How to stretchhhhhhhhhhh the dollar!

$9.11 an hour...
That is how much a single person living alone, working 40 hours a week can make to qualify for LIHEAP. NOT $9.12, but 9.11 cents...Here are some tips on making the dollar stretch!

SHOP AT LISTEN! buy warm clothes and blankets to keep your house temperature down this winter! call 448-4553 for hours or visit LISTEN HERE.
EAT AT A COMMUNITY DINNER! we have lots in the Upper Valley! They are yummy, fun and you get to meet your neighbors! (all dinner at at 5pm unless otherwise noted)
Monday - Canaan Senior Center & Hartford at St. Paul's Church
Tuesday - Lebanon at Sacred Heart Church
Wednesday - Hartford at St.Paul's & Lebanon at the 1st Baptist Church (5:30) & Enfield at the Methodist Church
Thursday - Lebanon at Sacred Heart Church & Woodstock, VT at the No. Universalist Church
Saturday - West Lebanon at the Wellspring Worship Center (formerly Grace Outreach)
Last Sunday of Every Month - Enfield at the Community Building

DO YOU QUALIFY FOR AN EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT? Click here to find out!

WEATHERIZE!!! more how to on that in an upcoming blog!
jo and angel

Keep On Pushin On

It is a difficult time for a lot of people due to our economy. I see this every single day that I am in my office. Sometimes when I think I have it tough and rough, I listen to my clients and realize that I can at least work another job or two if I needed to. A lot of the people who I work with are disabled and elderly. A person who is 90 years old and lives on $357 a month (wonderful social security benefits) , has no way or it is much more difficult for them to make more income. I couldn't hold back yesterday while speaking with a case manager. I started to tear up and sniffle. I feel so bad for the elders in my area who are so much like this one case. What are these folks going to do? I wish that I could afford to throw my paychecks into a pot for these guys. I hate to know that my clients are stressing out and worried that they are going to freeze to death or maybe even starve to death this winter......not only this winter, what about the next one or the next one......I'm typing here with a sprained wrist....so now I'm going to close.....

Hey! Blogger #2 here...

I'm Joie, Angel's boss...I sit in the office next to her and I will share this blogspot with her and tell you stories from the front line too!


We had a hell of a week! HELL OF A WEEK. Lot's of crying and saddness. People in total dispair over the doubling of fuel costs. Tissues are at a premium in our office. To top it off, the republican headquarters below us were having a party and setting up all day. This included us having to work over a band practicing, caterers setting up lines and silverware, cigar smoke and people NAILING signs INTO the trees beneath our office.

Then, end of the day on Friday, I hear Angel on the phone with a YOUNG single mom, telling her what to do. Guiding her through the trials of getting help. Telling her that if she gets nowhere, to call her back and she will make sure she gets the help she needs. In our waiting room, was a tall, handsome stranger. Just sitting and waiting. There isn't a lot of privacy in our office, so when you are on the phone and getting passionate about the help someone needs, it's not uncommon to be overheard.
Angel gets up to invite the tall, handsome stranger into her office. He isn't a client. He is a man with a check. A LARGE check. He is Scott and he owns TARM USA. They import European Pellet Stoves and are located in our service area. His company is doing well this year and they wanted to share the wealth. He presented Angel with this LARGE check so she can help seniors and disabled folks who don't get enough assistance, make it through the cold months.
Today is Sunday and my mom called to read me a letter to the editor from our friends Larry & Sharon G. They are encouraging people to send us donations! WE PROMISE that these monies will be used only for the purpose intended. To suppliment the shortfall our seniors and disabled folks will have this heating season. Please! if you are reading this, visit some of the following sites and let your congress folk know that we really need an increase in LIHEAP this winter. They are going to vote on it again in September.
www.liheap.org
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/
Meanwhile, Angel and I will keep you posted on the grim choice of eating or heating this winter in the cold northeast.
Peace out...Joie