PATHWAY OF HOPE: MEET TANYA AND DAVID FROM GLEN BURNIE
During the height of the COVID pandemic, Tanya and David, along with their six-year-old daughter, found their way to Pathway to Hope.
With the pandemic effecting job security, coupled in with Tanya’s husband not earning enough to meet growing expenses. Tanya didn’t know what to do.
Working outside the home was difficult, due to the pandemic. Tanya had to be home to help her daughter with her virtual classes. She didn’t know if it was possible to work and to also be at home with her child. Salvation Army staff introduced the possibility of working from home, while her child was in school. Staff e-mailed her a link to Insight Global, a national staffing agency that connects Pathway of Hope families with great job opportunities and training.
Salvation Army has launched a partnership with Insight Global since March of 2021.Tanya can be connected to an Insight Global recruiter or sign up for a Pathway to Opportunity workshop. What’s interesting to note, is that as soon as Tanya was sent this information, she started working the following week. She earns $13.00 per hour doing marketing work, from home, while using her phone and a computer.
Tanya also supplemented family income by working as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army on Saturdays and on Christmas Eve in 2021. During those Saturdays Tanya worked, David was able to watch their daughter at home.
Although Tanya did not earn as much as other that worked those hours, she was the second highest in income per hours worked. Her creativity sparked attention. She would dress as an elf and sang as she rang her kettle bell.
Salvation Army staff knew one of Tanya’s goals was to get a better education, so they provided her with information on going to school online. And about getting a grant to pay for her schooling. Medical Biller and Coder was brought up by staff as a job that can be done from home or even outside the home.
Tanya found a grant, thanks to resources from The Salvation Army and thanks to her own research. Because of the grant, she started her first online class at DeVry university part time. She is scheduled to take one class every 8 weeks, and so far, she completed her first class with an A. Tanya is getting closer to her aspirations of more education and to better provide for her family.
David works moving stock in a warehouse and was having a problem getting back and forth to work. Much of his paycheck was consumed from Uber rides, thus, The Salvation Army intervened and got him a bike helmet and lock for him to take a bike to work. When the weather was bad, he hitched a ride with a coworker with similar hours.
On August of 2021, David became partially disabled on the job. A rogue box fell on the back of his neck. He has been out of work on partial disability since August 2021 going to doctors’ appointments. If his doctor does not feel he can return to work, his employer has given him documentation to apply for full time disability.
David told Salvation Army he wants to go back to work but he’s unsure if his doctor would allow it. David aspires to get his learners permit, so he can be self sufficient in where he goes. Due to his health issues, he needs a clearance from his doctor in order to get his permit.
Not only has The Salvation Army helped the family in obtaining employment, and in enrolling in online classes, but has assisted them during the past year David was out of work due to Covid. Covid drove several families in Glen Burnie behind on rent, including them.
The Salvation Army has been able to provide rental assistance. When the family first became enrolled into Pathway of Hope they did not know they had medical insurance. Salvation Army staff was able to research and discovered that they did have insurance. Staff also assisted in having new medical cards mailed to the family. The family was then able to get medication David needed, eyeglasses, and other medical needs met.