Welcome. Let's see if I can answer a few things and give you my thinking. Take what you will, as you will.
Getting on the Internet even when money is tight, can be done. And it isn't even that hard. The library has it for free. My sister goes to my dad's and her landlord/friend's computer. Some people can be on it at work or school.
Honestly, to my thinking, you can't KNOW you are helping someone who really needs it and can use it without getting personal or going through one of your local resources and giving them your money.
Here you could look for someone who isn't asking for the moon. Someone who states their case well and has done things to try to move themselves forward.
And I would also check to see if they are reaching out with what they do have to help others. What I mean is, that if they've researched resources or links, have they shared them with others? After all I thought that was the point of this site.
E-mail (through here is suggested by AidPage) the prospective person and talk to them. Ask them your questions. What do you need help with and why. Find out what they plan for the money and their future. Talking to people and getting a feel for them is you best option.
Then trust your gut. If it smells like a scam, back out. Don't make promises to anyone until you are sure. Don't ask for their overly personal info unless you are sure.
And not every need is something that can be squeezed into a budget. Not every need has a group that can cover it. (even more so now days) Not every need has a plan.
I'm going to interject my case in here for example only. We live in our budget and get by. But there is one need in our home that is always hard to find a place for and that doesn't have a lot of out side resources. Therapy aids for my two special needs kids are only covered to a point and the co-pays tend to be out the door. Then you have place that can help with some but have waiting lists years long.
My point is be open to what needs are out there. Try to be, anyway.
I'm glad you asked, are willing to help, and are open to our thoughts.
Anything else, please feel free to contact me. I've been told I'm full of stuff. *grin*
Free and Low-cost information covering varied information such as:
ID Theft, Cholesterol Medications, How to find Medical Info., Veterans Benefits, Cars, Computers, Employment, Education, Family, Federal Programs, Food, Health, Exercise and Diet, Housing, Money, Small Business, Travel, and more....
You can get both formula and diapers by signing up on the parenting sites her on line. They offer a lot of things. Sometimes there's a short survey but it's worth it. I got cereal samples, baby food samples, formula, bib, cups, all sorts of neat things.
When I was expecting Rowan, I went on free cycle and asked for things there, as well as giving good homes to my out grown and maternity clothes. I once got a huge box of size 4 diapers. They weren't luvs but they sure saved us when my hubby was laid off.
This site has resources to share... human resources if nothing else.
Your idea is great, not just for yourself but for others. You putting a visual picture to something that few really understand if they haven't walked that road is a great thing, indeed.
Check out schools and talk to their financial department about grants or student loans. I think another poster may have given you some direction there.
Also if you are receiving help (SSI or State aid) then your worker may be able to help you find some resources. It's their JOB to help you.
I'm one who knows both the streets and the hell addiction puts on you so if you ever need to let it go... I'm here to help you hold on.
"If anybody out there would be willing to help me with school or anything I promise that I would devote my life to a passion I could not make possible alone...They would be changing my life in a very powerful way and I would repay them ten fold..."
You have a friend in me... for many reasons. You can turn to me for support, ideas, and maybe a smile or two.
I can't give you much more then that and maybe some ideas.
Check into some of the people who know about school grants on this site. Check my blog and follow some of the links on there to see if they can help.
Check back often. Lots of people come on here, ask for help, then don't come back. Tell people about the good and bad you've found through your search for help. What worked and even what didn't.
When you post it helps people remember to check out your page and you are still around so you may get what you need sooner.
Get a note book and start writing out your thoughts. A bit every day. Get a cheap digital camera to start getting some of those pictures. When the card is full take it to a store and have them put it to disk (if you can't do it on your own computer) It's cheaper then printing it all out and you will have them later when you need them.
If you are on Social Security or other aid, talk to someone there. They will help you. As a matter of fact you can talk to the school you want to go to, to see what aid programs they have.
How did you find your way here? What's your reason for being here?
Not everyone chooses to lose... a loved one, a job, health, money, a car... in order for there to be rich there must be poor.
I don't beg, do drugs, or put down others. I look in the mirror to make sure the fingers I point, aren't at myself.
If you can't play nice, find a different playground. If you want to change the "begging" you find so offensive, then help find the resources people need to help themselves.
Spend time with each other, do things together as a family. It doesn't even have to cost money. A board game, a story, a fort built out in the snow: little moments that mean the world.
Plan ahead with your family so things will happen and not just happen.
Establish a reasonable balance between outside activities, work schedules and your family.
Talk with each other and listen carefully to understand each other's view point.
Show each family member consideration and appreciation, especially in everyday ways.
Respect each person- their ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Develop pride in your family.
Resolve problems and conflicts in a constructive way.
Help each other and be willing to let others help you.
Contact and build ties with other families.
Take part in community affairs and use community services.
I['m so glad Anora was able to get some links for you. If they are of a help... or not please let us know. If I find others that may be of help, I'll be back.
The best thing you can do is make your home as energy efficient as possible. You lose alot of energy when your home isn't insulated properly, the window needs caulking, or your thermostat is set too high.
Set your thermostat at a comfortable low setting. Remember that sweaters can take off a chill and won't cost you extra. Invest in a programmable thermostat that will allow your settings to be even lower when you are not at home.
There are non-profit organizations that provide weatherization services. Weatherization Assistance Program is a federally funded program which provides free home energy conservation services to low-income homeowners and renters.
Your heating costs can be lowered 20 to 25%
In Michigan you can find a directory of weatherization operators here:
More ideas on how to reduce your energy needs by contacting U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at www.eere.energy.gov or call toll free at 1-877-337-3463.
Even after lowering your usage you may have trouble with your utility expenses. Here are some programs that may help:
-Contact your utility company to apply for the Winter Protection Plan. It protects seniors and low-income customers from shut off and high utility payments between Nov. 1 and March 31. The plan allows eligible customers to make monthly payments of at least 7% of their estimated bill in those months then pay the rest in installments with their monthly bill.
-Medical Emergency Shut Off Protection postpones a shut off up to 21 days because of a medical emergency. There may also be additional extensions available. Contact your utility company for more information.
-Military Shut Off Protection is offered to those on active duty for the military and their spouses. It protects them from shut-off for up to 90 days and the provider may extend it beyond that. Unless waived by the provider, the past due amounts will have to be paid. Contact the utility company for details.
More help can be found through programs offered by Michigan or Federal Veterans Assistance programs and the National Guard.
-The Home Heating Credit can help too. In Michigan you need to file a form called a MI-1040-7. Check with your state treasury department to see if there is a form for your state. You do not have to file an income tax to qualify for the credit.
-Contact you local Department of Human Services and ask if there is a State Emergancy Relief Program. In MI you can call 1-800-292-5650.
-Another MI help line is THAW or The Heat And Warmth Fund 1-800-866-8429
-The Salvation Army and your local Community Action Agency may be able to provide emergency assistance and referral as well as help with caulking and insulation if you meet low income guidelines.
-The Michigan Public Service Commission can provide information on your legal rights and resource information regarding your utilities. Their toll free number is 1-800-292-9555
This number is a great one if it's in your area. It's a United Way resource so check with them to see if it's in your area.
Their information and referral staff help people find programs and service to help meet their needs. They can help find general resources and point you into the right direction to finding what they don't have.
It's a 24-hour service that is growing through out the nation. They help people meet their basic needs like: food, shelter, physical and mental health supports, employment, supports for older Americans, people with disabilities, children, and families.
In Michigan you can find this help if you live in: Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Kent, Jackson, Livingston, Macomb, Mason, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties as well as all across the Upper Peninsula.
This page isn't about instant answers... more about what people have found to help through their own life living. If someone knows something that can help... like the link left by another... then you can use that info to help yourself.
Then when you have found things to help... add it here to pay it forward to another person.
Did you really think that someone would just pay your bill for you, or hand me the stay at home job I need, or get Chris's son a lap top?
My take on Aidpage is that it SHOULD work like FreeCycle in that it should be a give and take. If you want others to help you, then you should try to help others.
I see a lot of people come on here looking for a quick answer. Not everyone so put your dander down. Some of those same people get upset when the quick or easy answer isn't there. I don't get that since many of us got to this site for the same reasons as they did.
I would like to think that there is a give to this... in my case it's parenting tips and special needs help because it's what I know, in another's case it may be the grant tips, and in another it may be the local food pantry. There is also the support of a kind word or a direction to turn or lean.
In so many cases in today's world, people are all about the give me. What can you do for me? How can I gain? Hopefully we can help change that for the future, to make it better.
If you need help, ask for it. But while you are waiting try to give back what you can. If it's time, words, tips, whatever. "Pay it forward" Don't get angry if the fix you are looking for doesn't fall in your lap. Keep coming back and reaching out. Things have a way of untangling themselves if we are proactive.
Be well and know that you are not alone. Be nice and play fair.
I see lots of Help Me messages. I also see people trying to lend help... even if it's just a shoulder, a bit of their faith, or places to go for aid that have worked for them. Sometimes it's all we have to give.
If you go to my blog, I offer neat things to do with your kids if you have them. It's what I have to share, to give, to offer.
Other people know where to get help with health care, mental health services, and the like. People can only give what they've got.
Hop around a bit, do a search, there are ways to find out WHO has ideas to help you.
I'm going to TRY to post a week or so worth of ideas each week or so. But you know how it goes.
Try to adapt my ideas to your family and the ages of your kids. I will TRY to make a suggestion that covers more then one age group where I can and welcome you to add your thoughts so I can learn ideas too.
Game Night: For birthdays and Christmas a board game or card game, per kid and soon you'll have enough to avoid the "I'm Bored" phrase. The kids learn from it. They get counting skills, people skills, and even moral skills and they don't even know it. Pull them out on a rainy day. Or make them a tool to do one on one time. My older girl and I do them after the little ones head to bed.
As a family time tool you can even add a bit of popcorn and try for a game that covers every age group.
Funnies: (A great public or car game) Tell a story a bit at a time. One person starts it and "passes" it to another. The more parts the sillier it tends to get.
No major rules to this game... until you make them up. As the kids get better at it, you can change things up a bit. Make it themed, like about animals,, colors, or sports. You can make it so each person has to work a certain word or phrase into it. The ABC's are fun to work into the rules too. Each person has to start off with the next letter in the alphabet.
We limit the number of sentences each turn has. It depends on who's playing because some ages are better then others.
Manners: Day One: Make a list of Good Manners with your child(ren). Write two copies. One to hang on the wall, another for a chart for each child. Remember to keep it light and fun.
Day Two: Ask the kids to put a check next to each good manner that they use today. At the end of the day count them up. If you must open your mouth, remember to be nice.
Day Three: Look at the Manners Chart. Talk about what manners were used the most and which were used the least. Talk about how the child can work on improving.
-When I did this, we adults were to keep track too. We had to use the check marks and talk about it too. We also kept the charts active for a month, Count checks before each night's story, talking about improving and improvements Friday before bed. Remember to keep it light and fun... that means no major criticisms or "chores" attached to it.
Toes and Shoes: This game shows size relations and such and can be adapted to older kids by adding cutting or decorating to the directions.
Take a good size sheet of paper and trace your child's foot. Then Using a different color trace their shoe with the foot tracing under it.
Do the same with your feet and shoes.
A way to expand this is to trace each family members shoes and feet. Cut them all out. Now you can take turns matching the foot to the shoe, the person to their item, or all three.
www.peace4missing.ning.com —The RILYA Alert system was created by the staff at Peas In Their Pods, along with the creator of the Amber Alert, to help spread awareness about the fact that African American children account for over 42% of all missing and abducted children. However, they typically fail to receive adequate media coverage.
Many special needs children and young people are not issued Amber alerts if the wonder off. This is something many parents, caregivers, and advocates worry about and are trying to change. These kids are as at risk as any other child. I will post information where you can help and be heard at another time.
A friend sent this out and gave me permission to post it here. Thank you Dee.
In response to so many messages and comments about schools, I wanted to address some of them in a blog so everyone benefits from it as well. I know I post this kind of thing a couple times a year at the least, but it's an ongoing battle and something we as parents need to be aware of.
First of all, if you do not have an advocate for your child who is on and IEP, please get one ASAP! As I have stated so many times before, you would be blown away by what the schools CAN actually do and how much IEP funding they are receiving PER CHILD. I know because I have been there! I have been to meetings and we sit and pull straws as to what to do until the very obvious feeling that the school is giving up on your child overwhelms you.
If I only knew then what I know now, my son would not have fell behind! When the district acts as if they have the child's best interest at heart, yet are doing nothing to accommodate to their Individualized Education Plan, what is that saying about the district? It's all about money, this is true.... But these schools are funded through the government based on the disability, severity of the child. The school administration does not want parents to know this either! Trust me on this.
It's not the teachers, it's the administrative, the "business" end of the school. Your teachers are in a catch 22 so to speak.. They know what's best, yet they cannot put their jobs on the line. The information that I have been told by not one but several teachers and school staff over the years, all in "secret" would blow your mind away. Finding my own advocate was the best thing I ever did. I have actually had a principal try to silence me for giving this information to another parent in the school only weeks ago. As I touched base with my own advocate, I was informed that I was very correct and she was 1. mislead or 2. shutting me down. If you wish to know the exact amount a school district is receiving for your child and a generalized view of where it's being spent on your child, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW THIS! You can get it through the department of education! It's your right to know and no school will tell you this.
My advice? Stay focused, keep mental and written notes of everything, never let the school put anything back on you! It's THEIR responsibility to educate your child!! That is your child's legal and entitled right, to receive a proper education! Do work with them, but use common sense within reason. Know your rights and the rights of your child. If you feel the walls closing in, call a meeting. Bring your advocate to the meeting, not an advocate appointed through the school district either.. They work for the schools best interest, not your child's. So make sure your advocate is a good one and from an outside source.
I can help you find an advocate in your area or you can contact www.autism-society.org to get in contact with the Autism society in your area, who will assign an advocate to you.
Sometimes we as parents need a backup of force to make things happen for our kids. You are your child's biggest advocate! No one will fight for your child harder than his or her own parents! I have read some true horror stories from some of you about some schools. First, get an advocate then in the most extreme rare cases, if need be get an attorney who specializes in special education and IEP laws. I have quite a bit of information on the ugly side of this as well considering my own sister about sued her sons district and was informed by her advocate she had a sound case on that specific issue. Needless to say, the principal of that district lost their job and the school was fined heavily through the department of education. Things have since worked out for her. Some will fight you harder, but most fall into line rather quickly when you bring an advocate to the table. Don't wait until you start having trouble, bring them in when all things are "good". You deserve that back up.
One other thing, if your child is on and IEP and you transport your child to school, something many parents do not know is the school district must pay you for your travel to and from school for every day your child attends.
Anything your school puts on YOU that pertains to the child's education and is based in the IEP, they MUST reimburse you so keep your receipts. And do know that by law, you do not have to cater to the school when they are requiring something of cost. When something is worked into a child's IEP plan, it's the schools responsibility to pay for it. Of course they would like to push it off on you.... But they owe you if they do.
When the school becomes to desperate it shows. Because they become overly dependent on the parent to change any problems with that child. However, it's their responsibility to FIND SOMETHING that works, if that means restructuring the entire program designed for that child, then by law they have to. They have to find something that works or they must hand over funds to other sources of education that can help. If you don't have an advocate, they will convince you otherwise. The goal is not to trash schools, some of these districts are Excellent districts for the typical child, so it's not about degrading schools. It's about making them do what they are required to do by law and the facts are schools are ran like a business, if money is involved they will become greedy. Your child on an IEP is bringing a nice chuck of cash to that district, so they need to use it for YOUR child.
If you need help or more information, I will do my best to help you out. But I advise you, get an advocate!!! Save yourself the headaches... You will be so grateful you did! :)
This local (Michigan) organization helps empower women to create safe nurturing homes by providing domestic violence crisis intervention, transitional housing, support groups, assertiveness training and dress for success workshops, health workshops, career placement training and financial assistance programs. Reaching out for help doesn't have to be an emergency.
If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.
How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second.
Today my son said "Mom I know its tough for everyone this year don't worry about me let's try & help others with food & a hand up, we wil be ok I know it." When he said that I couldn't help bu... see full post
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is designed to help welfare recipients obtain and maintain jobs. This program provides assistance to families with children and requires adults to work o... see full post
The Program has services for low income families including the following:
•Cash assistance, also known as Temporary Assistance for Families (TAF)
•Social services designed to strengthen families a... see full post
Here since: Apr 16, 2010
Male, 63
Local Coordinator
Port Orchard, WA, US
Languages: English
I am the Local Coordinator associated with American Intercultural Student Exchange (www.aise.com). To recruit families to become host families for foreign students, I need a good running, car with aut... see full post
Here since: Jan 26, 2010
Male, 36
Unemployed
Pittsburgh, PA, US
Languages: English
Hello:
We are asking for Help in a simple matter. We have been working for a company for the last 3 years. During the last year of employment with this company, the owner offered to sell the busin... see full post
I read this earlier today and I just wanted to post it so that everyone would see it! Its heart breaking so grab a tissue!
Will You give this to my Daddy? As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going ... see full post
LIST 2Direct links to the food stamp site -- officially the USDA Food &Nutrition Service Frequently asked questions --http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/faqs.htmApplicants and recipientshttp://www.fns.usda.g... see full post
Well, I'm still looking.... I still have not found any thing real. no real jobs , no real help. I mean really what are "real people supposed to do in this crisis?real people who live pay check to pay ... see full post
Here since: Apr 21, 2009
Male, 64
carpenter, teacher
Tucson, AZ, US
Languages: English
Hello all.
I'm a single man of 62 living in Tucson, Arizona. I sometimes get a teaching job (part-time) at the community college. I live on unemployment when that doesn't happen.
I'm hoping to find... see full post
http://www.helpforlowincome.com/
This website is a catch-all hub for a few organizations that could help low-income families. It provides things such as income guidelines for foodstamps, information a... see full post
http://www.familiesusa.org/
Here is a great website for updates on healthcare in America. We all know it's been the talk of the political campaigns prior to the election of now President Obama, and we... see full post
The following list is something I pulled from a Betty Crocker Cookbook and it truly is a good list to consider when donating to your local food pantry. (Check to make sure they have refrigerators if y... see full post
Broken Spirits Network
"We are an online community and support group that focuses on aiding both current and past victims of child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. The Broken Spirits Netwo... see full post
I thought I'd tell you a bit about why I'm here. I would like to offer whatever kind of help I can. Since money is tight here and my biggest resource is the time I spend on computer this blog will be ... see full post
But you know how it goes.
