Whenever Louise Sallstrom sees somebody in need of assistance, her heart leads her to assist in almost any method she can. It really is one thing she’s got been doing for a long time with Milledgeville Cares, an organization she began over about ten years ago that she describes as “not your typical 501(c)3 nonprofit.”
“We volunteers are invested in paying attention and assisting with hearts and minds set on changing everyday lives for the higher,” said Sallstrom.
During the start of the downturn that is economic 2008, Sallstrom ended up being devastated to take into account all the individuals who would have to look for support in order to make do. She begun to envision how she may help bring community that is like-minded and solution businesses to 1 dining table because of the objective of assisting individuals in need obtain the resources they want in times during the difficulty. In November 2008, she planned a city hallway conference to create people that are such, and from this, the nine charter board users for just what would finally be called Milledgeville Cares were chosen.
Ever since then, Milledgeville Cares went concerning the work Sallstrom had envisioned to simply help those in need in the neighborhood. This included establishing an emergency hotline and developing a directory of solutions obtainable in the Milledgeville-Baldwin County area, a directory that may now be located in the organization’s internet site.
“We strive to uncover most of the stressors from the family members in order to find approaches to help relieve this anxiety in any manner we could,” sa
This assistance will come by simply making telephone calls to individuals in need of assistance to be controlled by what’s weighing them find what they need on them and to help. Frequently, the folks they assist shortage smartphones and net connection, and volunteers will help by simply supplying them online access. Milledgeville Cares also hands out coupon publications to greatly help individuals with monetary battles to save cash. They educate their customers on such subjects once the significance of regular wellness tests and vaccinations plus the dangers that are financial may come from counting on name pawn or pay day loan establishments.
Most of all, Sallstrom stresses that the business’s volunteers offer advice about compassion and “without prejudice or malice toward anyone.” She discovers individuals who are struggling in many cases are ashamed to inquire about for assistance, and she hopes that by providing a supportive and listening ear, Milledgeville Cares can reduce the stigma frequently experienced by those who work in need.
Milledgeville Cares additionally accepts contributions of clean, useful items for your home of most types which range from hygiene products to furniture and strives to prov >
Milledgeville Cares 
additionally supplies a framework for charitable companies through the entire grouped community to utilize the other person for the greatest passions of these they provide. By interacting which company can offer just just what solution, they could many effortlessly meet individuals requirements.
Using the start of the Cov
“The virus has caused a rise that is exponential the amounts of those who require assistance, while the help they want is much more substantial than we now have seen before,” said Sallstrom.
To simply help offset these struggles, Milledgeville Cares has created a request Assistance kind which can be found in the Milledgeville liquid Department or perhaps the Baldwin County Jail. Those in need of assistance can mail the proper execution in, and Milledgeville Cares can do exactly just just what it could to help.
“From March to August, we’ve gotten over 60 applications, and also by the grace of Jesus, we had been in a position to assist over 50 % of these with a complete of $8,889.63,” stated Sallstrom.
The pandemic has, in change, resulted in hardships for Milledgeville Cares it self. Since the company is 100% volunteer-run, and precisely what is donated for them extends back towards the social individuals they provide, the overhead expenses of leasing storage area for donated things has grown to become prohibitive. Furthermore, the company happens to be without unique a workplace for more than 2 yrs, rendering it extremely hard to keep the face-to-face that is personal they like to offer. Without work place and due to social distancing, volunteers are forced to choose for telephone calls in place of arranging conferences with customers during the collection or other public places.
Sallstrom admits it’s getting hard to fulfill all the requirements she views. She does a massive amount the|amount that is large of organization’s work from her very very own house, and she fears without the right storage space and a workplace, it will likely be hard to carry on. She desperately hopes that some area churches is supposed to be happy to step of progress by giving Milledgeville Cares work place or climate-controlled storage space to keep furniture and household contributions safe on her behalf customers.
Other people desperate to help Milledgeville Cares may do therefore by means of economic efforts or by donating clean, usable items for your home and furniture. Sallstrom additionally states they’ve been in hopeless need of more volunteers who are able to deliver furniture to those who work in need of assistance. Anybody ready to assist can contact her for details.
“We are incredibly grateful for folks who have donated economically to assist those that want it so desperately, and we also are indebted to individuals who have been prepared to donate household things which are therefore required for anyone who has absolutely nothing,” said Sallstrom.