Project for Pride in Living

When Jenny Adams Salmela, Employment Training Manager, met with Train to Work graduate Dora…

Jenny told her that she had been chosen as a PPL Holiday program recipient. Dora started crying. She said she didn’t have enough for the holidays, didn’t know what to do for her kids, and how much this holiday program meant to her. She thanked program funders and had high praise for PPL staff, particularly Sara Arnold. Dora said, “If there were more people like Sara, we would all be rich, not with money, but you know. She has helped me in so many ways. And this program, Train to Work, I just have come so far.”

Charles works two jobs to support his family. To learn more about asset building tools, Charles visited Jasna Burza, a PPL Financial Coach. …

After talking about options, Charles opened a retirement fund and a CD for his children. As he was developing these accounts, his home mortgage interest rate increased dramatically from 6.7% to 12%, putting his housing in jeopardy. Staff helped him refinance, securing a lower interest rate. A foreclosure prevention fund available through PPL helped him catch up with monthly payments. Charles and his family are now back on track.

Emily Stinnett, Services Coordinator, learned that Mary had a couch to give away …

Emily knew of a Prosperity Village family in need of furniture. A week later, Mary’s son arrived with a friend to deliver the couch to a single mom and her eight- year-old twin boys. The boys were anxious to help and eagerly held doors as the men hauled in their new couch. Emily could tell that the two men were touched by the boys’ delight at having a couch for their living room, which previously held only a TV and a Christmas tree. After lots of thanking, the two men left. When Emily next saw Mary, she said her son had been a bit resistant to deliver the couch, asking “what was wrong with a family that would want their old couch?” After the delivery, he had told his mom that it was the most meaningful thing he had ever done in his life.

Jessica Frehse, Supportive Housing Specialist, helped connect Yvonne and her daughter …

to PPL’s Homeless Supportive Housing Program. Last year they moved into their new home. Since that time, Yvonne has become a significant asset for her neighbors. She helps those in need, opens her home to neighbor children, allows access to her phone, and shares food and other resources. She has assisted neighbors with problem-solving and she has created a feeling of community within the building.