Starting at Thanksgiving each year, the Chattanooga Times Free Press conducts a philanthropic campaign, appealing to its readers to contribute funds that will support people in need.
Each year, the paper shares the stories of those who received assistance through the Ochs Community Fund, formerly known as the Neediest Cases campaign, highlighting the ways in which the fund helped them. The fund is administered by the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. The United Way only releases the names of recipients who have consented, but here the Times Free Press is sharing stories of some families who were helped by the fund without names.
(READ MORE: ‘Need has not declined’: Chattanooga nonprofits see decline in giving since pandemic)
A single parent of two faced the possibility of having her water shut off. Despite being on maternity leave, her job did not provide any compensation for her during this time. With a disbursement of $494, the single parent’s water bill was covered, preventing her postpartum experience from being interrupted by an emergency.
A family of five needed assistance with their deposit and first month of rent. They planned to move into a new apartment but were informed it was leased out from under them. With a past eviction and the loss of their housing voucher, the family struggled to find a new home, as new housing requires a great deal of money up front. A disbursement of $1,200 made the transition into a new home easier for the family.