James received help for today and tomorrow

James is a talented musician who played organ and keyboard for a church – until COVID-19 stopped the church from meeting in person. James is now a gig worker, or dasher, for Door Dash, a national food delivery service. He is making just more than $400 per week before taxes.

Unfortunately, James is piling up the miles on his 17-year-old car so he can pay his bills. His four-year-old daughter rides along with his deliveries, so childcare doesn’t eat up all his income. Still, his job doesn’t produce enough income to cover his bills – and that includes car maintenance and replacing the tires on his much-used and much-needed car.

When James came to see me at The Cooperative Ministry, he made a great first impression. James is articulate, well-groomed, hard-working, and loves his precious daughter. He can’t make ends meet, and we talked about his future and his hopes and dreams. Unfortunately, those long-term dreams did not square with his short-term reality. Because of your gifts, we were able to help James in a significant way.

First, I was able to help him with his rent payment to ease the pressure of the day. I then referred him to our Sustainability Department, where James is now paired with a financial coach. They will meet weekly for several months, helping James toward outcomes like a household budget, savings plan, and an improved credit score. James is on the way to a better future.

~ Bill Taber, Director, Crisis Assistance

The Cooperative Ministry