Grace and her family are longtime clients of Lower Cape Outreach Council’s (LCOC) food pantry in their town. They came to know the volunteers and staff quite well, so when Grace’s parents began to have health issues, she knew she could rely on the agency for additional assistance.
To care for her parents, Grace had to reduce the number of hours that she was working, which left the household with less money to pay their monthly bills. As the winter approached, Grace knew that she would struggle with the cost of home heating oil.
“It was absolutely essential that we kept the heat on for my parents as their health began to decline,” Grace said. “The winters here can be so cold and raw, especially in an old, drafty house.” Having worked with Lower Cape Outreach in the past, “it was easy for me to call them to ask for help, but we also knew that we were going to need long-term assistance. That was the really scary part.” To ensure that Grace and her family were in the best position to manage these financial challenges, LCOC facilitated a series of referrals to other agencies.
“They got me set up with special medical rates on my electricity and fuel assistance to help cover the cost of oil. They even connected us with a specialist who reviewed my parents’ insurance to make sure we were getting all the coverage we deserved. It meant a lot to me that they took the time to really understand my situation.”
In 2023, LCOC helped 922 households like Grace’s with emergency financial assistance. The demand has only increased this year.