A gift from Heaven

Recently an immigrant mom, who had been under domestic violence for many years who entered our office completely scared, shaking, and covered in tears. She couldn’t even talk from the terrible experience she had just gone through.

Her friend that was helping her began to give me details of what happened the night before. After the victim had calmed down, she confirmed what her friend had said; she also gave me more detail about the episode.

My first question to her was if she had called the police and had filled a report. With broken words she answered “no.” Her children’s father had told her if she called the police they would deport her and take the children away from her.

During that time, we had the opportunity to call the police, file a police report, and set up an appointment with a Legal Advocate.

At this time, she is safe under the Hennepin County Family Protection and has received her own apartment with her two kids, away from her abusive husband.

She recently said to me, “I have no words to express my gratitude for everything ResourceWest have done for me and my Kids. You are gift from Heaven.”

A Starfish story

As the Starfish Coordinator, I have the privilege of working with some clients on a long term basis.
In November, two Starfish clients who had previously tapped the maximum Starfish grant/loan fund were again in very real need of some financial help.  No other resources are available for this type of expense.

On a few rare occasions, I have contacted a benefactor of ResourceWest when there seems to be no other options.  This person has risen to the occasion each time a request has been made.  It happened again!
We are so grateful to “our” benefactor and it was a thrill to contact these two women and let them know their very real needs will be met.  What a stress reliever!

More importantly, now they can be safe as they drive to work and to necessary doctor appointments.
THANKS to everyone who contributes financially to ResourceWest but especially to this individual who goes way above and beyond.  We are making a difference for one person (or one family) at a time.

A poem by one of our beloved clients (homeless) relating how he sees ResourceWest:

Let's build roomy offices
Where we will only work on dreams
And our open walls are windows
Huge, vaulting prisms of light,
expanding spectrums,
exposing spatial spinnings
of our minds flight.

Let's remodel the stale, old lofts
and shape them into sunrooms
Eliminate the dark grey
Illuminate all the soft
visions in our hearts
And with the love of Providence
pursue the things for which we pray

Let's replace the broken glass
that clouded our clear sight
that left us sad in times of need
that bared the chill of night
Let's assemble stained glass shards
to art nouveau our view
and end illusion with imagination's seed

Let's lift grand spices heavenward
High above the cobwebbed arch
in glory over Romanesque antiquity
Our spirits soaring, on the march
Our flags unfurled proudly
Our voices singing loudly
To gain sweet freedom's victory

Lets build roomy offices
And we will only work on dreams
~ J.B.

Computer Technology Center

The Computer Technology Center (“CTC”) has been in operation since mid-2009. The CTC is staffed by computer savvy volunteers, so you can imagine, it started off slowly until we built a regular volunteer base.  We have that now!  

We have six (6) computers for people to use (provided by a grant from the ADC Foundation in 2008).  We have no time limit on how long people can be on the computer (the Hennepin County Libraries only allow an hour of use time per person) in order for them to complete what they are working on.

Our volunteers help people write their resumes, sign up for e-mail accounts, navigate the online unemployment system, apply for jobs online, and search for continuing or post secondary education opportunities. Some of our volunteers have even helped people learn how to use a computer.

We have a regular flow of CTC users.  In 2009, we saw 930 people sign in to use the computers and access our volunteers’ knowledge. Some of people coming in use the computer center almost every day.   We see others on a weekly basis and yet others, only occasionally. Anytime you come into our office, if one of tried and true volunteers are in the CTC, you will see every computer in use!  

While most people use the center to look for work, it has also been used for taking college classes, taking tests, filing for divorce, looking for grant funding, etc.  Some folks come in with very limited computer skills.  Others just need help signing on to the system and then are self sufficient.  The Hopkins & Ridgedale librarians frequently refer folks to our CTC as they need more time on the computer than the library can offer.  

Our goal is have the CTC open Monday through Friday 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00-4:00pm. We are in need of additional volunteers to have the CTC doors open all week. In addition, ResourceWest allows people to send faxes for free, make (limited) copies for free, and provide access to a phone for local calls. 

Often times it is the little things that make a big difference – just like in the Starfish story.