Exactly where can a person get help in this town?

Tasha Vazquez

Date published: 7/28/2006

I have lived in the Fredericksburg area for 30 years. I've been a volunteer for 20 of them. I've raised my sons on my own, manning eight part-time jobs until I landed a full-time job. A fall and a few surgeries later, I sit here struggling to keep afloat.

Released from duty with a surgery pending to my left hand in three days and the loss of my job and insurance, I have paved the sidewalks going from one disappointing lead to another. I did not know that if you couldn't work for a time through no fault of your own that the possibility to pay one's rent or utilities is nil.

In my time in the 'Burg I have seen a lot of agencies collecting to help the poor, destitute, or needy. I find myself in a needing situation, but the doors are closed. I have gone from organization to organization, to social services, unemployment, and the like. To my amazement, I have found that there is nowhere to go.

I'm referred from one place to another, and the answers are the same. The only place where I saw a glimpse of light told me they had no funds.

You have to be employable to be able to collect. What happens to the person who needs corrective surgery? Apparently I don't qualify, so what then?

Is there an agency I've overlooked that helps a person from becoming homeless?

Surgery is not a disease, nor is it a forever situation. I will get better. The stress of figuring out what I'm going to do is killing my sleep, my judgment, my belief in the community.

I need answers. Where does a person turn when the only ones that can help are the churches, but they themselves can't help?

I am thankful to the Lloyd Moss Free Clinic, which is making my surgery possible. I am frustrated as I hang up the phone one more time with a knot in my throat and tears swelling, as I'm being gently let down one more time. Am I alone?

Tasha Vazquez

Fredericksburg

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Date published: 7/28/2006