The Emergency Assistance Program...
is designed to give financial assistance and counseling to those in need.
This is done through:
- Interviewing the client
- Making appropriate referrals to other agencies and professionals in the community.
This program is NOT:- ... a "hand out". Along with our financial assistance comes responsibility. The client must show a desire to change their present situation of dependency to one of independence. If a client does not follow through with the agreed upon plan, he or she will not be assisted in the future.
- ... for the client who receives all the government subsidies and who is not trying to change.
This program IS:
- ..."a hand up". It is our desire to help clients identify their core problem (depression, alcoholism, lack of budgeting skills, lack of education / training) so that we are able to address that rather than simply treating the client's problems (utilities, food, rent, etc..).
- ... for the person who is falling through the cracks of our system, i.e. the working poor person with catastrophic illnesses or someone in a temporary crisis.
How to Get Help
- If you are seeking assistance, you will need to come in to our office for an interview.
- Interviews are normally on Monday-Thursday. We take appointments via telephone on Friday mornings at 8am.
- The appointments are made for the following week on a first call first served basis.
For an appointment call our direct line on Friday morning: 864-226-2273
Client to Colleague
“Scotty” first came to AIM for help with a power bill. Scotty was a thrifty man, kept his lights off when he wasn’t home, didn’t use more than he needed, etc and his bill wasn’t any more than $50. The power bill usually wasn’t an issue but had been laid off from his janitorial job at a local business.
Scotty knew that AIM helped people, so he met with, Nancy Henderson, the Emergency Assistance Director at the time, who helped Scotty with the bill and helped set him up for food stamps and sent him on his way.
Soon, Scotty was back at AIM but this time he wasn’t here for help. He said, “I can’t take your money without paying back.” Mrs. Nancy tried to explain to Scotty that the help he received was a gift from the donors of AIM. Scotty insisted, “Let me come and clean the bathrooms.” Mrs. Nancy then understood - the bathrooms did need cleaning - but mainly, Scotty needed to give back!
The next day, Scotty showed up to AIM and worked under the supervision of Floyd, another AIM staff member. At the end of the day Floyd reported to Mrs. Nancy that Scotty did a great job and would be a great addition to support staff at AIM. Mrs. Nancy contacted AARP to help Scotty apply for their workforce program and requested that Scotty be placed at AIM as a janitor.
“I’ve been preached to all my life, but I’ve never seen Christianity in action like I have here at AIM.”
For the next two and a half years Scotty showed up to work every day to clean the bathrooms at AIM. Everyone grew to love talking to Scotty, helping Scotty, and answering his theological questions. Looking back, Mrs. Nancy describes Scotty as doing the “labor of love.” Eventually the staff at AIM found out that Scotty was an artist. Soon Scotty was more than just AIM’s bathroom cleaner! The staff employed Scotty to paint chairs and other items for various events, and even employed him privately to paint personal items for their homes. Scotty loved painting, so the staff got lots of painted gifts as well.
When Scotty needed a car, the staff at AIM found one for him so that he could continue to work. When Scotty didn’t show up to work, Mr. Floyd knew something was wrong, so he went to Scotty’s house to check on him and found him in the need of help. Scotty had fallen off a ladder and broken his foot.
Mr. Floyd rushed Scotty to the hospital. Everyone on staff that had grown to love Scotty made sure to take care of him. When Scotty needed groceries, Mrs. Nancy would make sure he had them. Mrs. Nancy and other AIM staff and volunteers also enjoyed bringing Scotty cooked meals, especially BBQ from Little Pigs since it was his favorite.
Eli Scotty Moore
Scotty eventually parted from AIM and soon became terminally ill. After Scotty’s death the AIM staff that grew to love him received permission from his landlord to get flowers and ivy from his yard to plant at the WACS Cottage on AIM’s campus. Some questioned Scotty’s faith at time, but upon leaving Mrs. Nancy noticed something she hadn’t seen on previous visits to Scotty’s house, a self-constructed cross. All doubt had been removed.
At his very core, Scotty emulated pure humility, was independent, and wanted to give back to his community. These are the types of relationships that AIM hopes to create with clients. Relationships where AIM does all the work giving, and clients do nothing but receive are destructive and end with both parties at odd with the other. AIM seeks not to provide a hand out, but a hand up. Scotty said it best in his own words at one of AIM’s annual meetings, “I’ve been preached to all my life, but I’ve never seen Christianity in action like I have here at AIM.”
