For 30 years, our Twin Cities West Metro community has been helping students and their families get ready for school. This year was no different. During the month of August, ResourceWest with the help of our generous community, provided backpacks filled with school supplies to 1,200 students. Together, we helped nearly 400 families prepare their children to start the school year strong.
For some individuals and families, instead of help with school supplies, they need financial assistance support to bring immediate stability to their household. ResourceWest has an Emergency Grant Assistance Program that can provide this relief. Please read on, as we dive into our Emergency Grant Assistance Program and share with you the impact this program has on our community.
Emergency Assistance Grant Program
Through the Social Services Program, ResourceWest offers emergency grants for one-time, short-term expenses for households to maintain or secure stability. Over 80% of the emergency grants we provide annually support community members with a vehicle repair that allows them to safely get to work and maintain stable employment.
This program supports households when they experience an emergency or crisis. Many of the households we serve, when faced with an unexpected financial cost, struggle to afford it. With our Emergency Grant Program, we address the high cost of vehicle repairs by providing income-eligible community members with financial assistance toward auto repairs, to ensure their vehicle is safe and reliable.
Donations from community members like you are directly support our neighbors in the west metro through the Emergency Grant Assistance Program.
George had originally connected to ResourceWest three years ago. He had been living in his car and needed help securing permanent and affordable housing. Three years ago, our case manager helped George find and secure housing.
George came to ResourceWest last month. He was still in the same housing our case manager had helped him find years ago, but now, he had a different need. His car had stopped working and couldn’t afford to fix it. Without a car repair, George wasn’t able to get to work. This meant he wouldn’t get paid, which meant he couldn’t afford his housing costs.
With an emergency grant from ResourceWest, George’s car was repaired. With a working car, he could continue his employment and keep his housing.
This program is critical to support our community members. In the last year, we provided 49 individuals like George with an emergency grant for a vehicle repair. These grants totaled over $32,000.
Donations from community members like you are directly turned around to support community members through the Emergency Grant Assistance Program.
From the Staff:
Anab Omar, Case Manager
Hello! My name is Anab. I work with community members to apply for the Emergency Grant Assistance Program.
The emergency grants we provide our community with assist with the financial surprises and unexpected events in life that can be stressful and costly. Some of the grants we offer are for car repairs, prescription costs, and medical bills.
One of the grants that our participants reach about most frequently is for auto repairs, especially during the winter season. The winter season in Minnesota can be very harsh and if a family’s vehicle isn’t in drivable condition, it will be difficult for them to get to work.
When a community member applies for an emergency grant for auto repair, we work with them to collect information such as proof of a valid driver’s license, car insurance, vehicle title, recent paystubs, and two estimates for repair. Once they are approved, we can quickly support with a payment made directly to the auto repair business.
It is through emergency grants like this that many of our participants can find some relief and can go about their daily lives with increased stability in their homes.
Update to ResourceWest Staff
We wanted to share that Alison Kirscht, the Program & Community Engagement Coordinator, had her last day at ResourceWest on September 8th. We are so grateful to her work this past year and wish her the best of luck moving forward!
We will be posting the job description for the Program & Community Engagement Coordinator in the next few weeks. If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to Tracie Stanton, at tracie@resourcewest.org.
Host a Collection Drive!
The Winter Warm Wear Program provides youth in our community ages 0-18 with a winter coat, hat, and gloves. Collect winter coats, hats, and waterproof gloves with your coworkers, neighbors, or with your friends!
Collection sites are crucial to the success of the Winter Warm Wear Program. With your support, we can make sure youth in our community are well-equipped for a safe and warm Minnesotan winter!
Interested or have questions? Reach out to Ally, the Development and Communications Coordinator at ally@resourcewest.org.
We are also looking for volunteers to support the Winter Warm Wear Program. Volunteers in the month of September will be help sort donations we receive. Can you volunteer?
Yoga at Hopkins Activity Center!
Relax and restore with yoga at the Hopkins Activity Center!
Every Thursday in September at 3:00 PM, attend a donation-based yoga class.
Donations in September will be going to ResourceWest. No experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome!
We appreciate the support you've shown to our organization and to our community. As we share and dive deeper into our programs, our hope is that you, and supporters like you, will have a better understanding of our work and the impact we are making together.
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