Thank you for visiting!
  • Home
  • Video
  • Pictures
  • About
    • Resumé
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Published Works
  • Upcoming Recitals

Saving Money

4/15/2013

0 Comments

 
I used to volunteer answering the phone lines for 211.  Actually I volunteered answering the phones for two suicide hotlines but 211 was the bread and butter and funding for the suicide hotlines.  Of course, we lost our 211 funding and the suicide hotlines are now suffering their own slow death.  Meanwhile my senators are earning $194,000 per year and "require" a cost of living increase.

I encourage anyone who could use a little fiscal assistance to call their local 211 (like 911 but with a 2) and find out what local resources are available to them.

You may be able to get assistance with rent, mortgage, heat, utilities, crime, domestic abuse issues, medical, dental, free tax prep, pet care, free cell phones, free cars, medical transportation, employment assistance, support groups, mental health, etcetera.  If you need information about summer camps, day cares, the mayor's office, places to volunteer,  or even a non-emergency police number, 211 may be able to provide that information.  Think of them as the yellow pages but don't use them as directory assistance.  They only provide information to non-profits and government agencies.  If there is a dead skunk in front of your house, they should be able to provide a number to the animal control officer in your town.  They won't give you the number for your local McDonalds (although, on slow days, I have). 

211 doesn't provide the actual assistance, only referrals to organizations who offer that assistance.  If you don't know where to apply for food stamps, we can help you.  If you already know that you should go to the DSS, you wouldn't need to call us.  HOWEVER, we may know of organization and community action programs who can assist, expedite or even advocate on your behalf regarding the procurement of food stamps so you won't have to personally go to the DSS.

Don't be afraid or insulted to provide the 211 operator with personal and statistical data either.  That information is important for them in obtaining future funding and grants and is also important information to organizations who invest in certain communities.   For instance, 211 will first require your zip code to find what is available in your area.  If statistical data shows that there is an increase in Hispanic callers in a certain region, they may be able to use that information to show organizations who serve the Hispanic community that there is a need to augment assistance in those areas.  If our data shows that there is an increase in single parent households looking for child care or other child related assistance, it could help us in procuring future funding from organizations that provide child related services and wish for us to provide referrals to their organizations.

There are many organizations who only provide assistance to people who are victims of domestic abuse, are HIV+, have arrest records, do or don't have children, are of a certain nationality or, there may even be gender qualifiers.  Don't be afraid to reveal personal information because it could mean the difference between the call specialist from finding you help or not.

Our database was hierarchical, meaning, if you needed clothing assistance, I would type "Clothing" and a list of agencies would appear for your zip code.  I could further fine tune that list to age (child, teen or adult), then gender, then employment, etcetera.  There are some organizations for instance, who will provide new and free clothing only to unemployed women going on job interviews.  If you get the job, they will then provide you with five free outfits.  If you fail to freely provide me with that information, I wouldn't be able to find that organization for you.  However, it really isn't as odious as that.

One day a man called me looking for food assistance.  I listed off all the food pantries in his area.  He had been to all of them and most of them only offered assistance once a month which wasn't enough.  He had already been to DSS and his local churches. In passing, he mentioned that he can't even afford food for his dog and sometimes provides  for her before he eats himself.  Information like that puts me into advocacy mode.  I thought that if I could save him money in pet food, he'd have more money for himself.  I rattled off a litany of sub-groups asking him if anyone in his household had mental health issues, drug or alcohol issues, was a veteran, had HIV, and he stopped me saying,  "Yes, I have HIV."  I typed that into my database and an organization which provides pet food and veterinary care for the pets of people with HIV came up.  I wasn't able to help him for what he called for, but I was able to ameliorate his overall condition.

There were some callers I wasn't able to help so I would ask them for their name and number, then go talk to other volunteers to see if they had ideas.  Often, someone would be able to come up with some solution since not every organization poised for assistance in the community was listed in our database.  Many of them don't want to be listed because they are already over taxed with requests for help.

When people call for help and they live in communities which have no support services at all, or those services have already been exhausted, I try to brainstorm with people on ways they can save money and cut expenses. 

If someone can't afford their phone bill, I let them know about the free government sponsored cell phones.  If they have internet, they can subscribe to iCall or GoogleTalk and cancel their landline.  Maybe they can go halfies with a neighbor on internet WiFi or trash pickup.  I know a guy who makes $90,000 per year but has six kids and they live at poverty level.  He packs their daily garbage in plastic grocery store bags and rolls them into small, neat bundles.  Each day, he or the kids take them to work or school and discreetly drop them in trash cans.   It saves them about $30 per month which isn't much, but can equal food, heat, shoes or internet.  Again, money not spent in one area can be spent elsewhere. 

So, call 211.  Be not afraid.  Don't be too proud or ashamed.  They're there to help. They want to help.  Helping you helps them.  Some of us even get a high off of helping people.  Your 211 may be very busy and the person on the phone may not be permitted to deviate from the script in front of them, but maybe you'll get lucky and get someone who is willing to do some sleuthing and sacrifice their quota for you.

When my 211 closed, our region was absorbed by a 211 three hundred miles away.  I know for a fact that our community is less for it, especially when I talk to some of the community service organizations and hear their complaints on the quality of the current referrals.  Also, we volunteers live in this community and know of resources not listed in the database.  Someone 300 miles away would not be aware of such information.

Half of one senator's salary could have funded us for another year and helped provide quality care to an increasing population of people in need, who have never before navigated the waters of seeking support.

-Malcolm Kogut.
0 Comments

    Archives

    November 2019
    October 2019
    October 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012
    September 1990

    Categories

    All
    211
    5th
    94 Years Old
    Abraham Lincoln
    Aclu
    Addiction
    Adirondack
    Adirondacks
    African American
    Alcohol
    Algonquin Mountain
    Alta
    Altamont
    Amazing Grace
    Amsterdam
    Amy Prothro
    Anger Management
    Animals
    Announcement
    Anslinger
    Ant
    Anything Goes
    Apple
    A Quiet Place
    Arawak
    Arioso
    Arrangement
    Arrest
    Asbestos
    Assange
    Astrology
    Attendance
    Audition
    Avalanche Lake
    Avalanche Pass
    Bach
    #badpianochallenge
    Bad Piano Challenge
    Barter
    Bass
    Bath
    Beethoven
    Benefit
    Bieber
    Big Brother
    Bike
    B.I.N.G.O.
    Bird
    Birds
    Black Eyed Susan
    Blacks
    Blessed Assurance
    Blueberries
    Blue Danube
    Blues
    Boellmann
    Bone
    Booth Tarkington
    Boring
    Boundary Mountain
    Brace
    Brachiopod
    Braodway Diner
    Breast Cancer
    Bronze Star
    Brooklyn Bridge
    Buddha
    Budget
    Bulletin
    Bunessan
    Buxtehude
    Buying
    Byron Nilsson
    By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
    Caesars
    Campfire
    Canal Street
    Cantata
    Car Chase
    Carillon
    Carpal Tunnel
    Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    Carpenter Ant
    Carrie Underwood
    Cat
    Catskills
    Charlie Haden
    Chobani
    Choir
    Choir Director
    Choosing A Church
    Choosing Music
    Choral
    Chord
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas Eve
    Church
    Circus Musician
    City Lights
    Cliff Climbing
    Clouds
    Clubs
    Cocktail Piano
    Coffee
    Colden Mountain
    Cole Porter
    Colon
    Colony
    Columbus
    Columbus Day
    Come On Eileen
    Company
    Compassion
    Composer
    Congress
    Contracts
    Contrast Bath
    Convention
    Cookbook Of Love
    Cop
    Crane
    Crime
    Criminal
    Cross
    Cts
    Cuomo
    Cure
    Daisy
    Darlene Edwards
    Daughter
    Death
    Delphinium
    Devonian
    Dexys Midnight Runners
    Diamond
    Did You Ever See A Lassie
    Director
    Discount
    Dog Poop
    Dogs
    Dove
    Driving
    Drone
    Drop
    Drowned
    Drugs
    Drug Use
    Dss
    Duality
    Dwi
    Eagles Wings
    Earl Grant
    Earth
    East
    Easter Vigil
    Ego
    Elaine Stritch
    Elderly
    Ellenville
    Employee
    Encore
    Endurance
    Enlightenment
    Ergonomic
    Error
    Facebook
    Failing
    Failure
    Fakes
    Famm
    Fat
    Felon
    Feral
    Fifth Station
    First Presbyterian Church Gloversville
    Fishing
    Fitbit
    Five Foot Two
    Flight Of The Bumblebee
    Flood
    Flower
    Flowers
    Flute Sonata
    Folding
    Folk Group
    Food Network
    Food Stamps
    Forearm Rotation
    Forgiveness
    Fossil
    Fray
    Free Accompaniment
    Fugue
    Fugue In G Minor
    Funeral
    Gabriel
    Gang
    Ganglion Cyst
    Garden
    Gazebo
    GED
    Gender
    Get In The Way
    Gia
    Gideon Putnam
    Gloversville
    Gold
    Google Fiberinternet
    Gordian Knot
    Gossip
    Government
    Gps
    Grieg
    Growth
    Gun
    Gunks
    Gym Class
    Gymnopedies
    Hall Of The Mountain King
    Halloween
    Hanging Tree
    Harmony
    Harry Anslinger
    Hawk
    Heal
    Healing
    Heist
    Helderberg
    Here Comes The Bride
    Hero
    Hiking
    Hippopontamus
    Hire
    Hiring
    Hit
    Homeless
    Homily
    Horseshoe
    Horse Shoe
    Horse Trails
    Hosta
    Hotline
    House Breaking
    How Dry I Am
    HR
    Hudson River
    Humoresque
    Hymn
    Hymns
    Hymn Tune Index
    Ice Breaker
    Ice Caves
    Idol
    Iftheygunnedmedown
    If They Gunned Me Down
    Improvisation
    Improvising
    Indians
    Injuries
    Injury
    Inspiration
    Internet
    In Three Days
    Ipad
    Iroquois Peak
    Is A Ticket An Arrest
    It Factor
    Itsy Bitsy
    Itsy Bitsy Spider
    I Wonder As I Wander
    Jackie Davis
    Jack Reacher
    Javits Center
    Jazz
    Jazz Hymn
    Jazz Piano
    Jesus
    Jesus Dies On The Cross
    Jesus Falls The First Time
    Jesus Falls The Second Time
    Jesus Falls The Third Time
    Jesus Is Condemned To Death
    Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb
    Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross
    Jesus Is Stripped Of His Garments
    Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross
    Jesus Meets His Mother
    Jesus Meets The Women
    Jesus Takes Up His Cross
    Jig
    Joan Rivers
    Jobs
    Join
    Joncas
    Jo Stafford
    Kaaterskill Falls
    Katz
    Knots
    Kogut
    Kogut Malcolm
    Kogut Rest Home
    Kokopelli
    Korsakov
    Kresmer
    La Guardia
    Lake Tear In The Clouds
    Land Slide
    Lanza
    Law
    Laws
    Leadership
    Lectionary
    Legalization
    Legalize Pot
    Legislator
    Lemon Squeeze
    Lesson
    Lifestring Theory
    Ligament
    Lighted Shirt
    Liquor
    Liturgy
    Living Room Routine
    Locks
    London Bridge
    London Bridge Is Falling Down
    Lord In Your Great Love
    L'organo Primitivo
    Lump
    Malcolm
    Malcolm Kogut
    Malcolm Kogut
    Mandela
    Manning
    Marcy Dam
    Marcy Lake
    Margaret Chin
    Marijuana
    Mark
    Marry
    Mary Had A Little Lamb
    Mass
    Mcconnell
    Mcconnelling
    #mcconnelling
    Mclaines Diner
    Medema
    Median Nerve
    Medical Marijuana
    Membership
    Memorization
    Memorize Music
    Memory
    Men
    Metanoia
    Metrical Index
    Ministry
    Minnewaska State Park
    Misdemeanor
    Mistake
    Mohawk River
    Mohonk
    Mohonk Mountain House
    Mom
    Moonlight Sonata
    Morning Has Broken
    Mother
    Mourning
    Mouse
    Movement
    Msuci
    Mt. Marcy
    Mud
    Murder
    Muscle
    Music
    Musician
    Musicians
    Musicians Of Ma'alwyck
    Myra Brooks Welch
    Nathaniel Cy Ingram
    Native Americans
    Nature
    Neck
    Newtown Ct
    Night Boat To Albany
    Nodule
    No Snitch
    Nouwen
    Nsa
    Nspl
    Nursery Rhyme
    N-word
    Ny
    Nyc
    Offend
    Offender
    Old Age
    Old MacDonald
    Olympics
    One Organ
    Opposite Direction
    Organ
    Organist
    Organ Music
    Origami
    Oscar Peterson
    Others
    Outdoor Cat
    Out Of Tune
    Outside
    Overture
    Pachelbel's Canon
    Park
    Paula Deen
    Paying Bills
    Pedestrian
    Performance
    Phantom
    Phantom Of The Opera
    Phlox
    Piano
    Pietro Yon
    Pipe Organ
    Piracy
    Planning
    Playing
    Plotterkill
    Plotter Kill
    Poem
    Poison
    Police
    Poor
    Pop Goes The Weasel
    Posture
    Pot
    Prayer
    Prayer Of St. Francis
    Prayer Of St. Francis
    Prayer Service
    Prejudice
    Priest
    Prison
    Psalm 69
    Public Assistance
    Racist
    Radio Station
    Ragtime
    Rainbow
    Rape
    Rebate
    Recital
    Registration
    Registry
    Release Barabbas
    Religion
    Representative
    Rest Home
    Revenge
    Right Of Way
    Rip Off
    Ritual Healing
    Robin Williams
    Rodgers
    Romans
    Romeo And Juliet
    Rope
    Rose Of Sharon
    Rotterdam
    Rotterdam Flats
    Running
    Rye Bread Music Festival
    Sacred Dance
    Salary
    Sales
    Salt And Pepper Shaker
    Salt Lake City
    Sandy Hook
    Santa Clara County
    Satie
    Save Money
    Saving Lives
    Scam
    Scar Tissue
    Schenectady
    Schumer
    Security
    Seek Ye First
    Senate
    Senator
    Service
    Sex
    Sexism
    Shaun White
    Shawangunk
    Sheet Music
    Shepherd Collie
    Shmaltz
    Shopping
    Shuffle
    Siciliano
    Silver Star
    Simon Helps Jesus Carry The Cross
    Sing
    Singing
    Six Feet
    Six Hands
    Sixties
    Skiing
    Skull Shirt
    Sky
    Slavery
    Slaves
    Slide
    Small Talk
    Smell Of Death
    Smithfield
    Snitch
    Snowbird
    Snowden
    Sochi
    Solitude
    Sondheim
    Song Introductions
    Sore Hands
    Soul
    Sound Activated
    Specs
    Spider Web
    Spirit Of The Living God
    Spiritual
    Spying
    Squat
    Stain Glass Windows
    Stalk
    St Annes Church7806578e0c
    State Fair
    Station Eleven
    Stations Of The Cross
    Stayin Alive
    Steamships
    Stop List
    Storyteller
    Story Telling
    Stretch
    Stride
    String Theory
    Suicide
    Suite Gothique
    Surely Not I
    Surveillance
    Sweet Georgia Brown
    Tahawus
    Taize
    Take The Pledge
    Target
    Ta Ta
    Tattoo
    Tchaikovsky
    Tendon
    Tendonitis
    Ten Little Indians
    Tennessee Ernie Ford
    Term Limits
    Terro
    Texting
    Thanksgiving
    Thatcher Park
    Thats Life5953658d17
    The Arrest
    Theater Organ
    Theatre Organ
    The Burial
    The Eighth Station
    The Fourteenth Station
    The Fourth Station
    The Ninth Station
    The Old Violin
    The Passion
    The Price Is Right
    The Seventh Station
    The Sixth Station
    The Sound Of Music
    The Tenth Station Of The Cross
    The Thirteenth Station
    The Twelfth Station
    The Wedding Song
    This Old Man
    Ticket
    Tickets
    Time Warner Cable
    Toast
    Toccata
    Toccata In D Minor
    Tom Savoy
    Tops Diner
    Torch Song
    Tornado
    Traffic
    Traffic Court
    Trail
    Traitor
    Transfiguration
    Trap Dike
    Trap Dyke
    Trees
    Trilobite
    Trumpet Vine
    Tunein
    Turkey Vulture
    Turning
    Twinkle
    Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
    Twitter
    Utah
    Veronica Wipes The Face Of Jesus
    Verse
    Victoza
    Vierne
    Volunteer
    Wachet Auf
    Walmart
    War
    Warm Up
    Warrant
    Waterfalls
    Water From Rock
    Webber
    Wedding Music
    Weed
    We Gather Together
    Weight-lifting
    Wells-ny
    West
    We-will-rest-in-you
    Whales
    Whistleblower
    Widors Fifth4386540bf6
    Widor Toccata
    Wild Sunflower
    William Tell Overture
    Witches
    Wlp
    Women
    World Library Publications
    Worse-piano
    Worst-piano
    Wrgb
    Wright Peak
    Wrist
    Wrist Pain
    Write
    Yogurt
    Youth
    Zenithink
    Zodiac
    Zugzwang

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.