Recession Depression: The Drain on Resources for Survival

  The newly desperate.  The white collar poor - new terms for people who are asking for help for the first time in their lives because of the economy.
  Andrea Lindenberg’s Fact Finder report, ‘Recession Depression,‘ pushed a lot of those people to the United Way of Central Alabama 211 help line.
  When her story aired on NBC13 HD, calls to the 211 resource line jumped from about 250 calls a day to more than 500.
  Andrea shows us how her story helped hundreds in need, but also put extra stress on the people who help them.

  John Lewis manages a food bank in Fairfield. Today, they are bagging groceries for people who would starve without them.
  Lewis says the number of people who show up for food has jumped 25% since this time last year.
  “Very proud people, dignified people who never had to ask anyone for anything at all,“ Lewis said.
 
  Here are the facts on the People Development Center food bank:
  They serve 235 households right now, on average more than 700 men, women and children.
  They have to deliver the food to about 100 homes - some can’t get to the food bank.

    Looking throught their files, we saw they handed out about 3,000 pounds of food in May 2008.  This year in May, they handed out 5,000 pounds of food.
    They also hand out cash to pay for utilities.
    Lewis says, “It’s getting progressively worse.  We are running out of the things.  Running out of money right now, even as we speak.  We are doing all right with food, but money is the most important resource.  It’s gone.“

    To get more help, Lewis took his case before a group of United Way of Central Alabama employees.  He explained what his center offers, and what he needs to keep it going. He left with $10,000 in grant money and the promise of more food from the United Way food bank.

    We heard an unsettling fact at that meeting. The United Way food bank is feeding some 100 new families every month.  Some found out about the resource by calling the 211 help line we told you about last month.   
    After our story about recession resources, including the 211 help line, the United Way was slammed with calls.
    One 211 operator told us, “There was one day after your visit where we had approximately 230 calls that went to voicemail.  We accepted 250 calls, and we never stop.“
    Those callers were linked to agencies or organizations to address their need.
    And there’s definately a difference in the type of callers - more first timers - the newly desperate.
Samuetta Nesbit is the marketing director of United Way of Central Alabama.  She says, “Many are out there but they don’t know how to apply for food stamps.  Don’t know how to get help for free medical services.  Just don’t know where to turn, and they are overwhelmed.  So again, that’s a service 211 provides.“
    “This is a wonderful job, but it’s a different one,“ according to one of the 211 operators. “You do have to come in with a positive attitude and just listen.  You have to be a good listener
    But more calls mean more resources used, whether it’s free food in Fairfield or free doctor appointments at MPower Ministries in Avondale.  The demand is significantly greater than the supply available.
    When asked what the United Way need to keep resources flowing, Drew Langloh, president of United Way, told us, “There are some things people can do specifically.  Go to our website, www.uwca.org. Click on Crisis Fund to donate on web. Sign up for information and as needs become available, we have need for diapers or different types of food and services, we’ll put that out there through an email push people can see.“
   
    The United Way of Central Alabama created a $200.000 Community Crisis Fund back in December. Donations keep it going. Since January, the fund has put 150,000 meals on people’s tables; helped more than 350 people avoid eviction; and helped hundreds get prescription medications.
    Those are facts that encourage people like John Lewis, who desperately wants to help people he now considers family.
  “I have good days and days that aren’t so well.  We all become attached.  We become like family. so their concerns are my concerns.“