Fiscal Year 2023 was an unprecedented year for Friends.

We received and fulfilled requests from Community Services Board (CSB) and Court Services Unit (CSU) case managers totaling $118,126.76.

We received donations of $73,726.33 during that period. The need has not abated in the first three months of FY2024. Friends has spent $29,848.17 and taken in donations of $18,810.43 to serve city residents.

Without your generosity, many City residents would be without housing, dental and medical care, food, appropriate clothing, job training, and specialized substance use disorder treatment. Here are some highlights of the clients we served:

• Alex is a youth involved in the court system whose mother has serious health problems. Friends paid a bill that was causing additional stress to the family. His mother sent a note to Friends:

“Thank you all for helping me and my son. I didn’t know how I was going to pay that bill and you all swooped in and took care of it. I wasn’t even expecting it. You are my Angels. Thank you for everything.”

• Nancy, a single mother of three children, had the opportunity to help her family become more independent from system support by attending school to become a Certified Nurse’s Aide.

The program cost $1,699.00 and financial aid was not available. Friends agreed to pay the tuition to support this family in their journey towards stability and financial independence.

• Sally, a young woman participating in mental health services, needed help to pay for swim lessons to help her overcome anxiety. Friends paid for swim lessons at Chinquapin Recreation Center. Sally’s therapist reached out to Friends to thank us for always coming through.

• Justine, a senior client, needed significant help with apartment utilities and cleaning. Due to this client’s significant and emergent needs, Friends helped with utility bills and cleaning bills to help ensure that Justine was in a safe and healthy environment.

Rent and housing-related assistance continue to be the majority of requests that are sent to Friends, followed by medical and dental expenses.