The South Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross has been fulfilling our mission in the community for over 100 years. As a chapter in good standing with the American National Red Cross, we provide the following services in the Wiregrass Area.

• Disaster Services include response, recovery, and readiness activities such as sheltering, client casework & assistance to meet disaster victims' immediate needs and reduce the suffering of victims of natural and man-made disasters. Funding includes direct financial assistance we provide to clients immediately following a disaster, such as a home fire or during natural disasters. We generally meet the immediate need for food, shelter, and clothing via client assistance cards (CAC) to meet the family's immediate needs.
• Service to the Armed Forces includes offering a continuum of care to military members, their families, and veterans by providing emergency services, supporting military hospitals and veteran's affairs (VA) healthcare facilities (Fort Novosel), and building strong families and resilient communities.
• International Services, includes education and tracing services for immigrants and refugees and supporting international disasters.
• Training Services programs, which include aquatics, First Aid/CPR/AED training, and preparedness programs.
• Biomedical Services, which provides life-saving blood. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets, or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.

On February 4th, 2023, Sandra Smith's apartment in Eufaula caught on fire and was quickly engulfed in flames. Red Cross volunteers were immediately dispatched to the home and began working with Ms. Smith to meet the immediate needs of her family of four. The volunteers issued Ms. Smith a Client Assistance Card, which works like a pre-paid debit card, to help with food, clothing, shelter, and anything else the family may need. The volunteers also gave the family comfort kits, which contained basic hygiene items. Unfortunately, the fire department declared the apartment uninhabitable, and Ms. Smith would need to find a new place to live.

The following day, a Red Cross caseworker called Ms. Smith to help create a recovery plan for the Smith family. At that time, Ms. Smith let the caseworker know they were staying in a hotel until they could find another home. The family also needed assistance with replacing their medications that were lost in the fire. The caseworker immediately put Ms. Smith in touch with a Red Cross nurse who helped replace the family's prescription medications and glasses. The caseworker also shared referrals to other local agencies and important information on steps to take after a fire. Red Cross caseworkers followed up with Ms. Smith several more times to ensure all of the family's needs were met and that her family could find permanent housing.

Renters and homeowners with lower incomes are more likely to face additional obstacles to recovery since they may lack the financial resources for insurance before a disaster and repairs after, as well as face limited access to networks to rebuild quickly. Most of our clients have annual household incomes at or below the poverty level and lack household or content insurance. Red Cross assistance is delivered based on whether the person lived in a home that experienced a disaster rather than having proof of ownership or lease. We also deliver assistance based on how survivors plan to recover — if there are multiple families or generations living in a household, each family unit can receive assistance.

Did you know that the U.S. has a shortage of 7 million affordable rental homes available to extremely low-income renters who are at or below the poverty guidelines? This affordable housing crisis often creates a renters' dilemma in the aftermath of a home or apartment fire. The Red Cross is a critical bridge of support helping vulnerable communities through disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery actions. The affordable housing crisis affects many renters, not just those with extremely low incomes. Over 40% (19 million) of renter households spend more than a third of their income on housing, leaving little for savings that would help them recover from a fire. Overlapping vulnerabilities can make experiencing a home fire even more devastating for a family. Nationally, 27% of adults rent their homes, which can lead to less stable living arrangements and less control over living spaces and repairs. Renters with lower incomes are frequently cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on rent. This was the case for about half of renters with incomes between $25,000 and $49,000.

***All names in the following story have been changed to protect the client's privacy***

Catholic Social Services provides food to avoid hunger. Our agency serves families in eight counties, all of which have high poverty rates. We have served the Wiregrass area since 1984, and our mission has always been to provide help and create hope for those in need. Catholic Social Services encourages independence and self-sufficiency. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We do all we can to help in some way, no matter the situation. Each person is important to us and we follow up with clients to ensure their situation has been resolved. We are there to lend a helping hand if additional assistance is required. Sometimes, all an individual needs is someone to listen, and we do that as well.

When we help people, we try to inspire positive attitudes. We hope this fosters a desire to become better neighbors and citizens. We are one agency, but in working together with everyone in Wiregrass, we all can make a difference.

We distribute food to more than eighty clients per month through our pantry. We also provide walk-in homeless clients with a bag filled with pop-top cans of food. Our biggest program is our Backpack Buddies. In working with three schools in two counties during this school year, we identified 117 children who are experiencing food insufficiencies. During school session 2023, we provided 28,640 meals and snacks. One hungry child is one too many. Children have more success in school when they are not hungry. We ensured that the children who participated in our Backpack Buddies had enough to eat every weekend and over school breaks. Catholic Social Services provides services to stabilize the basic needs of each client's family. 

As a result of our services, people avoid utility interruption or disconnection. In some cases, they are also able to catch up on rent payments. They have food to last at least a week and are able to receive much-needed assistance with medication costs.

We believe the citizens of the Wiregrass are better off when their needs are met. We work to be an agency whose goal is to improve the quality of life for everyone in need. If we can possibly help meet the needs or provide direction and guidance, we will do so for the betterment of the families we serve.

One of our biggest success stories relates to a 74-year-old female client who lived in a local trailer park. The client had difficulty with the property manager for some time when she had an accident at the court. She damaged her front porch and steps. She was still able to get into the property, but repairs needed to be made to ensure stability. We are not sure what had happened previously, but the manager placed a notice to vacate on her front door approximately a month later.

The client was receiving case management services from Catholic Social Services, and was a monthly pantry recipent. The case manager met with the client to go over her income and expenses to identify how much she could afford in a new home. The client was very low income, and scared she would not be able to afford anything. The case manager contacted various apartment complexes as well as HUD and senior housing. Unfortunately, all of the options had very long waiting lists of six months to two years.

During collaboration with other staff in our office, a staff member mentioned Medical Center Terrace Apartments. The case manager contacted the complex and was told the client could apply, but there were two people ahead of her on the waitlist. The case manager took the client to the apartment office and helped her fill out the application. About a week later, she was approved for the apartment. A couple of days later, the case manager got a call that the client moved to next in line but did not get the income-based apartments we had hoped for, instead getting a second-floor rental. 

The client is mobile and said it would be fine, but she could not afford the security deposit. Catholic Social Services provided the deposit, and the client paid her first month's rent. The trailer park manager gave the client an extra week to move out, and the client moved into the secure housing with her dog. The client was placed on the waitlist for the income based apartments that are on the property. About six months later, the client moved into one of those apartments. To date, the client remains stably housed and is happily doing well.

Christian Mission Centers, Inc. is a non-profit organization that offers services that encompass a wide spectrum of support, including emergency shelters for the homeless, food for the hungry, emergency transportation, utility, rent, and mortgage assistance, as well as the provision of essential items such as furniture, clothing, and household goods. Additionally, we offer a 6- month residential Christ-centered recovery program aimed at helping individuals rebuild their lives and find hope for the future. One of the core principles of the Christian Mission Centers Inc. is that all of our services are provided without cost to those in need.

We believe that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, deserves access to support and resources that can help them overcome challenges and move toward a better future. Our organization is built on the belief that through the love of Christ, we can make a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Christian Mission Centers, Inc. is dedicated to living out the teachings of Christ by serving the most vulnerable members of the Wiregrass area. We are driven by a deep sense of responsibility to care for those in need, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

One of our recent success stories involves a family we helped. In February 2023, this family was challenged due to some poor decisions, leading to a temporary loss of custody of their two children and their home and jobs. Seeking to rebuild their lives, the Christian Mission Center (CMC) stepped in to provide support.

In April 2023, the family was welcomed into our 72-hour emergency shelter, where they wholeheartedly embraced the guidance provided by our Benevolence counselor and Executive Director. They diligently adhered to all requirements, including passing drug screenings and fulfilling court and DHR obligations. Impressed by their commitment, CMC extended their shelter stay, recognizing their determination to progress towards self-sufficiency.

The mother was even hired by CMC, providing the family with a regular income, while the father secured a job with a local employer. The counselor assisted in establishing a transitional fund and offered guidance on financial planning, enabling the family to save for a deposit and the first month's rent. The family secured a small apartment off-site with further assistance from CMC.

Today, the family is well on its way to reuniting with their children
and building a successful, happy life. This inspiring journey
showcases the transformative impact of the Christian Mission
Center's mission is to help families across the Wiregrass area.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

The Salvation Army of Dothan is committed to doing the most good with the resources that are provided to us to meet the basic needs of the community in the most effective way possible. We make sure every effort is taken to follow all procedures and policies to assist the client in moving out of a state of emergency and into a more stable lifestyle. We understand that crisis can come again to our clients, but we have given them resources to help it not as debilitating prior to coming to us to seek assistance.

We provide individualized case management. We commit to following up with the individual or family within 90 days to track their progress to see if they are in a more stable state. It is our desire to walk alongside the individual or family so that the services we provide will enable them to more from a state of emergency into a more stable environment/situation.

Not a story specific to only an individual, but stories of how The Salvation Army touches lives during the Christmas season and year-round.

WTVY interviewed one of our bellringers this year. Alton Bradshaw mentioned that when he was first handicapped and in need, The Salvation Army helped him by paying his electric bill and giving him and his family food. He enthusiastically rings bells as a way of thanking us and sharing Christmas joy with others.

This year, we were able to help over 250 families of children with Christmas gifts for their children and a box of food for the holidays. We also were able to give holiday food boxes to 370 senior citizens. The picture that is uploaded is a view of the bags ready to be given out to the families of the children. Seeing so many grateful faces and emotions makes all the preparations worth it. Another person who comes to mind is a woman who availed herself of our free budgeting classes. In fact, she attended it 3 times to make sure she understood it well enough to implement what she was learning and to improve her choices and circumstances.

Wiregrass 2-1-1 brings people and services together. It is a free, easy-to-remember, three-digit number for getting or giving help. Dialing 2-1-1 connects you to a trained contact specialist 24/7 with access to a comprehensive database of services in your community. 2-1-1 is ideally suited for serving as the single entry point for any variety of programs and for being the single contact point for information. 2-1-1 serves families from all walks of life, but most importantly, it benefits vulnerable populations such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and underserved people by providing advocacy and making access to services easier.

2-1-1 is the only comprehensive information and referral system in the Wiregrass. 2-1-1 partners with over 900 different agencies and programs that help Wiregrass residents. In addition, Wiregrass 2-1-1 has a proven track record of working to coordinate and collaborate with local social services programs and city and county governments throughout the Wiregrass to meet best the needs of those that live and work in our local communities.

Wiregrass 2-1-1 is actively involved when disasters occur, working closely with local EMA offices, state officials, and local officials to provide callers affected by the disaster with resource information. This has often included helping coordinate resources. By serving as a 24-hour non-emergency information line during an emergency or disaster, 2-1-1 provides up-to-date information to the community, which eases the burden on 9-1-1, whose dispatchers must respond to those in immediate danger.

A mother of an 18-year-old came to us with her daughter, who was pregnant and dropped out of school months before graduation. We were able to provide her with resources such as WIC, maternity classes, GED, and childcare. In particular, we were able to provide her with information about the WUW partner agency, the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center.

We focused on three programs for her to sign up for Early Head Start – they start taking babies after 6 weeks, parenting classes, and the GED prep classes they offer through Wallace Community College. A few months later, this young lady came by our office after dropping off her baby son at Early Head Start to "update" us. She got her GED and was starting classes at Wallace, pursuing her Associate's degree.

Two years later, she dropped by after picking her son up to tell us she was taking him out of EHS because she was now working in a medical career, earning enough to support herself, and was attending Troy to pursue her bachelor's degree. (All this transpired over a 2-year period; by the time she was 21, she was self-reliant.).

The Wiregrass Area Food Bank feeds the needy of Southeast Alabama through member agencies by: 

• soliciting, procuring, and distributing excess food and grocery products; 
• developing and monitoring agency networks;
• cultivating community awareness and participation
• soliciting, procuring, and distributing excess food and grocery products;
• developing and monitoring agency networks
• cultivating community awareness and participation.

Our greatest success stories have been the client that is in a food emergency because of loss of income, sudden sickness or poor planning for retirement.

The first is a retired female who had worked her entire career and found that she didn't have any social security retirement. The type of job she had was not for a company but an individual that never paid in social security for her. She did not know until she was 70 and decided to retire. She was forced to continue working and is receiving assistance from the Brown Bag Senior Supplemental Program. She is so grateful for the 2 bags of groceries that she receives every month and also for the friendship she has developed with the Brown Bag volunteer who delivers her groceries.

The second testimonial is from a young lady who lost her job and needed food assistance. She contacted the Food Bank and was connected with a food pantry that shops at the Food Bank. She received assistance for 3 months while she was unemployed. After finding employment, she started giving back by donating her time as a volunteer.

Most recently, we had a teenager that got in a little mischief. He was assigned to the Food Bank to do community service. Once he gained an understanding of the Food Bank and the needs of the Wiregrass, he became one of our most dedicated volunteers even after he finished his community service.

Wiregrass Habitat is known for building homes for families that would not otherwise be able to afford one. Currently, we have built over 150 homes since 1990 in the Wiregrass Area. We do NOT give homes away. We raise funds upfront to build a home. Once the home is completed, the homeowner acquires a 30-year zero percent interest mortgage. At that time, we become their motage company accepting payments and 

paying out escrow items. In addition to building homes, we have a critical repair program in which we make repairs to the homes of the elderly and disabled. Each year, we complete around 40 of these projects, including replacing/repairing roofs, electrical and plumbing issues, structure issues, and proper HVAC units/issues. In the 11 years that we have been conducting the Critical Repair Program, we have completed over 500 projects. Much of our operations are funded by our ReStore. The ReStore is a thrift store that specializes in building materials and home items. We do not accept clothes but will gladly pick up anything to build or decorate the inside or outside of a home. We are open Tuesday-Saturday, and the public is welcome to shop

Success Story The Gonzales Family

Imagine getting married, starting a family, and planning for your future. A nationwide pandemic hits. You are stuck at home, not knowing what the next day will bring. Your father gets COVID and is hospitalized. It is a long, hard journey. Before you know it, time has passed and the future finally looks brighter. Then, a sudden accident happens that takes the life of your wife.

You are now raising your female child alone. In addition, you must be the sole caretaker of your father, who is now on oxygen permanently. You want to make your daughter feel secure and loved. You want her to see all her dreams come true while grieving for her mom. Mr. Gonzales is doing his best to hold everything together. He works at Toyota of Dothan and attends Wallace College to learn to be a mechanic. Their home is an older mobile home with a failing roof, black mold, and NO septic system. Half of the home is not even livable. All three individuals in the home must share one bathroom. There is no privacy for his pre-teen daughter. She needs privacy.

He applied for a Habitat Home to be built on his land. When Mr. Gonzales was told he was selected for a Habitat for Humanity Home, he was ecstatic! He immediately paid his dues and was in our ReStore, putting in volunteer hours. He stated, "I am very excited to have my own house." We will begin building a three bedroom, two bath home by March of this year. We hope to have the home finished before summer begins.