Ready for Summer?

Summer is here! The sound of children laughing, water splashing, the smell of hot dogs on the grill and lemonade stands are the things most of us associate with summer.

 Summer, however, brings forth a much harsher reality for the families who come to PATH for assistance. Many parents dread the end of school. With summer come more questions than answers: “Who will take care of the kids? I can’t afford childcare, let alone summer camp.” “We’ll need to run the air-conditioning – how will I pay the bills?” “The kids aren’t getting a free meal at school each day, how will I keep enough food in the fridge?” – And, at the summer’s end, a new set of problems emerge… new clothes, lunch boxes, backpacks, school supplies, and even essays titled, “What I Did this Summer.” In a world where people, including young children, are judged by appearances, having the right back pack, clothes, and even school supplies can make the difference between fitting in and being accepted and feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

 Summertime is the busiest time of the year for PATH, and for many years we have been working to address the summertime problems faced by low-income families. The issues that our clients see this time of year are urgent and can be life-threatening. With your help, PATH families will have many of their questions answered and can look forward to summer and a new school year.

 During June, July and August, the need for utility assistance increases dramatically. Unfortunately, also during this time of year, funding decreases. We schedule appointments for PATH utility assistance and help as many as we can, knowing that we cannot help everyone who needs us, and that their utilities will be disconnected. We ameliorate some of the heat- related health risks by collecting and donating box fans with our June Fan Club fan drive.

 We fight hunger by providing food from the PATH food pantry. And thanks to donations from the East Texas Food Bank, we can offer fresh produce every Wednesday morning at the East Texas State Fair grounds.

 In July, PATH’s School Supply Train collects school supplies and monetary donations for the purchase of school supplies.  Every Smith County public school receives school supplies from PATH. The schools then distribute the supplies to students who cannot afford to buy what they need.

 During the summer, needs increase. We need more volunteers, more food, and more money for utilities, box fans and school supplies. Many of you increased your donations last summer as PATH faced an economic crisis unlike any in our 25 year history. Some of you have passed our newsletters and donation envelopes on to a friend after contributing yourselves. Please share our website and this article with friends and family.

The number of services provided to families in need has increased by 212% since 2000. The increase between 2008 and 2009 was 25%, with a shocking spike of 40% over the summer months, this compared to a typical year’s growth of 12% – 15%.

This means that more than 26,000 people turn to PATH for help each year. When the economy weakens, the needs of our clients increase tremendously. At this time PATH cannot sustain a 25% increase in demand for client services.

Please help any way you can, prayer, volunteer time, in-kind gifts, and monetary donations are needed.

Blessings for a safe and happy summer!

Christina