Another instance where SVdP helped involved a widow with five children. She worked as a temporary administrative assistant at a local state agency but was released after 11 months because the job was classified as temporary. She was hired to assume a permanent position within the same agency because of the excellent recommendations she received, but there was almost a month-long gap in paychecks. She needed to bridge family expenses between the layoff and the new job, which promised more money than she had ever made, plus benefits.

SVdP contributed toward the water and electric bill to help the family stay within its budget until the December paycheck arrived. This neighbor had received help from SVdP because the mother sometimes had to take off work to tend to a child with special needs.

“Should we help her?” one of the visitors asked Cathy Smith, SVdP acting president.

“Yes, let’s help one more time,” Cathy replied.

“Kudos to Cathy,” was the reaction of the SVdP team when they voted to assist the mother and heard of her success with a new job.

“Sometimes we all need that one more time,” Cathy said.