A temporary crisis can either be stabilized or turn into a catastrophe. The Emergency Assistance Program can stabilize a family with something most people take for granted -- a grocery bag of food or a $15 prescription.

The mission of Emergency Assistance is to provide hopeful options, strong encouragement, and a measure of stability to people finding themselves in a financial crisis. The program assists with food, rent, utilities, life sustaining medications, heat, and food stamp applications. Staff and volunteers motivate people to make significant changes in their lives that will allow them to support themselves in the future.

Food and life-sustaining medications are given daily between the hours of 8am and 11:30am to the first 40 participants. Eligibility for food is once every 6 months per individual, and for life-saving medicine it is once every 12 months.

Financial assistance is given on Wednesdays only to the first 25 eligible participants. Effective January 1, 2010, financial assistance will be granted once every 24 months per household.

Heat assistance is given to the elderly (60 or older) and to those who have a government-documented disability once every 12 months; it is given once every 24 months to a household with a child under the age of 2. Heat assistance days are Thursdays from 8am through 11:30am, until February 28, 2010.

Assistance with food stamps application is given on Mondays between the hours of 8am and 11:30am to the first 40 participants. United Ministries does not determine the outcome of the food stamps applications. This process is done by The Department of Social Services.