|
When someone comes to your Church for help, it is often the office staff who are the first contact. It is helpful to have a plan in place, to know what you can offer and to know where to refer people for community resources. Your Church resources will go further if you work with the community agencies. This procedure is an example of what can be done.
- Have person fill out an information card with name, address, phone number, form of ID, brief description of the problem.
- Refer them to appropriate community agencies. (This website has a short community agency list that we will continue to expand.)
- If the person still needs help or returns, ask for proof of the need. This can be done by personal questioning or by paperwork – an overdue utility bill, an overdue rent statement, etc.
- After receiving the paperwork or hearing the story, call the community agencies to see why they were not given assistance. Depending on the information received, call the person to tell them you cannot help or continue with the procedure.
- Call the companies, landlords or whoever is needed to verify the need and the cause of the need. Depending on the information received, call the person to tell them you cannot help them or continue with the procedure.
- Have a procedure to make a check request. Do not give out cash or keep cash in the office. Checks are to be made out in the name of the Company not to the individual. Attach copies of your paper work to the check request.
- Contact the person to let them know you have sent a check to the company in their name.
- Keep a file box with the information and referral forms. One reason for not assisting would be if the person has received help frequently in the past. In this case they need longer term assistance to emerge from crisis.
- Have a list of assistance available from your congregation:
| NEED |
PROCEDURE |
| Food |
Give bag of food and utensils from food pantry |
| Food Card |
Have Publix or Winn-Dixie gift cards available.Number in family times $10 – ex. 5 people = $50
|
| Gas Card |
Gas cards available depending on need, or agreement.
Gas cards available depending on need, or agreement your church will cover a specific amount of gas or repairs |
| Rent/Mortgage |
If cost is over $100, call company to ask minimum needed to keep housing. |
| Lodging |
Have agreement with neighborhood motel to cover housing for 1-2 nights |
| Car repair, loan, Insurance |
By circumstance, with Pastor or Outreach Minister’s approval. |
| Medicine |
Rare…if they have a prescription, copy it and confirm with
the Doctor. Be very cautious. |
The folder for Emergency Assistance should include names, telephone numbers and addresses of community organizations to which you frequently refer people, motels, gas stations and neighborhood grocery stores that have agreed to work with you, utility and phone companies in your area. |
