Pivotal Point

Melissa Franks joins us to talk about giving in this time of need.

It is going to be on the cold side.

>> transitional housing in a community is essential when people who have struggled with basic needs are working on putting their lives back together.

Whether you are a homeless teen or single mom of two, transition programs can help you get on your feet and prepare you for success.

The executive director of transitional housing.

Welcome.

>> thank you for having me.

>> my pleasure.

>> so i understand with our recent unemployment surge, you had an overwhelming number of phone calls, regarding your services.

>> yes.

We are very full and accommodating a lot of families in our community to be more sustainable.

Just as we're already seeing a very large increase in applications for our regular program and for our teenagers which we are now doing.

>> and when you say overwhelming number, do you feel like this is attributed to the coronovirus?

>> i think we will definitely see an increase in the community of the needs that need to be met.

From people losing their jobs.

People who have been ill.

We are constantly serving the community for generational homelessness and situational homelessness.

That's really what we will see in our community going forward for the next several months.

It's very uncertain times.

We will be seeing people who were fine our thought they were fine and suddenly because of the loss of job or layoffs or whatever that situation might be, we are going to see needs that need to be met and we really need to try to be ready to do that and so, it's a scary time for lots of people and i think each of us will know a brother or sister or neighbor or coworker that needs help to be sustainable.

That's what we can help with.

>> what is your biggest concern moving forward for our area families who will struggle?

>> i think just like all the other great organizations in our community, we are all faces uncertainty about funding.

Somebody like pivotal point and the other organizations in town who really depend on the generosity of the community, it's very scary.

You know we don't depend on a lot of federal funding and so therefore the generosity of individuals and churches and businesses in this community are really what helps fund us.

On top of that, because of the situation of our thrift store not being open, that is a huge help to us to be able to have a thrift store.

It helps fund us.

Through the generosity of people who donate into the thrift store and the people shopping at the thrift store, that helps us.

We are concerned about our pantry, we provide food and hygiene and cleaning supplies for our residents and then also because we had all the children home.

We have around 20 children in our building right now and so, the increase of food needs, the increase of specialty needs and resources to help them with schooling and education.

Those are all things we're concerned about and making sure we can help.

>> most importantly, what can we do to help?

What can we do this very evening.

>> i tell you what, anyone who can donate, we would love you to go to pivotalpointst.

Joseph.org.

If you're a place to make a financial donation, it will be helping the community temperature may be helping someone you know.

Someone you worked with and you're related to.

We also if you want to make pantry donations, we have someone at our thrift store, a pantry donation tub that people can drop off donations between 10:00 and 2:00 monday through friday.

Nonperishable items. that would be helpful to us.

But we know that this is a difficult time for everyone.

We want to be part of the solution and so, if you need help, please go to our website and apply.

And or call our offices and let us know if we can help you.

But if you are able to make a donation, it would be very great grateful for that.

We rely on the love and generosity of this community, and we stand in hope and not fear and we know that service glorifies our master.

We're grateful for the generosity of the communality and all you do for us.

>> melissa, thank you so much for