The Phone Call That Brought Needed Relief
When you’re struggling financially, a phone call can be the cause of anxiety. Who’s calling to request their money now? But Tanya, a single mom in the Hammond-Munster area, still remembers a phone call from The Salvation Army that brought much relief.
In the early weeks of the pandemic, her hours were cut in her healthcare management job. Then in April she got laid off. Unemployment benefits helped for a time, but then some account issues that impacted many people’s unemployment benefits took those away for a while.
Thankfully, Tanya had some savings in the bank, but she still struggled financially. Her biggest challenges were making her rent and car payments. She researched organizations that could help, and The Salvation Army was among the programs she found.
She was impressed by the immediate response she received from The Salvation Army Hammond-Munster Corps Community Center. “Some organization didn’t move as fast,” she said.
“When I got the call to say I was approved for rent assistance while I was still waiting for my unemployment to get sorted out, that really helped me,” Tanya said. “Sherwin was a man of his word,” she added, referring to Sherwin Clark, a Salvation Army caseworker in Lake County, Indiana. “He kept calling to check on me, too.”
Sherwin also helped Tanya sign up for a Lake County, Indiana, emergency relief program, which helped cover some additional past-due rent as well as future rent through August 2021. “Without this help, I would have had to use the last of my savings,” Tanya said. “The help arrived right on time.”
Tanya calls the Army a lifesaver, saying the staff members who helped her were very nice and professional. “The Salvation Army means everything to me,” she said.