Feb 25, 2009 6:02 pm US/Eastern
Support Funds Get $2M To Help Struggling Families
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced United Way will donate $2 million to local support funds to help struggling families.
WBZ
These days, there are a lot of people trying to figure out how to pay their bills -- people who have decent jobs but just aren't making enough.
Charities are overwhelmed because requests are up and donations are down.
But for some families help is on the way.
Tiffannie Pena is a single, hard working mother of five children, living paycheck to paycheck.
"It's very hard. I'm robbing Peter to pay Paul with food, daycare and rent," Pena said.
She has a good job and earns $40,000 a year, but between all her bills there's not enough at the end of the month.
"It is frightening just to keep the basic needs up," she said. "Then you have school pictures come up, and I have and 11-year-old son. They want to do different activities."
On Wednesday, the city of Boston announced United Way is donating $2 million from its community support fund to provide emergency assistance for individuals and families in need.
"I want to thank the United Way and all community-based organizations who are receiving funding for all important work you do," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said.
At Catholic Charities Yawkey Center, families receive food, fuel and financial assistance. Without it they would have no other place to go.
Pena received a check to keep her electricity on. She also uses the food pantry.
"I have to come here," she said. "I need this."
"It's such a blessing for us right now," said Beth Chambers with Catholic Charities Food Pantry. "This is a time when we ordinarily have no funds at all and yet hundreds of calls a week."
Pena will return next month and is thankful she has food to feed her family this week.
The $2 million grant was distributed to 25 different community organizations that are serving people on a regular basis.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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