Christ Church Link: July 2010

Resources for Tight Budgets

The helpful resources given by Christ Church Link helpline volunteers to our callers, can be useful for all of us in these tight economic times. A few examples:

Share Food Network

This co-op is a great way to stretch your limited food budget and help others do the same. In return for $20 and two volunteer hours, you get $40 to $45 dollars of fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit, etc. Share is open to everyone; orders can be paid with cash, check, food stamps.  Call the Columbia host location, Locust United Methodist Church at 301-596-3463, ask for Janet Williams. If you don’t want to order food, you can call to volunteer.

Discount Phone Service

If you get certain government benefits, i.e., Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or assistance (energy, medical, supplemental nutrition, temporary cash or temporary disability assistance), you’re eligible for one of two great programs (can’t have both):

• Verizon Tel-Life home phone: Basic plan costs eighty-four cents a month for 30 local calls, ten cents each after that.  Enhanced plan costs $10.20 (with a 1-time $24 hookup fee) for unlimited local calls.   1-800-524-0145 or visit the Tel-Life website.
• Assurance Wireless (Virgin Mobile): Free cell phone and 200 minutes per month. 1-888-898-4888 or visit the Assurance Wireless website.
• Baby Needs Warehouse: Rockland Memorial Church, 410-465-1463, has diapers, wipes, formula, food, over-the-counter pediatric medicines for parents with limited budgets.

Many other resources for food, medicine, transportation or financial assistance for evictions or utility turnoffs are available. Please feel free to call Christ Church Link at 410-309-9695 – for yourself, a friend or neighbor. Pass the word.

Or contact us if you’d like to learn more about joining the Link volunteer team to help our neighbors in need.