With his behavior spiraling downward, school officials had no choice but to remove Michael* from his class. It was clear that he was no longer taking the medications he needed that allowed him to remain in school. What had suddenly happened? Quite simply his parents’ financial situation had changed and they could not afford to fill the prescriptions. Though they had applied to the state for their son’s health insurance, the application had not yet been approved. The school nurse even intervened and called the state to expedite the family’s application – she was unsuccessful.

Not willing to give up, the nurse called our friends at Down the Block and in record time the medications were purchased and Michael returned to school the next day.

Wendi Weill began Down the Block just as the economy turned a few years ago. It was her response to stories she was hearing about her neighbors who had come on hard times and found that there was no other local agency that existed for just this type of short-term, emergency situation.

As the end-of-year donation season began the Good People Fund offered Down the Block a challenge – we would match any amount they received from new donors up to $4000. Wendi was thrilled to have this opportunity to attract new support for her work and within one month had met our goal.

Now Michael and other neighbors, just down the block, will have a new chance to overcome an emergency situation that could quickly spiral into something much worse.

*a pseudonym