Helping your Neighbor, in Lynchburg

I spent most of my day helping a neighbor. She was recently laid off of her temp job. And to complicate matters, faced an illness that is going to require extended medical care. She is behind in her rent, her utilities are due to be turned off, and she just lost her car from no fault of her own, well she let someone drive it who shouldn't have been driving.

So what can a person do who gets in this situation. Social Services was our first stop. There she got help with food stamps and directions to other services in Lynchburg. Lyncag was our next stop they offered partial help with her electric bill. Then we went to interfaith outreach. Unfortuately they were closed, and she has to go back tommorow morning. Then we headed to United Way, they also provided some help with her utilities. We were not done yet, the Salvation Army was our next stop. There she got a little more help with her utilities and a promise they would bring her an air conditioner. Then it was off to Tom Jones Drug store so she could pay the remaining bit of her electric bill, $6 55. And hopefully, she will be able to stave off her landlord until things improve in her life situation.

These are remarkable services in our community that offer help to those who fall under unfortuate times. I am glad they are there and can offer support and a leg up to people in need.

Yet the whole time I was driving her around, I wondered what if someone didn't have transportation or a way to get it? How would they fair in trying to get help from these services that are dispersed across the city? Each of these services require you to visit their sister services. How is someone without transportation going to do that. Is this a test of metal for the needy? In this age of electronic communication could they not make one stop at one service access all the services?

In any event, I want to thank all of those that helped my neighbor. And will be off to Interfaith Outreach tommorow.


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