These services are vital to the community and helping families get back on track. Stacie, a mother of three, left her abusive boyfriend after she lost her kids. She was unemployed and having a hard time showing CPS that she could take care of her children. She learned about the Brazil United Methodist Church through Salvation Army, and the aid they provided helped her get back on track. She got a job, moved into an apartment, and currently has visitation with her kids with hopes they will soon be back with her permanently.

Stacie is one of many of the families served who have decided to give back by volunteering. UMC says one of their biggest blessings was meeting Kim. She came through the drive-thru line to receive a hot meal and some groceries. Talking with her, they discovered she had just moved to Brazil, lived close to the church, and had experience running food pantries and soup kitchens in the past. Kim asked if she could come help the next week, and has been with them every week since.

The great partnership between United Way of the Wabash Valley and the Brazil United Methodist Church has allowed for the continuation of these programs, and in turn, the ability to help families in need. The program demonstrates that when you give back, you get back as proven by the recipients who become consistent volunteers.

The course cost $20 to participate; however, this was refunded for participating in 9 out 10 sessions.  Participants are provided with one year of access to online resources in addition to classes.  Y staff followed up outside of the weekly 1-hour classes with the goal of offering ongoing support and encouragement.  The course offered multiple incentives including an end of session ice cream social, gift card for perfect attendance, incentive for reaching $400 in emergency fund, and an incentive for paying off a debt greater than $500.

The first session had 16 participants start and finish the course. All participants created and followed a budget, and one participant was even able to pay off a debt greater than $500. At the Clay county YMCA at least half of the participants were able to reach a $1000 rainy day fund. Brook, the class instructor, stated, “Participants overwhelmingly saw the value of a budget and plan to utilize the skills learned in this course.”

In an end of course survey, participants stated the following:

• I have learned that I can save and it’s not as big and scary as it seems when you stop and look at it.
• I have decided that I am going to leave a better legacy for my children in the way they think about finance and I am going to be proactive in leaving them some inheritance.
• We learned that having a budget is imperative to even begin decreasing anxiety with money.
• My thinking has changed toward all the ‘deals’ that are constantly being pushed and that they are not what they seem.  I also understand how helpful budgeting is toward meeting your personal goals.  After taking this class I believe there is nothing better to do with your money than to be in a position to be generous and give to others.

With the support of United Way, the Salvation Army was able to help more families. Below are a few people whose lives were impacted:

• A single mother raising three children was struggling because her job hours had been cut due to Covid-19, and as a result she was behind on a few bills. The Salvation Army was able to assist her with paying her electric bill. Two weeks later, the woman returned to thank them and let them know she was back working full time.
• A single grandfather on Social Security with two teen aged grandchildren was assisted with a monthly natural gas bill.
• A single father with custody of a disabled toddler whose only source of income is disability for the child as he is the only caregiver. The Salvation Army was able to pay a monthly electric bill.