Front Line Energy Workers Receive Unprecedented Support from THAW
Amanda Damian’s startup grocery delivery business, Canton Care Partners, made a big shift in March.
The COVID-19 pandemic created a niche in the community and Canton Care Partners jumped into action to fill that niche. Amanda’s husband lost his job and as the sudden sole breadwinner, she found her family in immediate need. She heard about THAW’s Front Line Energy Program, applied, and was awarded utility assistance funding.
The Front Line Energy Program launched on April 22 with nearly a half million dollars committed to supporting essential workers by paying electric, gas, and water bills. Many families like Amanda’s are what is referred to as the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) population. ALICE families earn enough to disqualify them for most traditional assistance programs but not enough to meet their basic needs.
More than 1.5 million households, 40% of Michigan’s population, cannot afford basic household necessities and are left choosing between paying rent, health care costs, groceries, child-care and transportation.
At the beginning of the shelter-in-place order, Amanda arrived at grocery stores as early as 7:30am. This oft en meant standing in long lines until the doors opened. She consistently changed gloves, sanitized her hands, wiped down her car in between deliveries, and then went home to completely disinfect.
“After going to five grocery stores where lines could be 20 people long, I was exhausted,” said Amanda.
“But, the most challenging aspect has been getting up to shop for other people while consciously exposing myself to germs, and potentially the virus.”
She’s done everything she can to keep herself and her family healthy, including helping her seven-year-old, who has severe anxiety, understand all the precautions she takes when she leaves the house and when she returns.
Most of her customers are seniors who are not only unable to leave the house but are sometimes also unable to articulate their needs.
Amanda often works with the adult children of seniors, even those out of state, to understand how to best support their parents.
“I’ve always had a sweet spot for the elderly, some of the most vulnerable in our communities. Even if they have the funds, they don’t always have family close by to help them meet their needs,” said Amanda.
Her business transformed and she began delivering cleaning supplies, medicine, books, clothing and even making post office and bank runs for customers. After dropping off groceries, she even drove a customer to chemotherapy.
THAW helped 1,233 households pay their utility bills with the funds allocated for the Front Line Energy Program. The funding is currently exhausted; however, THAW is still raising funds to help other essential workers like Amanda. Our work is not done.
Thank you to the donors who made gifts to support this special fund. Visit https://thawfund.org/2020-frontline-energyprogram/ to learn more about the program and to donate today.
