Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) helped more than 103,000 area residents in need during its last fiscal year. Many NAM clients need more than one NAM service and they often need help from more than one program. NAM staff members work hard to be good stewards of the funds NAM receives and approximately $.90 of every dollar donated last year went toward helping people in need. Of the people NAM assisted, 55 percent were children and senior citizens.
The Assistance Program served an average of 880 people each month with emergency assistance such as shelter, clothing, transportation, prescriptions and medical referrals. The Back-to-School Project provided 2,400 children with school supplies and clothing, which allowed the children to start the school year feeling good about themselves and ready to learn. In November and December of 2006, the Holiday Project provided 1,968 families with the items necessary for a healthy holiday dinner and food for three to five days, as well as toys and other age-appropriate gifts for approximately 3,500 children.
The Shelter & Energy Assistance Program (SEA) is geared to prevent homelessness and to help homeless families become self-sufficient. SEA distributed $1.03 million in assistance to 783 families. (Government funded grants)
The Rotary Learning Center/Workforce Development Program offered instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Education and GED, English Literacy, Civics and Computer Training classes to 488 people. The Workforce Development program provided job search services in 10 months of operation to 679 people and placed 404 in jobs. The center helps students develop skills to increase their wage-earning potential so they can better support their families.
The Children’s Clinic offers primary health care for children from infancy through age 18 and last year provided office visits, referrals, appointment calls, case management and special projects to more than 620 children each month. The Clinic’s annual Shot Blitz provided 518 immunizations.
The Family Violence Center provided crisis intervention, support groups, adult counseling, children’s counseling, emergency shelter services, legal advocacy and domestic violence awareness and prevention education to 2,354 individuals affected by domestic abuse. The Youth Education Program provided information to more than 6,500 students. The Counseling Center provided mental health services that impacted 1,457 people.
The Food Pantry, which provides individuals with food for well-balanced meals, filled over 7,400 food orders, feeding more than 620 families each month.
The Interfaith Hospitality Network provided 4,082 bed nights of shelter to homeless adults and children along with counseling on drug and alcohol abuse, mental health and family issues. IHN gives families food, direction and a safe place to stay in partnership with area congregations. The program has a 83 percent success rate in helping families move from homelessness to independence through obtaining employment and housing.
Meals On Wheels provided more than 113,000 nutritious meals to area homebound seniors, disabled individuals and those who are unable to prepare their own meals, averaging over 335 clients each weekday and 100 on Saturdays.
Fifty Plus, a program for active seniors that offers opportunities for socialization, education and wellness to anyone over the age of 50, hosted an average of 550 visits from area seniors each month.
