Steffi Cox, Director of Project Grace Is Guest Speaker

Steffi talked about what holds a community together, and talked of the similarities between Project Grace and Rotary. She talked about shared goals and “paying it forward” and found other similarities“Volunteers are little can do engines” she said, and described how Rotarian Ember Earle pitched in with the upcoming firehouse rally for heat. She saw many of the same principals as on our four way test banner: banner. Is it core truth- is it beneficial sense of community- does it share a sense of purpose.

Project Grace gets 800 calls per year, handled by volunteers. They look at each caller, one at a time and see if they can help. They do have parameters: How many times can one ask for oil, pay for rent etc.? What does it mean to the family? Can we make exceptions when called for? Project Grace tries to be low barrier and not require a lot of paperwork. She observed that “it is not easy for someone to ask for help. It can be embarrassing.” She said sometimes the phone might ring three times, they hear hesitation and a hang up, before a call.

They sometimes have to try to find a referral to someone else. “There are more than we can help.” She said. But they have to be very deliberative about stewardship of funds from supporters such as Rotary, while being as compassionate and generous as we can. “It is not all about the dollar- we want to help them figure something out.”

Project Grace does a food drive, a fuel oil rally, or may just be able to give someone a pair of sneakers or a jar of peanut butter or $300 for rent. Founder Karen Packhem and fellows started out with chocolate bunnies, food baskets, and socks. But now they may provide oil assistance, a hearing aid, or Thanksgiving baskets.

She said they gets lots of thank you notes. One family said they hadn’t had peanut butter for three weeks, and they ate a jar in one sitting. “It is appalling that peanut butter is a luxury” Cox said, “It shouldn’t be a luxury. All kids should have peanut butter.”

One of the projects is the back pack food program, which Rotary has helped fund in the past. One in four kids are hungry. Most of the people getting some kind of public aid are children. “They are not gaming anybody. They don’t want to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes. They are just trying to get though a divorce, lost job etc.

Local philanthropist Eddy Woodin has offered a challenge match if $2000 can be raised in two hours at the upcoming Fuel Rally.