Working Towards a Brighter Future
IMPACT
At LIFT improved financial well being is most important. Our programs and activities are meant to be a catalyst that helps community members reach their goals and fulfill their potential. Help us become a bigger factor in bringing about positive change.
Pamela's Vision
Pamela was hospitalized for several weeks in 2021 at the University of Minnesota because her health was failing in a number of ways. Due to health issues, her life changed dramatically. Once she worked as a legal secretary at a highly successful law firm, now, she struggles financially and has been without proper eyewear for over two years while suffering from vertigo and nausea. Lack of proper eyewear literally affected her physical health. Her prescription is also strong enough that without eyewear she is unable watch TV. Pamela also deals with lymphedema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and arthritis. She lives alone, she has still needed to choose between food and medication. Her hospital bills drained her life savings, and she is still coming to terms with her life changes. Lift 25:40 was able to step in and cover costs where Medicare fell short and help her obtain proper eye care.
I met a Romanian family (Irina and George) in front of a west suburban strip-mall and learned some amazing things. Mom was holding a cardboard sign asking for help with two small children in tow. She told me I should meet her husband who was standing at another location with another one of her young children. So one Saturday morning, so I drove over and met her husband, George, and understood, through his limited spoken English, that he and his family were from Romania and needed help because they were in a limbo period where they couldn’t legally work because they were awaiting their immigration hearing.
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I ended up setting up a meeting with George and Irina at their place of residence and learned that their housing was secured only on the basis of daily charity from passers-bye. It allowed them to purchase nights in cheap hotels, and I sensed that the location was a less-than-ideal environment for a family. They chose a specific hotel because it was lest expensive and allowed them to cook on a portable stove top. The food they cooked often came from people exiting the shopping area because the locations included grocery stores.
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After realizing they really never could get a break from the daily activity of trying to secure money for their stay and food, I thought of how insanely stressful that would be for me if I were in the same situation. I also thought about others who donated to them in that shopping area. The thought that some people actually went shopping and then stopped and gave the food to this family is a small yet powerful kindness. I then knew that Lift 25:40 would help pay for some nights in a hotel while they were awaiting their hearing.
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Eventually, they were notified of an immigration court date, but it was going to be a struggle to get back in time because their car was badly in need of tires and they needed to travel a long distance. Lift 25:40 raised a small amount for their trip back and worked out a deal with a tire auto center.
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Irina and George will eventually be looking for a home once George can legally begin working. Irina was often asking about the least expensive places to live. If they come back to Minnesota, we will move forward with matching them to more permanent housing.
A Waiting Family
Mitchell or "Brother Mitchell" has struggled with a life-long seizure disorder that prevents him from working full time these days.
An increase in seizures began after a long, productive time as the family
Power-of-Attorney – brought on by the stress of his father's illness and passing. Also, in the last several years, Mitchell could no longer drive.
After an extended stay in Florida, he sold his car, because he has been dealing with a severe form of facial cancer. His health problems have hindered him from
being able to work full-time outside the house, and recent rising fuel costs have made bills hard to pay.
Brother Mitchell kindly stated, "Geez... it’s almost like we were meant to meet because of the timing of the help I received from you folks."
Also, Lift 25:40 wants to support him by stating that Brother Mitchell is also a talented Google website expert, and anyone can contact him, donate directly to him or the Ukraine if they go to ukrainedefense.com (a cause close to his heart).