“Caroline” is a caretaker. She works hard caring for others who need love and support. Daily she gives her heart to the elderly that live in the home where she works. Then she goes home and gives some more to her beautiful children. While working full time and caring for her family, she has been taking courses to receive her degree. She is highly organized and very, very determined! She is set to graduate and take her certification test next month! We have no doubt she’ll pass with flying colors! But what most don’t see, what lies behind the scenes of Caroline’s picture-perfect life is that she is a survivor. She has experienced the trauma and heartbreak of a marriage destroyed by violence. She is strong, she sought help and, with a wonderful support network, left her husband. She has taken the necessary legal steps to keep herself safe. But he refuses to pay child support. Despite Caroline’s hard work, she struggles to make ends meet, at least until she can pass her certification test and improve her income. She came to POM because after hiring a lawyer to help get the back-child support due to her, she has fallen behind on her power bill. Caroline is a perfect candidate for the extended services program in our Samaritan Services. She is receiving ongoing case-management to help her set goals and lay out action steps, as well as small financial support in the form of vouchers for her utilities. She utilizes the food bank so her own income can be used for rent. Her children receive school supplies from the local Backpack program. Our Extended Service Program seeks to help those for whom a one-time voucher may not be enough. Someone who could use a mentor to walk alongside, be cheerleader, give love and support while helping the client find solutions to move out of their cycle of crisis. We know it won’t be long until Caroline is back on her feet, strong, independent and living a life full of love and joy with her children, family and friends.
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