Up & Out Spotlight - Ms. Do

Ms. Do had a difficult time adjusting to life at the shelter.  She is Vietnamese and does not speak fluent English.  She also has a disabling mental illness that causes high anxiety and compulsive, often destructive, behaviors.   At 37 years old, Ms. Do lived in her parents’ home along with six siblings.  Due to her mental illness, Ms. Do was not allowed to work in the family business.  While she wanted to assimilate into the local community, she and her family were unable to access any services that could help her.  She spent many hours alone in their apartment, without the resources or confidence to go outside of the home. Her family’s efforts to help only exacerbated her condition.    The compulsive behaviors became serious.  Eventually, Mrs. Do’s family took her to the hospital.   While there, she incurred a great deal of medical debt.  When she was discharged in September 2006, they asked her to live outside of their home.  The hospital discharged Ms. Do to Crisis Ministries. 

Selena Hardison, Ms. Do’s case worker, worked hard at helping her adjust to congregate living in the Family Center.  Daily tasks were difficult for her to complete without outbursts of anxiety and frustration.  However, the Health Clinic helped her access prescription assistance for medications that greatly reduced her anxiety.  Selena helped her establish a financial assistance plan for her medical debt and to obtain a social security card and photo ID.  Ms. Do enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes two nights a week.  These classes became an activity that Ms. Do looked forward to each week.  After a few accompanied trips, Ms. Do began to use the CARTA bus system to travel independently to class and to other places in Charleston that interested her. 

Gradually, Ms. Do has accomplished many of the goals she set for herself.  She added weekly cosmetology classes at the Trident One-Stop to her routine, which quickly became another cherished activity.  However, living independently is not realistic for her.  Ms. Do and the health and social services professionals she works with agree that only a residential care facility can provide the essential supportive services she needs.  In February, thanks to the hard work of her case worker, Ms. Do will begin to receive disability benefits.  These benefits make it possible for her to move to a local facility where she can thrive.  She will continue the activities she has learned to enjoy. 

Crisis Ministries not only provided a safe place for Ms. Do to stay, but also introduced her to a team of professionals with the resources to help her lead the life she wants and deserves. 

Cummins Volunteers receive $10,000 grant for the Family Center

The Cummins Foundation recently presented the Family Center at Crisis Ministries with a $10,000 grant to be used for facility improvements.  The Cummins grant process is unusual in that the grant application was drafted and submitted by employees of the company.  Cummins employee Glenda Montgomery visits the Family Center with others in her department cook and serve breakfast.  "We get so much out of this experience.  So many of us want to come and serve that we have to take turns," she says.  "We also notice how much wear and tear the facility gets and are happy that our company gives back." 

In addition to grants like the one presented in February, Cummins provides a community service budget for employees to purchase breakfast food twice a month for 55 women and children.  Cummins' contributions to Crisis Ministries are sincerely appreciated by staff and guests.  The community giving philosophy that Cummins practices is clearly shared by its enthusiastic and generous employees.  Thank you, Cummins!