Dear W.C.,

I am writing in hopes that you will be able to help my neighbor who lives downstairs. A few months ago, heavy rains flooded her apartment and she had to get rid of most of her furniture and belongings. She has an eight-year-old son who has been sleeping on the floor because his bed was ruined, and I am worried about the possibility of mold in her apartment. Our landlord has told her he will not let her out of her lease early because he does not believe there is mold. He refuses to return her security deposit. Without that she has nowhere she can go. I would let her move in with me temporarily, but I know our landlord will find out and then I will be in trouble too. Her son needs clothing and shoes as his were ruined, yet he continues to wear them. If she received a helping hand from The Time is Now to Help I know she would be relieved from the tremendous stress she is under.

Dear Readers,

I paid a visit to the elderly woman who so kindly wrote this letter requesting assistance for her neighbor. The woman greeted me with a hug and tears as she shared how much our assistance had helped her many years ago. She filled me in on her own life changes before moving to the subject of the woman and son downstairs. She cried even more tears when she began to speak about the young woman and her son who now needed our help.

We talked while she texted her neighbor to see if she was at home. When she replied that she was there the elderly woman texted again and asked if she could bring a visitor. The young woman asked if her visitor happened to be from the charity she had talked about many times over the past few weeks. When she told her it was, the woman invited us to come over.

The elderly woman knocked on the door of the apartment directly below hers. I could smell the mold now that we were in the lower level of the apartment building. The carpets had been removed but the walls showed water stains. When the woman opened her door and invited us inside, I continued to see water damage and noted the lack of nearly any furniture. She had all the windows open and a dehumidifier running.

The woman invited us inside and after brief introductions we got right to work. The elderly woman had told her what to expect so she had her bills and notices out to review. We went over her budget and spoke in depth about her job, her son and how the flood had affected their lives. I could see her budget barely covered her bills every month and her child support payments were not reliable. When I asked about insurance, she said she was never able to afford any. They would never be able to purchase new furniture or beds or afford to move into a new apartment.

We looked around the small apartment and I noticed the air mattress in her son’s room but little else. She slept on an old recliner chair given to her by one of the other neighbors. I asked if she was able to move if we found something they could afford. She answered, “Yes please. If we close the windows, we can hardly stand the moldy smell. My son has been ill several times since the flood,” I knew this woman and her son needed to get out of that environment as soon as possible.

The woman told me about an apartment she had found. She showed me the amount needed to secure the apartment. She told me how her landlord had declined returning her security deposit. I told her I would call him and do what was needed to remind him of his responsibilities to his tenants in the building. When I made that phone call, he decided it would be best to return her security deposit, especially since he had received an insurance claim that would allow him to make the repairs.

With our financial assistance they were able to move into the new apartment. The Time Is Now to Help provided two months’ rent, a security deposit, new beds for the mother and son, and gift cards for food, clothing, shoes and other household items ruined in the flood. This mother was tearfully overjoyed and relieved to have the stress of poverty removed. Her son was ecstatic to have a real bed, new shoes and clothes, and not have to breathe the moldy air any longer, thanks to “You”.

Thank you and God Bless You for making this and all our poverty relief efforts a success. We have almost matched the Kune’s Family Foundation $20,000 Matching Grant. 100% of this matching grant is being used to provide poverty relief throughout our communities. Thank you to the Kune’s Family Foundation, and all of “You”, for your generosity and support of our poverty relief efforts!

Health & Happiness, Love & GOD Bless Everyone, Sal

Please Help: There are many coming to us in desperation. Our good fellow creations need our compassion. Together we make a big difference. Make checks payable to: The Time Is Now to Help, P.O. Box 1, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. The Time Is Now to Help is a federally recognized 501©3 charitable organization. You will receive a tax deductible, itemized thank you receipt showing how 100% of your donation was used for providing poverty relief.

Please visit our website to read more of our past and current columns and/or to make a donation: www.timeisnowtohelp.org Please go to the home page, follow the yellow highlighted link that says WC Letters to see current and past columns.

A Very Special Thank You: Kune’s Family Foundation, Ziegler Charitable Foundation, Paul Ziegler, Kunes Country Auto Group, Paper Dolls, Jeff Martin, Thomas Getzen, Lake Geneva Area Realty, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schuberth, Martin Group, John Stensland and family, Dale and Gail Folkers, Douglas and Janet Muzatko, Creek Road Community Church, The Premium Package, Chris Adams, Sharon Jardas, Tim and Margaret Kumbier, John and Marian McClellan, Gordon and Diane Flohr, William and Jean Isaacson, Beth and Jody Rendall, Cheryl Robran, Stanley Roelker, Joan Marabito Rietz, Donald and Anne Ogne, Nancy Ferguson, John and Rita Race, Bob and Millie McCormick, Denise Hubbard, Jeffrey and Helen Harold, all of our anonymous donors and ALL of you who support The Time Is Now to Help donation boxes. Anyone who would like a Time Is Now donation box in your business, please call (262) 249-7000.

Honoraries: Joseph and Arlene Wachal in honor of the marriage of Sam and Hannah Ward-Packard.

Prayer Chain: The power of prayer and positive thoughts comes from the true healer, our Lord answering our prayers.

Please pray for healing for the following people: Brian, Mike, Sylvia, Megan, Kayla, Maria C., Judy, Scott, Annie, Marilyn, Brandon, Helen, Dennis, Mary, Joseph, Jordan, Jean, Tom L., Dr. Peter, Matthew, Pam E., Jenene B., John S., Patricia H., Ron K., Marian K., Judy, Wendy, Eric, Anthony, Mary, Charlie, Tom P., Christina, Billy, Mike, Cheryl, Bryan E., Betty and Ellie.

Lake Geneva Cruise Line conducts annual mailboat jumper tryouts for summer tours

Mailboat jumper candidates wait to get back on the boat after a practice run

Ethan Connelly returns to the U.S. Mailboat Walworth after making a successful jump

Marissa Torres-Raby puts on a life vest as she prepares for her mailboat jump

Mailboat jumper candidates prepare to make their tryout jumps

A mailboat jumper candidate makes a successful jump during tryouts, June 11

Ella Clapp prepares to make a tryout jump

Mailboat jumper candidates gather for a group photo after their tryouts

The goal of a successful mailboat jump includes jumping on a pier from the U.S. Mailboat Walworth

Janelle Simons runs back onto the U.S. Mailboat Walworth after making a successful jump

Ella Clapp is all smiles after making a successful mailboat jump

The Lake Geneva Cruise Line mailboat tours offer beautiful views of the lakefront area

Marissa Torres-Raby continues the tradition of kissing the goose mailbox during a jump

Mailboat jumper candidates encourage each other on during each jump

Marie Nickolette is proud of her successful mailboat jump

Mailboat jumper candidates complete their tryout session

Mailboat captain Ray Ames thanks the riders for boarding the U.S. Mailboat Walworth

The U.S. Mailboat Walworth is available for mailboat tours through Sept. 15