By Theresa E. Kane, Clerk, Board of Directors and Jodi Breidel, Executive Director, WHEAT Community Services

"Lean on me, when you're not strong,
And I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on.
For, it won't be long, 'til I'm going to need
Somebody to lean on."
- Bill Withers

There are things people in this world do that should cause them shame. Cheating, stealing, hate crimes, disrespecting your mother. Having a tough time getting by isn't one of them. Especially when you're working hard and doing your best.

Most of us have been, or will be, in a financial bind at some point in our lives. When times are good we get in over our heads. Or everything is fine until expenses outpace our income, often through no fault of our own. Salary freezes and unemployment collide with soaring housing, utility, heath care and grocery bills. Add in high interest credit cards and the hole can seem insurmountable.

Nothing to be ashamed of. Just stuck in a bind and in need of a little help. Some binds are temporary and easy to get back on track, others are part of cycles that have lasted generations. People living check to check are one mishap away from trouble, leaving them stressed, vulnerable, and in need of somewhere to turn.

That's why there's WHEAT. An important and visible part of our mission is to be that place to turn to when times get tough. We offer emergency assistance to people throughout the year in collaboration with other community resources such as the Item Appeal, St. Vincent de Paul Society and local churches. We call this social service.

It's hard to say we've had a successful year. How do you celebrate that thousands of people needed your help? While unrealistic that we can eliminate the need for emergency services, our energy is better spent on identifying the source of people's needs so that we can address the bigger issues that landed them in these difficult situations. We will always be there when needed most, but we would much rather prevent hardships than save people from them. We wish we weren't always the last resort and that folks would reach out to us before their situations got to crisis proportions. Our success is measured in our ability to help, but more so by the number of solutions we provide to lessen the need for it. We call this social change: helping people and families break the cycle, dig for root causes and get back on track for good.

To that end, in addition to the many programs that people associate with WHEAT, such as our food pantry, emergency assistance, and hot meals program, WHEAT's priority over the next several years is to continue to address the issues that get people in that bind in the first place. Through our many partnerships and collaborative efforts, we have begun and will expand job training and education programs such as computer training, adult education, debt counseling, parenting programs and back-to-school assistance. We will expand efforts to address health care needs by sponsoring health clinics, mental health services, and a First Offenders DUI program. We will help people build confidence and hope for a better day, and encourage them to participate in civic life by registering to vote and speaking up for themselves with local leaders and legislators.

Most importantly, our experience over the last several years tells us that an issue at the core of many people's inability to pay the rest of their bills is the lack of affordable housing, and through collaborations with our town boards, state representatives, local business leaders and other social service agencies we will address this dilemma that haunts so many families. It's not okay that people have to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table. Much of our work today involves crisis management that is often associated with helping people avoid foreclosures, evictions, utility shut-offs and homelessness. If they could pay the rent and the mortgage, they could figure out ways to pay the rest of their bills. Addressing the issues of affordable housing and homelessness prevention are among our top priorities over the next three years.

WHEAT does not operate in a vacuum, which is why we like to emphasize the Community Services portion of our name. We are active participants in Clinton's master planning efforts, and will be helping to drive the "Healthy Communities" initiative that will identify specific needs for social services over the next several years. We do not and cannot do any of this alone. Our multiservice center supports partnerships with United Way, MOC, Lipton Center, the Item Appeal, St. Vincent de Paul, Battered Women's Resources, the Clinton District Court, local educators and legislators, Clinton Hospital, VNA Care Network, Project Bread, Worcester County Food Bank, Fuel Assistance and our local town and state officials.

The Community Café perhaps represents the best example of what a community can be, serving over 10,000 (check) meals last year through the generosity of neighbors cooking dinner for each other. Camaraderie, a welcoming atmosphere and "home cooking" six nights a week make the Café a great way to cut down on grocery expenses while enjoying a pleasant social environment. This isn't a program run by just by WHEAT; we provide oversight and support for volunteers and civic groups who work together to make it happen throughout the year. We literally could not do it without them. Most of our other programs happen because scores of additional volunteers donate their time and efforts, and the financial support of local businesses, foundations and individuals make it all possible.

Finally, the third prong of WHEAT's strategy is operational excellence. We can't succeed unless we ourselves are financially stable, staffed appropriately, and able to pay our own bills. We continue to appreciate and need the generosity of our many sponsors throughout the year, and we will look for ways to continuously improve our services. A strong staff, board, and amazing community support are the keys to our success.

Every community needs a place, or several places, for people to lean when they're not strong. It is remarkable what a community can do for each other, and amidst the kindness and the hardship hopefully WHEAT takes away a little of the pain and worry for people who are in need of our help. We must continue to stand back once the bleeding stops to help prevent it from happening again. As Dr. Charles Conroy's book title (Who's Throwing Babies in the River?) suggests, we can keep saving people who are in over their heads from drowning, but it's more important to keep them out of that hot water in the first place. We look forward to another year of partnering and collaboration to make our community the best it can be for everyone.