Today we spoke with people in need at the Hunger Network's Parma Hunger Center. The Parma area has been hit very hard with the jobs losses in the auto industry and more. In fact the Parma Hunger center is providing food to 40% more individuals in 2009 then in 2008... That is just incredible.
Of the 8 people we spoke with today 7 of them have lost their jobs in the last year. These are hard working people that never thought they would end up needing help. Two stories in particular were very heart breaking.
Joann is a woman in her late 40s/early 50s. Her husband passed away when her 2 daughters were very young. She was determined to survive and worked 2 jobs to put herself through school and both of her daughters through college. She succeed at all of those things including providing her family with a respectable 4 bedroom home and living a typical middle class life. She has spent last several years in the medical research field. Then in the winter of 2009 her nightmare began. The research she was working was shut down and Joann found herself without a job. Unable to keep up with her mortgage, her house is currently for sale. Joann has done everything she can think of to find a job... She is working with headhunters and has sent out over 500 resumes. Everyone tells her that she has too much experience for them to hire her. Running out of options, she has turned to the Hunger Network for help.
Gary is 49 year old divorced man with a 24 year old child. He has an engineering degree and has worked as a mechanical engineer. Gary has been working since he was 16. He recalls having money taken out of his paychecks to help charities. Just over one year ago, Gary was laid off for the first time in his life. Gary has tried everything to find a job but he also told that he has too much experience. Gary tells them he is will to work for anything just to survive. He currently spends 4-5 hours every day trying to find a job. Gary worries that he only has another month in his apartment. With his unemployment not enough to cover rent, utilities and food... He turned to the Hunger Network of help.
Joann and Gary are not alone... so many people in the greater Cleveland area are suffering. We need your help. Please consider making a donation to the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland
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So many of us are a paycheck away from losing everything. It is scary! I am glad the Hunger Network is here to help.
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