The Sunnyvale Sun

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Storms, sickness mean more help requests

By MICHELLE MAGHRIBI

Families in Sunnyvale that need help paying the rent, utilities and their doctor could see a light at the end of that tunnel, thanks to a $20,000 grant awarded to Sunnyvale Community Services.

Nancy Tivol, Community Services' executive director, said there are no restrictions on how the agency can apply the grant to help those who are drowning in a sea of bills.

"To have someone give us funds that we are able to use at our discretion is a double gift," Tivol said. "It was wonderful to get the grant. There were many applicants, many more than there were funds available, so we are very grateful."

The Community Foundation of Silicon Valley gave the grant, and according to foundation director of communications and marketing Michelle McGurk, Community Services was chosen as a recipient based upon specific requirements that include leadership, mission, vision, sound financial management and how close the applicant comes to meeting a focus area identified by the foundation.

McGurk explains, "The programs at Sunnyvale Community Services help families to become and remain self-reliant."

Tivol said this year is shaping up to be one of the most critical and that calculations show, within the last 15 years, the community's need for financial assistance has risen sharply.

"In 1991 we provided $34,000 total support during the course of one year," Tivol said. "Last year we spent more than $500,000 in total support to the community, and current third-quarter totals for this year show that we have already spent more than $458,000." According to budget calculations for the third quarter, the nonprofit foundation has given $48,000 more in funds than it did at this time last year.

Tivol projects SCC could offer approximately $600,000 in total assistance to the community by the end of 2006.The recent rash of storms has increased financial need, Tivol says.

"We have a lot of weather-dependent workers--gardeners and construction people--who are unable to work during the rain," Tivol said. "There were also a lot of people who got sick. Forty percent of the workers in Santa Clara County receive no medical benefits from their jobs and don't get compensated for sick days."

Tivol said 40 percent is high compared to the national average of 25 percent, and many of those who are seeking financial assistance are doing so for the first time in their lives.