| In my 15 years of helping families with their personal | | | | Clubs if they have programs that help children with |
| finances, it seems that as our economy and | | | | sporting equipment/school supplies. |
| workforce continue to change the struggles of many | | | | Check with the YMCA or YWCA about programs |
| families go beyond basic budgeting and debt elimination | | | | they have to help families with child care costs. |
| consulting. | | | | Investigate the health insurance opportunities in your |
| Those of us debt free and/or on the path may never | | | | state. For example all children living in Illinois have health |
| experience the challenges that a newly widowed | | | | insurance benefits available to them, even those in |
| mother, or divorced father goes through just trying to | | | | families making $60,000 a year. |
| keep food on the table. | | | | Reach out to your church services department, many |
| I participate in several non-profit groups that strive to | | | | churches not only run pantries, but they also have |
| help under served community members, and each | | | | programs to help families struggling to pay a utility bill. |
| time I leave one of these families, I hear the words, | | | | Visit your local food pantry, you can call your town hall, |
| “There by the grace of God go I.” I | | | | church or even police station to see where one is |
| acknowledge the gifts I have and the benefits that | | | | close to you. |
| have come my way from being debt free and living | | | | See a case manager at any social service |
| within my means. Many families want this opportunity | | | | organization to see what programs you and your |
| as well, but they feel that they are so far gone that | | | | children may qualify for. I know of an organization that |
| they don’t believe it is available to them or they | | | | offers homework help to children for free. Remember |
| struggle just to get gas in their car to go to work and | | | | that these programs are mostly non-profit, which |
| long term thinking is not a luxury that they have right | | | | means that most of them are operating by using our |
| now. | | | | (yours and mine) tax dollars. To see a case manager |
| For those of you who have friends or family that are | | | | should cost you nothing. |
| barely making it each month, the following are services | | | | Look into health departments, health fairs from |
| ideas that they can look into when times seem too | | | | hospitals, Senior Centers, etc. for free immunizations |
| tough to bare. | | | | and check-ups for families. |
| Utilize tech schools for minor car repairs, personal care | | | | It’s important for me that I personally give back |
| (such as hair cuts and manicures), dental check | | | | more than I take. We all need a helping hand at some |
| up’s and much more. Call your local community | | | | point in our lives, it may be help to pay a medical bill, get |
| college to see what programs/service they have | | | | school supplies for our kids, a ticket back home to |
| available to the public. | | | | attend a parent’s funeral or simply a |
| Contact your local Rotary, Kiwanis’s or Exchange | | | | compassionate ear and heart to lean on. |
| Clubs to see if they have a Children’s Winter Coat | | | | We all need to give a helping hand as well, when we |
| program. Many of these service organizations donate | | | | are in a better position ourselves; we can offer more |
| new coats and gloves to children. | | | | than we took at the time we needed it. |
| Get your children’s lunch and some school fees | | | | Don’t sit and suffer alone, reach out to your |
| reduced to pennies on the dollar, if any at all. Many | | | | community members, your friends, your family and |
| families qualify for free lunch and when doing this they | | | | your neighbors. There are places to turn; doing a little |
| also qualify to have school registrations fees as well | | | | research and using the resources around you can |
| as sporting and club fees waived or reduced. | | | | make a difference. |
| Ask your PTA’s/PTO’s and/or Athletic Booster | | | | |