A client came into our office seeking assistance with gasoline and a prescription.  She was noticeably upset.  Her son had been in an accident and he was currently at St. Vincent’s in Indianapolis.  The doctors had sent her home the previous day in order to get some rest, and they had given her a prescription for some medicine to help calm her down.

She, herself, was pending disability and was living with her mother, who was on a fixed income as well.  When she got home, she realized that she didn’t have enough gasoline to get back to Indianapolis, and she didn’t have enough money for her co-pay for her medication.

I was able to call the St. Vincent de Paul store and was able to procure a gas card that was enough to get her to Indianapolis and back again.  Her Medicaid was locked into CVS, so we couldn’t use the Shiloh Fund.  Over the summer, we had received refunds from the Housing Authority for deposits that we had paid.  The churches that had originally paid the deposits said to reuse them for someone else.  I contacted Kay, our finance director, to see if we had at least $3.00 left from that money.  She said yes, and we got the $3 so the woman could get her prescription.

The woman was able to get back to Indianapolis that day, and her son is slowly getting better.  She returned a few weeks later and actually repaid the $3 that we had given her for the prescription.

-- Submitted by Lisa Baumgarte, Information & Referral Case Manager
------------------------------------------

When you give to the United Way of Howard County, your gift funds "what mattersT"! You provide food and shelter to those in need, allow the elderly and the disabled to remain independent and provide kids with programs they need to learn and grow.

United Way of Howard County funds 16 agencies and more than 30 programs that serve over 80% of Howard County residents.

All donations to United Way of Howard County are used within Howard County. Learn how to donate your time or a monetary value.