Benevolence Assistance
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Funds are available to assist those in need. We accept assistance requests for help with utilities, some medical bills, prescriptions, insurance, and car repairs. Checks will be made payable to the company or billing party directly. We do not provide cash assistance. To submit a request, please print the form here and return the completed form to the church office. We will reply within approximately one week. Due to a finite amount of funds we are unable to assist with rent payments. (ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE ONCE PER YEAR STARTING AT THE DATE OF THE LAST APPROVED ASSISTANCE)
Dear Benevolence Applicant,
The First Congregational Church Benevolence program is a limited assistance program that is intended to help individuals recover from a temporary financial hardship due to unexpected circumstances. For individuals that have previously received assistance, there is a waiting period of one year from the date of the last approved assistance before they can be eligible for additional assistance if the need arises. If you apply for but are not granted assistance, you may be eligible prior to the standard one-year period. The scope of the First Congregational Church benevolence program is to families or individuals who are in a temporary financial hardship where assistance with the cost of living expenses, that if covered, will help them effectively recover from the financial hardship. Cost of living needs may include, but are not limited to: food, utility payments; auto repairs, insurance, registration and gas; medical bills; phone and internet bills; and other items that may be associated with the necessary costs of living with the exception of rent or mortgage payments. Any and all payments will be paid directly to the company/organization to whom the bill is owed and at no time will a check be given to, or made out to, or will cash be given to the recipient. Assistance with food or gas will be provided via gift cards to a local establishment as determined by the First Congregational Church benevolence committee.
The application process typically takes about one week but may be expedited if the need arises. After submission of the application it will be reviewed by the First Congregational Church benevolence committee and you will be contacted so we can get a better understanding of your situation and how we can best assist you.
It should be understood that this benevolence program is not to be used as a welfare program to supplement your annual income. If it is determined that this is the case, through research and analysis of past assistance where your financial situation has not noticeably improved, then you may be disqualified from further assistance at the discretion of the First Congregational Church benevolence committee.
Refusal of assistance, for reasons other than lack of benevolence program funds, does not necessarily make one ineligible for future assistance. To become eligible, you need to show that your needs now fall within the scope of this program or that you have made progress in alleviating your financial situation such that any assistance provided would effectively assist you in recovering from your financial hardship.
If there are any questions with regards to your application, contact us, and a member of the benevolence committee will be in contact with you in a timely manner to discuss your specific questions.