself here. The Cape has welcomed me," she said. "I have never felt so much a part of a community as I do now. And the Needy Fund is a big piece of that."
She now is forging a more entrepreneurial path in her own business.
“I have to cultivate my own clientele, but it gives me some sense of control over my life," she said.
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.
No cash is given to Needy Fund recipients. Instead, the agency pays vendors through a voucher program. The case described above was provided by the Needy Fund on the condition of anonymity.
Donations
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.
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: $840,686.47
St. George Greek Orthodox Church 2021 Annual Charity Golf Tournament; $26,000
James and Barbara Fyfe; $10,000
Paul and Jan Barbas; $5,150
Botello Lumber Co.; $2,500
In loving memory of Claire Simmons from Marge; $1,500
In loving memory of Leonard and Louise Robsham and our beloved brothers Barr and Christopher; $1,030
Hila J. Lyman; $1,000
Richard and Tekla Cote; $1,000
Frank and Mary Ellen Zappulla; $1,000
Gary and Ellen Tratt; $1,000
In memory of and thank you to Bill Breisky from Elaine Brennan; $1,000
In memory of Robert Eubanks from Barbara Eubanks; $1,000
With love to Mark, Thomas, Luke and Alexander; $1,000
Anonymous; $1,000
Anonymous; $1,000
In memory of Tom Wenzel from Jim and Merrilynn Wenzel; $515
Richard and Sandra Blaha; $500
Robert White; $500
Julie D'Andrea; $500
Friends of Mashpee Council on Aging; $500
David Brown; $500
George and Susan Oleyer; $500
Chuck and Debbie Gasior; $500
In memory of deceased family members; $500
In memory of Irene Tobin; $500
In memory of our parents: Bill and Vi, and Dot and Don; $500
In lieu of Christmas presents for my great nieces and nephews. Merry Christmas, Love, Auntie Deb; $500
Sue and Dick Galbraith ;$500
Teri and Bill Cavanagh; $500
The Cowhey and Barron Families; $500
Sara J. Porter; $400
In memory of Bill Sheehy; $400
Susan C. Leavitt; $361
Anonymous; $309
Eleanor Brennan; $300
D & D Music Company Inc.; $300
Chris and Ed Morassi; $300
In memory of Don Clark; $300
In memory of Paul and Mumsey Heidemann; $300
Max and Helen; $300
Anonymous; $300
Fred and Marcia Floyd; $257.50
In loving memory of John and Louise Lynch from their children; $257.50
In memory of John Steigleder; $257.50
Ernest and Mary Pat Messmer; $250
Martha Tripp; $250
Susan and Bruce Jankowski; $250
Len and Patty Schwarz; $250
Blessings to those in need; $250
Sprinkle Home Improvement Inc.; $250
Show love; $250
Anonymous; $250
Anonymous; $250
Anonymous; $250
A lucky couple!; $206
Idman Family; $206
William Sempolinski; $200
Brian and Nancy Burns; $200
Ron and Laura Majka; $200
Margaret Moran; $200
Lawrence and Kathleen Holmes; $200
In memory of Edward Clairmont from Nancy Clairmont and family; $200
Joyce and David Zemina; $200
Skip and Pam Walsh; $200
Jacki Forbes and Ed Lundberg; $200
Janet and Steve; $206
Anonymous; $200
Sharon Keating; $60
Bruce and Pat; $50
Anonymous; $25
Robert and Pat Lavery; $100
William Goode; $50
Jerry and Dorothy; $25
In memory of Lynne F. Salter; $50
Rev. Robert Slesinski; $50
Marilyn Hull; $50
Brian and Susan Abbott; $100
William and M Joanne Reade; $100
James and Nadine Liadis; $100
Richard and Kathleen Swann; $100
In memory of loved ones; $25
David and Julia Arch; $103
Connie Stead — in memory of Bob; $100
In memory of Justin from Richard and Barbara Considine; $100
Bless the children O,F,L,R,F,R,A; $100
Susan and Bruce Brady; $35
In memory of Charles Buckley; $50
In memory of Moe and Kev; $50
Margaret S. Cooper; $100
Lamonaco Family; $50
David Mishkin; $100
In memory of Mom, Dad, Cheryl and best neighbor Esther Brown from Dennis and Paula Champagne Lawton; $50
In memory of Charles and Kathleen Pyne; $103
With appreciation for all my blessings; $100
Steve Mysona; $100
Thank you for all of our blessings (Grandy and Sammy); $100
Anonymous; $25
Anonymous; $50
Anonymous; $80
Anonymous; $20
Mary and Roger Cadrin; $100
Louis Vuilleumier; $50
In memory of Freddie and Frederick; $50
In memory of William A. Day by the Day family; $100
In memory of Paul and Eric from LaRue Holteen; $100
In memory of Robert Hoxie Sr. from Robert and Arlene Hoxie; $103
Neil and Joyce Loew; $100
Finnish American Society of Cape Cod; $100
Merry Christmas from Frank and Wilma Lane; $50
In memory of Bea; $50
Brian T. Chenette; $50
With love and in memory of Jerry, Mike and Matt; $150
Anonymous; $25
Mary Grady; $25
Anonymous; $25
Anonymous; $103
Richard and Gwen Brown; $100
Susan and Jim Rego; $100
In honor of Barbara Healey, in memory of Lilly; $100
Anonymous; $25
Tom and Lucille Murphy and children; $25
Dale and Cheryl MacDonald; $100
In memory of Margaret Gallagher; $150
Bob and Connie Spohn; $100
Alfreda and Dave Riley; $100
Tim and Ginny; $100
Chris and Henry Blenke; $100
William and Joanne Crowell; $100
Anonymous; $50
In memory of Brian C. Kissling; $103
Jack and Alyson Desens; $50
Albert DiCarlo; $25
Tita White; $15
Richard and Jean DeVincentis; $50
Celia Bailey-Ochoa; $100
Anonymous; $100
In memory of Ken Woods; $50
In memory of all deceased veterans from American Legion Post #71, Provincetown; $150
In memory of our son Michael J. Taylor; $36
Jonathan Kilgore; $51.50
In lieu of Christmas presents for Donna Eager and Matt Clark; $51.50
Mike and Pat Duffy; $50
Judith Anne Ellis; $50
Anonymous; $100
In memory of Mary and Thomas Hunt; $25
In memory of Barbara A Smith and Jayne Carew Blair; $75
In memory of Florence and Harold George from the George Family Trust; $100
Anonymous; $100
Anonymous; $100
In loving memory of Dr. Roland L. Wigley; $100
Sheila Place; $50
Elaine Hough in memory of Bill; $50
Anonymous; $50
George and Janet Levesque; $100
Ellin Sparrow; $103
Karen and Richard Marciante; $100
Lorraine Clarke; $100
Herb and Aline Glifort; $100
Reed and Claire; $100
Gunar and Debra support helping our young people find a way to live and thrive on Cape Cod; $103
Anonymous; $100
In memory of my father Thomas C. Wenzel love Debby; $100
Anonymous; $51.50
In loving memory of my wife, Prudence Howes-Joseph; $100
Kenneth and Beatrice Hermann; $50
Tom and Debi Voss; $50
James E. Finigan; $25
Anonymous; $50
Anonymous; $50
Arthur and Margaret Lindberg; $25
In loving memory of my husband Bill and my son Frankie Cuomo; $100
F. Paul and Joan Richards; $15
Anonymous; $100
In memory of Robert and Damon McCabe from Michele; $20
Anonymous; $100
Anonymous; $25
Paul and Suzanne Demers; $25
Becky Topalian; $100
In memory of departed brothers and sisters of VFW Brown James Buck Post 8607 and Auxiliary; $100
Stanley and M Theresa Goldstein; $100
Kenneth and Caron Welch; $100
In memory of Kathlyn Parrick — mom — from Jack and Carolyn Bell; $98
Debra and Jay Mulkeen; $103
Dick and Mary Ellington; $103
Helen A. Malone; $100
Remembering Andrew J. Pulit; $25
In memory of Louis and Angelina; $100
Michael and Marcia Walsh; $150
Bob and Joan Twiss; $100
With grateful thanks to family and friends — Tom and Sue Carey; $100
George and Jane Henry; $100
In loving memory of Ken and Helen Little; $100
In honor of Judy and Peter Scarafile from Deborah and Geoffrey Converse; $100
John Banner; $25
In memory of Eric from John and Diane; $50
Anonymous; $154.50
In memory of Susan Chase; $25
In memory of Bobby Brown from Janice Brown; $100
Henry and Cheryl Milliken; $154.50
David and Maureen Puchalsky; $100
In memory of Linda Gordon; $25
Anonymous; $50
In memory of Fran Boudreau; $100
Raffi; $100
In memory of Susan McLellan; $50
Anonymous; $100
David and Susan Manley; $103
In memory of Warren V. Brady; $100
John Peak; $100
Nancy Phinney in memory of Lester Phinney; $100
Anonymous; $100
Anonymous; $100
In memory of John Celli and Jean Doyle; $50
In memory of Raymond Jemison; $50
In loving memory of Ann Lee Mooney from Chris Roderick; $100
In memory of Chuck Liebau; $10
Marianne Carvalho; $20
Sheila G. Russell; $25
In memory of Jean Kispert; $100
Charles and Karen Cooney; $103
Noah Clements; $100
Bette and Bob Mendes; $50
In memory of Lynore Grasso; $25.75
Anonymous; $25
Tuesday Night Quilters; $140
In memory of Richard T and Jonathan Segura; $100
In memory of Grandpa Heidemann and Clint Cowgill; $50
Kathleen and James Kaiser; $100
In memory of David E. Nelson; $50
Karen Sandven; $100
Madelyn L. Hannon; $100
Anonymous; $100
In loving memory of Raymond J. and Dolores C. Roderick from Chris Roderick; $100
Hilda Remer; $100
Bruce Jones and Margaret Sullivan; $100
Antje Flanders; $25
Anonymous; $35
John and Virginia McIntyre; $50
In memory of Victoria Barragato from Judith Bari; $25.75
Anonymous; $100
David and Julie Arnold; $100
Anonymous; $25
Elizabeth O'Sullivan; $100
Michele DeGrazio; $100
From Isabelle, Teddy and Hazel; $103
Anonymous; $25
Erica Waasdorp and Patrick McNamara; $50
In honor and in memory of Kevin J. Ellis; $100
Arthur Liatsos; $103
Carol and Duncan Oliver; $100
In memory of Joseph P. Ferraro from Brenda and Jim Ferraro; $120
In memory of Jeff; $100
Kenneth and Sara Gucwa; $100
In memory of Katherine and Curtis Daw; $25
Devon and Jerry Foley; $100
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Times Needy Fund helps single mother with car repairs, rent
