Stories from the Basement
Help and Outreach Point of Entry, Inc.
by
Donna Clark, Director
It takes a village to raise a child is an African proverb that means that an entire community of people must interact with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. The villagers look out for the children.
Sometimes it takes a village to help those people who are lost in the system; confused about where to go to find help and guidance. We here at H.O.P.E., Inc. witnessed members of a program called Salisbury/Wicomico Integrated First Care Team(SWIFT) step in and begin to help a person who was so confused and lost in our community. SWIFT’s purpose is to reduce non-emergency calls to 911 by targeting Wicomico residents who frequently utilize Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for non-emergency purposes. Mr. X had been to the emergency department twelve times recently and we had been notified to contact SWIFT if he showed up in our office. We watched as they made him comfortable and they listened to our instructions to obtain his social security card and other documents that he needed. One member of the team will guide him, transport him, and help him towards stability. What a wonderful community that identifies a need and creates a way to resolve the problem! The program meets a huge need and we are very grateful for their support. Working together we will get him health insurance, housed, and hopefully the mental health care he so desperately needs.
Paul’s letter to Corinth talks about the many parts of the body of the church but it also can relate to the community we live in. It takes many different people to make a loving community. Thank you God for your love and the people you put in place to spread your love.
2 Corinthians 12:12-26
H.O.P.E. 