From Hardship to Hope: Barbara and Jay’s Story

For months, Jay and his wife Barbara had been living without electricity. After a series of serious medical issues landed them in the hospital, the bills piled up faster than their fixed income could handle. Their electric bill climbed past $2,900, and eventually the power was shut off.

Think about what that means. No lights. No heat through the winter. No way to cook a meal. Barbara, who depends on a CPAP machine, couldn’t use it. For six months, they lived like that.

When the Browns connected with our Family Services team in Middletown, Marilyn Hendershot went to work. She coordinated financial assistance to get their electricity restored and made sure they had plenty of food and personal hygiene items. Beyond the practical help, she reassured them that they wouldn't have to shoulder this burden alone.

When Jay came back to the office with a handwritten thank-you note, he told Marilyn something that stuck with her: “I never met anyone or any place who cared enough to help us. I’m really grateful and am going to tell everyone about you.”

Jay didn't have to come back, but he did. The Browns could have mailed the letter or simply moved on with their lives. Instead, he asked a friend to drive him to our office so he could put that note in Marilyn’s hands himself.

That gesture speaks volumes. Not only for what it says about Jay and Barbara, but for what it means to our staff. Because on the days when things feel heavy, notes like theirs are a reminder to keep going. They’re proof that what we do here — serving our neighbors with the dignity they deserve — makes a difference.

There are people in our community who are one crisis away from a situation like the Brown's. Seniors living on fixed incomes. Families stretched thin by rising costs. Folks who have worked hard their entire lives and never imagined they’d need help.

When they walk through our doors, they find a team that welcomes them with compassion — staff that listen, care, and follow through. And in that experience, they’re reminded that they matter, that the difficulties they’re facing today don’t have to define tomorrow. That’s when hope gets rekindled, and the path forward starts to open up.