South Central Community Action Program, Inc.

Escaping Poverty in Bloomington, Indiana

In 2008, Tracey was a single mom of a son with Asperger’s Syndrome, needing government subsidies such as Section 8 housing and Medicaid to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Then she found SCCAP Thriving Connections. Today, Tracey has completed two associates degrees, is employed full time, and is the proud owner of a Habitat for Humanity home.

 

What is Thriving Connections? We are a community of people from all walks of life -- men and women, young and old, different races and ethnic groups. We have different political perspectives. We have different religious beliefs. Bridging all these differences, we work toward one goal: that all members in our community have enough resources to escape poverty and flourish so they can lead fulfilling lives.

 

In Thriving Connections, we use a ship metaphor to frame our connection. We are each “Captains” or “Allies”. Captains are people motivated to get out of poverty. Captains are in charge of setting their own goals related to education, work, health, and personal growth for themselves and their family members. Allies are volunteers motivated to learn about poverty, and interested in a friendship relationship with a Captain. Captains pick Allies, their crew. Allies provide information and support for Captains as they work to achieve their established goals. Thriving Connections includes a number of other volunteers that work to create a holistic network of support, providing programming, youth, and social connections. 

 

When Tracey found Thriving Connections, she found a community, including her Allies, that changed her life. “I’ve got the support and caring of people I may not have crossed paths with,” Tracey says. “It’s been surprising to see how people are so willing to be supportive, caring and non-judgmental as they try to help other people. They are wonderful people.”

 

The impact of COVID-19 on our community and our need for funds

As it has for so many, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased the need among many of the families in our community. It has also made our community building much, much harder. Before Covid-19, we met weekly in a local church for a meal, fellowship, programming, and relationship building. Since March 2020, we have continued to meet weekly, mainly virtually except the occasional outdoor, socially distanced gathering. 

 

WE NEED YOU to join our network of support for Captains and their families and bolster the work we are trying to do remotely, by making your donation for a variety of enriching programs and activities. These include:

Busy Bags: Weekly distribution of games, art supplies, and ideas for enriching the lives of the families and supporting ongoing programming around Education and Training, Sustainable Employment, and Personal Growth.

Emergency Fund: To bridge financial emergencies of Captains who have lost employment hours due to Covid-19 

Contingency Fund: To address ongoing resource challenges faced by Captains like clothing for a job interview, help with bills, or car repairs.   

Martin Fund: Named after long-time community volunteer Wain Martin. Matching funds for Captains who are saving to obtain safe and reliable transportation

Plant Truck: To enable Captains to grow healthy foods in the typically small spaces they have available and to improve their diets and health 

Memorial Ship Health Fund: Created to honor community members who lost their lives in the past year. To bolster the health goals of Captains by providing health related information, incentives and materials

Youth Extracurricular Fund: To enable all Thriving Connections youth to participate in athletic, musical, and artistic extracurricular activities 

 

When asked how Thriving Connections has benefitted her, Keisha, a longtime member of the community, says, “I get personal cheerleaders and an extended family. There were times when I wanted to give up on my goals, but my TC family always gives me that extra push or encouraging words to help me keep going.”

We appreciate your contribution to help us keep giving Tracey, Keisha and all our Captains and their children the encouragement and support they deserve. Your donation will ensure that Thriving Connections has the supplies and resources to continue to build on the power of relationships to create change.

 

An innovative and proven approach to moving people out of poverty and educating the greater community on the issues surrounding poverty, Thriving Connections is an initiative of the South Central Community Action Program, a nonprofit organization based in Bloomington, IN that has served low-income people for more than 50 years.

 

For more information, please see:

http://www.insccap.org/pages/thrivingconnections 

FaceBook http://www.fb.me/SCCAPThrivingConnections

YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-XkNLEcBjj1M8sC3uXtY5g