People Reaching Out To Other People

Food programs: our hunger prevention programs are designed To support and supplement the nutritional needs of clients whether for short-term emergency needs or as part of a long-term stability plan. Food services are provided through four key initiatives including in-person selection in our client choice food mart, curbside pick up, home delivery and summer food for kids program. All food visits are by appointment, augmented with basic needs boxes for emergency food requests. Our food support programs are experiencing skyrocketing growth, which reflect the changing demographics of suburban poverty and food insecurity, as well as the impact of high rates of inflation in the cost of food and housing on low-income households. The number of food visits provided in 2023 increased by 22% compared To the previous year, and this was on the heels of a 35% increase the year before. Prop assisted 673 new families, representing 2,233 unique individuals, who had not utilized our services previously. Prop provided nutritious, fresh, culturally relevant food and Other essential services To 1,406 households totalling 5,164 individuals in the past year. Prop understands that good nutrition is key To healthy minds and bodies. We continued To provide fresh produce, dairy, meat, and bakery goods among Other items from local grocers and community gardens. Prop continues To harvest its own garden To support the growing request for fresh produce.since february 2022 when prop lifted all covid restrictions on in person service, our food mart has remained open continuously, allowing clients into the food shelf To "shop and personally select much of their food orders. Families with school age children had their food orders supplemented with additional food and child friendly nutritious snacks, heavily focused on fruits and vegetables, during the summer when school in not in session and school meals are not available for children who qualify for free or reduced-priced breakfast and lunch. Prop is continuing the expanded food delivery service begun during the pandemic through our partnership with southwest transit for senior citizens and persons who lack transportation and have mobility issues. Prop is an essential service and is open during daytime and evening hours To accommodate all who need food assistance. An additional shift on monday evenings was added To prop's weekly food service schedule in october 2023, increasing the number of food visits we can accommodate each month To 820.

Youth programs and wrap around services: prop continues To provide youth scholarships To enable underserved children To participate in sports, music, drivers' education, camps, tutoring and Other activities. Prop provided 25 youth scholarships last fiscal year, and 2 additional scholarships through a new program specifically for drivers' education. Our employment counselor assisted 143 individuals with their job search, including creating or updating their resume, preparing for interviews, and connecting with local employers that have open positions, providing 684 coaching sessions with the individuals. Prop continued To offer financial counseling To clients through a pilot- partnership with a resource partner, and then transitioned the counseling service To our internal case management team mid-year. Prop also provided adult enrichment scholarships To help individuals improve their skills. Our holiday gift card program, which offers gift cards To qualifying families for each child age 18 and under, and To senior citizens, provided $33,200 in financial assistance during the holiday season while preserving client dignity and maximum flexibility in the use of these funds for a special meal or celebration.

Emergency financial services: prop provides short-term financial support To keep families stably housed, either directly by paying rent or indirectly by covering Other essential expenses such as utilities, transportation, prescriptions, or child care. With assistance from our case managers and client services director, prop works with clients holistically and creatively To best meet their needs. Prop prevented homelessness for 74 households (151 individuals) by providing 105 months of rent and/or security deposit assistance, and provided emergency short-stay housing for 2 families. Prop assisted 318 families with Other direct financial services for car repairs, utility expenses, child care, transportation expenses and Other needs To keep families stable. The high cost of basic living necessities, specifically for housing and food, combined with wages not keeping pace with these expenses for many low-income households, continues To drive demand for services and assistance from prop.