I have just witnessed the coolest thing…..

I have just witnessed the coolest thing…..

Within ten minutes of sending out the last post regarding the single mom with 3 teens battling colon cancer we have almost every need met.

 Immediately your messages and offers to help started coming in. We had three people offer to donate a washer and dryer. Several people offer to help with clothing for the children including our very own Ms. Greenville county Kristen Rene Smith who also offered to help with finding the electric heel chair and check into the driving classes with her church.  And, Patty has the wood and labor donated to build the ramp.

 p.s…. If you sent in an offer to help I have forwarded them to Patty and she will be contacting you soon. And, thank you!!!

 Ten minutes…. all I can say is….. God is amazing!

Okay, let’s see what happens in the next ten minutes…lol.

Patty is working with one other family right now. It’s a widow raising her three grandchildren and here is their story in Patty’s words:

 Hey guys. I met with this family on Friday. I took an electrician friend of mine with me……..terrible situation. The mother of the home’s son married a woman 14 years ago she had a 18 month old girl and then they had two of their own children. Both parents abandoned the kids with the grandmother. The children are 16, 13 & 9.
 
Six years later her husband died. The home is a complete mess, including 40 dogs, 10-14 in the house……..yes in the house. The children are lovely and seem to be happy. They started this animal rescue and the oldest has created the website to help the animals.
 
The electrician says he can fix the box in the garage. The heating & air has a bad compressor and the unit needs to be replaced. I just found out it is under warranty so we will get that taken care of.
 
The roof is a mess, someone took advantage of her and didn’t finish the job. I am looking at some roofers now to see if I can get them to go out and take a look and see if we can fix it……….it is a new roof so just some caulking around the attic windows and fix the gutters. If you can help let me know?
 
The clutter, I have two friends that have volunteered to go and spend a day or two with  and help her clean up.

Oh, the other thing the children will all need is braces. The oldest needs them now. If I can find someone to help her with that the grandmother says she will take her.

 And one more thing, I plan on getting someone to cut and color her hair, she has let herself go and had moments of crying while I was there…..trying to pick her spirits up a bit.

 If you would like to help in anyway please jump in, we need you!

Single mother of three teens is battling colon cancer and needs help!

Our volunteer project manager Patty Wells has gone out to visit with the family she is working to help in Travelers Rest and has an update for us…
She is working to help a single mother of three teens that is getting ready to come home from the hospital as she is fighting colon cancer. When she is sent home she will need an electric wheel chair and a ramp which insurance won’t cover. Patty took a contractor with her to measure and look at the area to build an access ramp. We will need donated lumber, supplies and volunteers to build this ramp; can you help? They also have a leak in her roof which the contractor has volunteered to fix.

She will also need a chair with arms that she can use in the living room and be able to get out of easily. Patty has put feelers out for a chair since she will need to be able to pull herself up into and sit comfortably.

Her sixteen year old daughter can’t afford driving school to go ahead and get her license so she can transport her mom and two younger brothers to work and treatments. The daughter is currently driving illegally but she has to so she can take her mother to the hospital and herself to work. Patty is checking on a church program she heard about that gives the driving lessons for free so we hope we can get her in that program.

They need a washer and dryer because they are currently renting one and cannot afford payments of $42/wk. We are looking for someone that will donate a washer and dryer as Patty has found a volunteer that will install them. The children are also in desperate need of shoes and back to school clothes. We have two donations for clothes and back to school items and Patty has hair cuts for the three children donated.
If there is anything you can do to help this mother and her children in the situation they are faced with please let us know.

There is no offer too small, it ALL matters!

In His Love,

The Heartstep Team

Need Met

We had a post from an unemployed father doing his best to care for his family with two small children. He suffers from an eye blinding disease and has had 10 surgeries on both of his eyes. With his vision impairment it is difficult for him to take care of handy work at home. A His Radio (89.3) listener heard about the family and has gone over to fix his leaky faucets and take care of several repairs around the house. He has also taken the need to his church to see what else his small group can do to help out. Please take a moment to review the posts online and join us in helping those in need right here at home… after all love is an action.

Several new posts are up today please review them at: www.heartstep.org/needs

In His Love,

Krista Cogdill

Jer 29:11

Home Fires Update

Heartstep has recently had 2 nominations from different families going through the struggle of rebuilding after house fires wiped out all their possessions. 

The family in Greenville, Paul, Anne, and Drew lost their home while trying to clean up debris from a recent storm.  The family has temporary residence and is looking for a new home presently.  In the meantime, Atlanta Bread Company has provided some meals and food for the family.  We have also been collecting clothing and household items from the community.  We are still looking for more donations to help this sweet family get back on their feet.

Another family from Pauline, SC lost most of their possessions in a house fire as well.  Mike, Freda and Aaron have had some support from the Red Cross and their local church.   Our project coordinators have assessed the families needs include:  bedroom linens, blankets, chest of drawers, curtains, cups and mugs.  Canned or non-perishable foods would  be helpful.  They also need clothing for the three of them.  Women’s sizes: dress 12, jeans 14, t-shirt XL, shoe 7 1/2, bra 38B, underwear 6-7.  Men’s sizes: jeans 29 x32 or 32 x 34, t-shirts M or L, shoes 7 1/2 W or 11W.  We’ve had several leads in the community for help on this project and we’d like to thank those people in advance.

If you can help with either situation please contact Heartstep via our website and Heartstep.org!

Single Mom Needs Help During Radiation Treatments

Heartstep has been working with a mother/grandmother as she goes through radiation treatments.  Thanks to the Cancer Society some of the medications and supplies that are needed during treatment will be provided to her. 

She is a working mother, but with a new round of radiation coming up soon she may be too ill to work for several weeks.   She is concerned about paying her rent and electric utility bill.  Can you help?!

Please contact us at Heartstep.org with any help!

Beep Beep!!

Mary was a 73 year old woman who relied on an old minivan to drive her to dialysis three times a week, especially on Saturdays.  She also has several doctors’ appointments and presription pick-up needs.  Her minivan’s transmission failed and was too expensive for her to fix.  When the community bus told her that Saturday transportation would not be possible, Mary’s daughter, Donna, brought the need to Heartstep’s attention.

We are happy to report Mary will be recieving a new, used car today!  The 2002 Buick LeSabre was inspected and serviced and found to be in good working order before it was to be delivered.  A member of the community donated the vehicle.

Mary is grateful and her daughter is happy to know her mom will be able to get the medical attention she needs!

New Posts and Thoughts…

Good morning and Happy Monday to you! It is another beautiful day! As I sit and read some of our new posts I am more than reminded that we have so much to be thankful for. And yet, I am also filled with compassion as I think about situations people are facing which could happen to any of us. I am also excited to have this forum to share some of these stories and needs and see how God moves some of us to action and into the lives of people that need us. I love how Rob Dempsey of His Radio capsulated the concept of Hearts for Hope by saying, “It’s about people helping people”. I would like to encourage you this morning to visit www.heartstep.org and view the four new posts. All of them are a result of health issues from cancer to losing vision. In each case the most obvious need is financial but I would like to encourage you to think of other ways that we may be able to bless any of these families and write in with your ideas. We also need to know if you are willing to volunteer randomly or regularly. If so, please take a moment to complete the online volunteer form which will give us an overview of your skills and interests which we can load into our database. Currently we need volunteers that are willing to serve as a runner to deliver food and other items. We are also looking for church small groups that are willing to adopt families and/or situations to serve as a means of long term follow-up offering friendship and encouragement to some of the families/ people we assist. Thank you so much for your compassion and your willingness to get involved and be a part of caring for others. In His Love, Krista Jer 29:11

Exciting Announcement

I am very excited to announce that Heartstep and Channel 7’s YOUR CAROLINA program have partnered with His Radio (89.3) with Rob and Kristen in the Hearts for Hope Network.

This partnership will broaden the exposure and create more opportunity to find those in critical need as well as finding many more people and resources available to meet the needs.

We will kick off this alliance “live” on Channel 7 Friday, May 29th at 10am. Please tune in to hear more about this exciting news and ongoing opportunity for you to work with your community to bring hope, encouragement and help where it is critically needed.

Yesterday, two of our volunteers delivered a wheelchair and some other items to an elderly woman that had been nominated for the items. Upon delivering them she was asked if there was anything else that she may be in need of. She replied, “No, I’m ok.” The volunteer continued to ask if there was anything at all like towels, bedding or food? The woman said, “Well I have a piece of chicken for tonight. After further conversation we found out that she had applied for food stamps but won’t receive them until June 8th and the piece of chicken was the last bite of food in the house. We delivered groceries to her this morning.

It is clear that the need for food in these tough economic times is much greater than we realized. Although there are services and governmental support there are still people that are going hungry as they wait to be approved or sent through the process. Therefore, we have decided to start a food pantry so these items are on hand in emergencies. If you would like to donate a non-perishable food item please feel free to drop it by our office. If you can donate a food gift card to Wal-Mart, Publix or BI-LO please mail them to our office.

Office Address: 406 River Street Greenville, SC 29601

A nice thank you note from one of the recipients of Hearts for Hope

Dear Heartstep. Tina Price & Krista May 13, 2009
There are not enough words, to express my gratitude, thankfulness, when my friend, called in Friday, April 24th, requesting urgent needs on my behalf. She, was tuned, to My Carolina (Jack & Kimberly), so, Thanks to them, & Channel 7. Heartstep ladies were offering help, Along with many others, I’m so glad you were there!
I needed food, ASAP, there was only enough for one more meal! By Friday afternoon, Tina Price, knocked on my door. Her gentle smile, sincere concern, and, a box of food greeted me.
Heartstep, Caring Staff, Many Volunteers, are A Band Of Angels, that make Wonderful Blessings, happen, to people nominated, and accepted.

Special Thanks. Tina, for your Prayers! My Situation, stemed from job loss ( 2Yrs.) ago, The Recession small savings, exhausted.
My grass was soon mowed, (fire ant) treated. A kind man, provided a new lawnmower, so, I could cut my own yard! I was overwhelmed! Many thanks to him! Car insurance, tags, secured by Heartstep, providing the way, to again seek employment. Phone Bill Paid, avoiding disconnect. Thanks, My Faith & Hope, have been Restored! May God Bless!
Sincerely, C.H.
(we have kept her name annonymous to protect her privacy)

May 5, 2009 Update

I wanted to take a moment to provide an update on the most recent posts we placed last week…

The elderly woman that needed food, we were able to take her enough food to cover her through the rest of the month until she receives her food stamps. Due to her unemployment she was unable to insure her vehicle yet without a vehicle she is unable to find work. So, we paid her insurance for the next six months. Her lawn was extremely overgrown yet her home was very clean inside. She is capable of cutting her own grass but did not have a lawn mower. Thanks to Jimmy Chulkas from the Clock restaurant in Greer she now has a brand new lawn mower. And, best of all she has hope! The volunteers involved in this project have conveyed her sincere gratitude and her excitement to have a real opportunity to get back on her feet. Made possible by love from strangers.

Also, we are thrilled to report that the elderly woman that had her walker stolen and needed a wheel chair will have them delivered this week. Again, these items were donated by people that reached out to make a difference. And, it did!

One of our volunteer project managers has been working with a boys orphanage in Mexico and has managed to collect clothing for the boys through facebook friends. The clothes will be shipped out this week.

We are still working on the lift for Ellen who is nine years old with muscular atrophy and wants to be able to get her wheel chair out of her home so she can play with her sister in the backyard. This project requires a financial investment of nearly $10,000. We have commited to make this happen. If you can help us financially please mail donations to: Heartstep Foundation 406 River Street ~ Greenville, SC 29601. All contributions are 100% tax deductible. Please specify designation to: Ellen’s Lift.

We will be posting new community needs soon. As always we are so grateful to have you on our team. Because, that is exactly what we are, a “team”. It takes each one of us to make this happen and that includes you. This effort is about a community that cares and lives that change because people choose to love.

Thank you Greenville!!