In This Issue... ▪ February by the Numbers▪ Utility Assitance▪ Success Story▪ Partner Spotlight February by the Numbers Total Savings: $64,000

         
gesher connections

In This Issue...

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Total Savings: $64,000

(Includes: Medicaid, utility assistance, food stamps, prescription assistance and childcare.)

Families Assisted: 52

Feb chart
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Time's running out.

As the winter comes to a close, so do some of the programs that can help you or someone you know pay for their gas and electric bills.

Below is a list of programs that are ending:

HEAP - A one-time credit of anywhere between $150- $300 towards a gas bill.

Winter Crisis Program - A credit of up to $175 for those who have a shut off notice or have been shut off already.

Applications must be submitted by March 31st.

Fuel Funds for Electric Bills - For the very first time, we have been granted access to two different funds to assist people in paying their electric Bill.

The funds are very limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Contact us today to see if you are eligible at 216-862-4599 or info@geshercleveland.org.

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success story

Mark’s Medicine

Mark’s prescription medication costs $2,000.

To make matters worse, his insurance company refused to cover it.

Even after using a discount card, the prescription still cost $750.

Mark and his wife, Sarah simply didn’t have any way of paying for it.

And with Mark’s supply running out in a few weeks, panic started to set in.

~ ~ ~

Mark has a severe stomach condition that requires a unique, and expensive, prescription medication.

After learning about Mark’s condition from a community leader, we quickly flew into action. It was the beginning of January and Mark’s supply was running out February 11th.

As certified and experienced Needymeds (http://www.needymeds.org/) advocates, we quickly discovered a way to get Mark and Sarah the financial assistance they so desperately needed.

That was the easy part. The hard part was getting together the mountain of necessary paperwork.

After numerous trips to our office, faxes to Mark’s doctors and even a home visit by our staff, we were ready to submit the application.

Time was running out.

We had just one week, till February 11th, until Mark’s prescription ran out. February 11th. Sarah was a nervous wreck. We assured her we were doing everything we could. We called the pharmaceutical company almost every day to confirm receipt of our faxed application. “We can’t find it,” was the response we got.

We faxed it a second time.

“We still can’t find it.”

We were beside ourselves.

Finally they found it. But now they needed to verify it with Mark’s doctor.

It was February 10th.

February 11th came and went with no medicine.
On Friday, February 12th, we called the pharmaceutical company and told them we needed the medicine now. We were told Mark’s application had been approved and he would be receiving his medicine on Monday.

“Great!” We told him. Then we realized Monday was President’s day.

No mail meant no medicine.

“No problem,” he said. “I’ll send it FedEx.”

We told Sarah to buy a few pills to get Mark through till Monday.

FedEx came on Monday with three bottles of medicine. Plus an approval for 12 months of Mark’s medicine. Absolutely free.

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“Brandy was so helpful! We had such a pleasant experience.”

That’s what we often hear when after our clients meet with Brandy Shanko, a Water Utility Specialist at the Cleveland Housing Network.

Living next to the fourth largest lake in the U.S., water is a big part of our lives. Unfortunately, it’s also a big expense.

Thankfully, we have Brandy on our side.

Brandy gathers applications we email her and helps to get our clients approved for the water and sewer affordability assistance program.

As a mother of two young boys and an upcoming July wedding, she somehow still finds time to meet with our clients. Often the same day!

And our clients come back ranting and raving how amazing and helpful Brandy was.

Thank you Brandy! You’re a partner we couldn’t live without.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

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We look forward to highlighting more partners in this and other agencies in future emails.

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See You Next Month!

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