In This Month's Update

•Anne's Story

July Pantry and Clothing Needs Lists

• Current Volunteer Needs

*Have you Visited Our IAM Thrift Store Yet?

• Thank You, Ava!

•Setting Up Your Recurring Gift

IAM’s Financial Crisis Assistance Department continues to be overwhelmed with requests for help from individuals and families who have been pushed to the brink by rising rents, the impact of inflation on food and transportation costs, and the economic displacement caused by the pandemic.

The story of “Anne” is all too common these days. Anne and her four children were forced to hurriedly leave their home due to an abusive partner. Three weeks in a motel room quickly exhausted her meager financial resources and she turned to IAM for help.

She was able to find more affordable housing through the Housing Assistance Authority. Yet, even the rent of $900 per month (among the lowest in our county) was more than she can afford. She works about 16 hours a week cleaning homes, but with a 10-month-old baby, she has to take her children with her to work. 

Thankfully, IAM had the financial resources to assist Anne with the first month’s rent. Now Anne is hopeful that the combination of food stamps, income from her job, plus supplemental food, clothing and diaper assistance from IAM’s pantry and clothing department will allow her and her young family to make ends meet. IAM also referred her to the Children and Family Resource Center for additional assistance.

Our staff and volunteers in Financial Crisis Assistance see this type of heartbreaking scenario played out every day we are open. The financial hardships faced by our neighbors are devastating - and very, very real. The people who come to us for help are almost always good people who, through no fault of their own, found themselves in financial crisis.  

Without the compassionate help of the caring people who support IAM with donations and financial gifts, the number of homeless adults and children in Henderson County would accelerate quickly. More homelessness would mean more Henderson County children and adults getting ill and needing extraordinarily expensive health care. Women and children, in particular, would not be safe at night.

IAM depends on your generosity to fulfill our mission. Anne and her children depend on your compassion and grace to find a way forward in a desperate situation. Thank you for your financial contributions that make a difference in their lives.

Our Pantry and Clothing Needs for July

Due to space limitations, we cannot currently accept fall and winter clothing. Thank you for your understanding.

Our hearts were touched this week when Ava and her mom came by to make a donation to IAM. Ava wanted to donate some of her birthday money to help feed, clothe, and help out our neighbors facing financial hardships.

We appreciate that people of all ages in our community have caring hearts and helping hands.

Thank you, Ava!

IAM’s new Thrift Store has been a wonderful success and continues to draw more shoppers every week. Shoppers looking for exceptional bargains are finding our store’s spacious and professionally organized collection of clothes, housewares, furniture, artwork, and more to be an exceptional shopping experience.

Weekly specials make already great bargains even more enticing. Best of all, every dollar you spend at IAM’s Thrift Store goes directly to help our neighbors in need. If you’re looking for a new outfit, children’s clothing, household goods, furniture, or jewelry make IAM’s Thrift Store the first stop on your shopping expedition.

Let’s go shopping!

We are busier than ever and we need more volunteers to meet the need. Currently, we are seeking:

• Delivery Drivers in the Food Assistance department to pick up from local grocery stores.  
• Intake Interviewers to discuss needs and options with our neighbors in need 
• Landscapers to help us maintain our beautiful campus

We are also assembling a substitute list in all departments, for anyone who is interested/able to step in to help on an as-needed basis.

Make 2022 the best possible year for you ... and for our neighbors in need by volunteering at IAM. Thank you!

Did you know that you can set up a recurring donation to IAM?  

With our easy online donation page, you can designate your gift in any amount to happen automatically on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Simply set up your gift from either your credit card or bank account.

Recurring gifts have the advantage of fitting your budget more easily than a single larger gift and you don’t have to worry about remembering to give. Most of all, you can set up your gift one time and know that you are helping your neighbors now and in the future.

Click on the link below and start your recurring gift today. It’s easy to set up. It’s vital to the well-being of our neighbors. It is an important way to make a difference in our community.

Thank you!