Unmet Needs Helps Family Stay Cool During Heat Wave
Grant helps cover cost of new AC
November 01, 2012
November 1, 2012
Having
four children and a military spouse, Stephanie Hilpp knows how to handle the
home front when things get tough. Unfortunately, the summer of 2012 hit the
Hilpp family especially hard.
Stephanie
took time off of work to see her husband deploy, and then to care for her sick
children just before the merciless and untimely heat wave of 2012 hit the U.S.
The Hilpp’s finances were already stretched and causing strain on the family
when unexpectedly, their air conditioner went out.
Being
the resourceful military spouse that she is, Stephanie searched for a
replacement air conditioner. After settling on one and bargaining on the price,
she was able to purchase one with a payment plan. However, she remained
concerned about her family’s finances.
Turning
to some material from her Family Readiness Group, she reached out to
facilitators of the VFW’s Unmet Needs
program. The program assists military families when an unexpected financial
hardship occurs, often due to deployment. Unmet Needs provides qualifying
applicants with grants to assist with the cost of basic life needs, such as
utilities, insurance, clothing, or in this case, a much needed air conditioner
during one of the worst heat waves to hit our nation in years.
The
Hilpps received a grant to help cover the cost of the new air conditioner.
Stephanie’s stress was immediately relieved when she heard the news. “In my
time of need they were able to provide support for me and my family,” says
Stephanie.
Since
2004, VFW’s Unmet Needs program has provided over 3,200 emergency financial
grants for military families during troubling times.
To learn
more about the Unmet Needs program or other VFW National Military Assistance
programs, click here.
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