Marshall County Neighborhood Center: Committed to Connection
15% of fundraising goal met with one week to raise $85,000
as of Friday, the annual Dancing with the Stars fundraiser had only raised just slightly over $15,000; with a goal of $100,000; which was only two-thirds of last year’s total of $150,000.
Director of Marshall County Neighborhood Center Christine Garner was struggling for words to express both her empathy that this year has been a challenge for everyone without dismissing the urgent need for support. “We really need help.”
The center does not only serve people who are in poverty; but also those individuals and families living vulnerably from paycheck to paycheck. “We are county wide. So that makes a big difference in what we do. We do serve anyone in the county. We are the only organization with a free clothing pantry and household pantry.”
This fundraiser not only provides services to individuals and families; it is the funding source for operational expenses; without which the center cannot function optimally to perform the mission and vision. “It’s just been a little disappointing honestly.” said Gardner.
“I feel like I’m out of words, to be honest. I know it’s a broken
“Those three minutes standing at that table, handing food over, is not just about food. It’s about: ‘How’s your kid doing?’, ‘How’s your dad doing?’, ‘How are you doing?’, ‘How else can
I help you?’. It’s learning about what’s happening in their life. It’s amazing what we learn in three minutes standing across the table. That’s why we do curbside the way we do it. That’s why we don’t just put it in someone’s trunk. Because we still believe in connecting with that person.”
— Director of Marshall County Neighborhood Center Christine Garner
record. I know that it’s hard to make that continual ask for money. It’s hard because our typical ‘Dancing with the Stars’ donors aren’t getting the same experience they would normally get. So it’s hard for them, I think, to think about giving because it’s not the normal gala event. It’s not their networking opportunity. It’s hard. I get that and I appreciate that. But this is hard.” added Garner.
Without necessary support, there will be less food in the pantry to distribute and each client will walk out with less food. The center will have to limit the utility assistance program to a far greater degree than they have already had to. Outreach opportunities, including workshops and educational experiences, will be fewer and farther between. Garner said, “The hope is that we will always be open. I can’t imagine getting to the point that we would have to close any days; but everything, all services, will have to be cut back.”
Though some argue that there are too many organizations duplicating efforts; Garner says it takes all of those organizations and duplicated efforts to meet the increasing need of Marshall County families. She says it takes more than one package at a time to move forward from poverty or from paycheck to paycheck financial circumstances. “I think until people understand that one package doesn’t solve people’s problems; it doesn’t help them move forward. It takes a community effort.”
When considering utility assistance; there are limits on how much and how often certain organizations or resources can be accessed for help. Township Trustees have limits on funding and how often a client can be served; Link to Hope offers utility assistance but also other assistance. Each organization has limits on time, money and resources. So it takes that community effort to keep working families from being consumed by federal poverty. “I can’t tell you how many times when we have helped somebody and it has taken the Township Trustee, Link to Hope, the Salvation Army, and us to help meet their needs.” said Garner.
Recovering from poverty or asset limited income constrained employment takes time; it’s a journey. Not unlike any other health related concern; financial health and that impact on the overall health of an individual or family cannot be solved with one meeting, one box of food, or one rent or utility payment.
Not only does the center help connect individuals and families with resources; they assist in helping people seek and secure employment. “I think about just in the past six weeks. We helped a young couple in crisis. He now has a job, but we were his safe place. We were the place he would come to where he could break down and cry. ‘I just need to find a job but I need to take care of my baby.’ We were that safe place to help coach him through that and get him where he needs to get.” said Garner.
Another individual was homeless and relocating. He found a job but couldn’t start without shoes. “We were able to help him secure the proper footwear for him to even start his job; because he couldn’t start his job without the proper footwear.”
Aleshcha Dewitt said, “It’s not a one time conversation. It’s a process. Each of those people she described; it takes three to four times on average. Those four times are usually weekly. It’s not necessarily scheduled. We work with them. The more they trust us the more they open up. The more we see their needs. It’s a process.”
After that initial period of repeated connection; it might be several weeks between visits; but it takes more than one step to remedy the issues Marshall County families are facing.
Garner said, “We are called the Neighborhood Center. And when I think of the word center I think of life. And so many of our people come feeling lifeless. Our goal is that they leave feeling life-full. That’s what we do. It’s been hard this year in so many ways.”
She said that everyone’s needs are different, their experiences are diverse. “But that is why we are here. Food is often that first point of contact with them.”
Dewitt added, “But then you find out so much more.”
There is no single solution to the issues facing Marshall County families. There is no single organization that can meet all of those needs. Garner said that as a community, success needs to be looked at differently; from a growth mindset. Some clients experience a crisis that can be resolved beyond continued need; but they become and remain friends. Others will not progress beyond a need for support.
She said, “Some people are never going to get out of need, even when they are working. The jobs that they have are not going to match their living expenses. You’ve got that aspect. But we have others who do.”
Many who have grown past their need for support from organizations and additional resources have become donors of time and money themselves.
This past year has had an impact; people have been in and out of work due to the pandemic through no fault of their own. Regardless of a person’s circumstances, Garner is convinced that every person has value. “Every human being has value. There is a place here for everyone and anyone.”
Garner said the center serves people of all circumstances. Some parents are just struggling to provide for their families; they are working but their income isn’t enough to meet their needs. These parents, despite their struggles are still raising children who are achieving high academic success. “We’ve got clients here who’s children are at the top of their classes. They are on the honor roll and in National Honor Society. You have to credit the parents in that. They have allowed their children to blossom in that way. They had to have some part in it.”
She spoke about how seven points of contact actually improves the outlook for individuals and families. “They talk about people coming to faith in Christ. That it takes seven points of contact with either a different person, or that same person, seven different times - having those conversations with them before they start to think about it. I think that’s true in every situation.”
Those seven points of contact can be with one individual or organization, but she said there is strength in numbers. “Some services are duplicated in some capacity. But, if that one person only ever speaks to one other person, they’ve only got one truth coming in to them. But if you have that one person and they are connecting here with us, and they are connecting at Dustin’s Place with their grief counselor, and they are connecting at Narcotics Anonymous or their drug counselor — if you’ve all of sudden got these seven different points where all of these people are investing in this one person’s life — then that person has a greater chance of believing in themselves and making the good choices.”
Garner said it’s easier for someone to discount the words of value spoken in to them by one person; but it is more convincing to have seven people build your faith and hope and confidence. She said it is also easier to hide from just one person; and much harder to hide from seven people.
Garner expressed sincere gratitude for the approximately $50,000 the center has been allocated from the Fund the Essentials grant this past year. Though that funding did help a certain group of clients who were specifically impacted by the pandemic; that funding can not be used for the center’s operational expenses. It does not pay for the center’s mortgage or the utility bill. There are also many clients who need help for other reasons. “We have had a brutal winter. There are people who can’t pay their utility bill. But it wasn’t because of COVID. It was the winter.”
“I really feel that it’s time to shift. COVID has had an impact on every single human being. Whether you had it or didn’t have it; you have experienced some sort of trauma and impact.” But the center has no choice but to move forward and help others move forward. “It’s time for everyone mentally and emotionally to move forward.”
“It’s time to stop using COVID as a scapegoat.” Garner said, adding that it’s time for people to get back to work safely. “You can go find a job even during a pandemic. We worked every single day. You can find a job. You can climb out of this. You don’t have to be the perpetual victim of COVID.”
“It has been a horrific disease in every way. From the loss of loved ones to incredible hospital bills. But we have to find a way to take steps forward,” she stated.
There are still people who are recovering from domestic violence. Others are battling cancer. They’ve all always had to move forward at some point. Garner added, “Our goal this year is to move forward.”
Garner said that the disdain goes both ways; but now it’s time to look up and forward; together. “Today more than any other time that I have been alive; we so look down at anyone else. Anyone that has a different opinion. A different lifestyle. A different thought process. A different color of skin. Type of career. The educated look down at the uneducated. The uneducated look down on the educated.”
To help the Marshall County Neighborhood Center continue to serve individuals and families in need of resources, non-judgmental support, and restoring hope to their lives ~ go to their Facebook page @ Marshall County Neighborhood Center.
Donate online at https:// givegrove.com/mcncdws2021/ Any amount of donation is appreciated; vote for your favorite dancer, make a donation, or become a sponsor. Donate online any time at www. helpingmcfamilies.org. Mail a check to MCNC, P.O. Box 353, Plymouth, Ind. 46563. Drop a donation off at the MCNC located at 402 W. Garro St., Plymouth.