School bus driver Dave Albert found himself in a tight spot when Hamilton County Schools changed its bus service provider from Durham School Services to First Student Inc. this spring.
"From the end of May until August, all of the drivers and the monitors were unemployed," Albert said. "We really couldn't do nothing until after August, when school started back up."
By July, Albert was dangerously close to missing a rent payment for the first time since moving back to Chattanooga four years ago. Unemployment insurance wasn't enough to cover his monthly bills, and the enrollment process for most assistance programs took longer than his landlord was willing to wait.
"They had to have the money within a week or so, and I was getting nervous," he said, adding that's when he was referred to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. From there, a caseworker from Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults secured $500 from the Neediest Cases Fund to get Albert "over that hump."
Adolph Ochs, former publisher of the New York Times and the Chattanooga Times, began the Neediest Cases Fund in 1914, and now it helps people with one-time donations to get them back on track. The United Way of Greater Chattanooga manages the fund.
"I went in there Monday, and that Friday they took care of my rent, which took a lot of burden off my chest," Albert said. "I could take care of my other utilities but it was a real budget struggle until we got going with First Student, but [the Neediest Cases Fund] took a lot of pressure off me."
Albert is doing well now that he's back driving. He said he loves the students and enjoys his job.
"We're the first to see these babies off and the last to bring them home. I take that real personal. I treat them like my own," he said.
For the holidays, Albert is enjoying a much-deserved break and plans to spend Christmas Day watching football and spending time with family. He said people in need shouldn't feel discouraged or embarrassed about reaching out.
"I've never done it before, but you don't let pride get in the way if you need help or assistance," he said. "[The program] does a wonderful job helping folks in the community."
Contact Elizabeth Fite at efite@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6673.