As I was arriving one morning, I came across a car parked in the middle of the Loaves & Fishes’ lot whose owner was visibly stressed while speaking on her cell phone.
After a brief introduction through the car window, she finished her call, rolled down her window and said, “Sir, I’m sorry for all of this…I’m just going through something. I have been on the phone with my mortgage company trying to work out a deal so I wouldn’t lose my house.”
I assured her she was in the right spot, as Loaves & Fishes assists people with locating and securing services that will help them recover. I asked, “Are you interested in learning about services that could be helpful to you?”
Her anxiety began to subside, and she agreed to join me inside where she shared her name, Amy, and her story of being laid-off from work six months ago and struggling to find employment. During her search, Amy’s unemployment benefits weren’t enough to pay both her mortgage and basic necessities. “Do you know of any jobs where I can work part-time?” she asked. “I just need some income.” I put her in contact with two hiring managers immediately, and Amy set up a face-to-face interview that week.
After a few months, I learned that Amy secured a new part-time position, and her mortgage company agreed to put her payments on temporary hold. She was interested in improving her job search skills, so I scheduled time for her to meet with our job counselors. Within a month, Amy had strengthened her resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills. Shortly after, she shared that her resume received praise from the hiring managers and that she was scheduled for an assistant manager interview. To brighter days ahead.
