We at POM are so blessed by our community partners. When we all unite to help a client who’s struggling, we achieve more than any one of us could do alone. And we have the absolute privilege of sharing one of those stories with you today.

Stanley was walking through a season of grief. His wife, Sherrie, had taken care of everything. All the bills were in her name and when she passed, he didn’t even know where to start. And he worried about something that no one who just lost a spouse should have to worry about – how he could afford to lay her to rest. When we first met him, his voice was overcome with fear and with every word he spoke, his pain and heartbreak hung heavy.

After our case manager spoke with him, she learned Stanley was a veteran. So, a quick phone call to a contact at the VFW was in order. Stanley didn’t want to mess with paperwork, it just wasn’t something he had the capacity to handle. “When people are in stress, they shouldn’t have to deal with government agencies,” our case manager told me. But a few gentlemen from the VFW, with hearts full of compassion, met with Stanley. That meeting helped to get the specific paperwork filled out and the process to find a place where Sherrie could be buried, at no charge, could finally begin.

Stanley also signed up to receive food bank deliveries through Door Dash. It was hard for him to get out and he had some diet restrictions, which we were able to help meet. We’re still working with Stanley to help get the electric bill in his name but at least now, he can have peace about his bride. Not only did we get to see our vision of “a plateau where every family, person, thrives in a community of love and support” but we honored one of our core values, to “joyfully serve as Christs hands…we value the dignity of people”.