Emergency fund escapes own emergency

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The expression “in the nick of time” could not have been more appropriate than last week when Rev. Leslie Nesin, priest in charge at the Church of the Good Shepherd, presented a $200 check to an emergency fund.
    Rev. David Hutchinson, treasurer of the Southern Aroostook Ministerial Association (SAMA) said the group’s emergency and human needs fund was nearly depleted and down to its last $20 before the donation.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
ALL DONATIONS WELCOME — Rev. Leslie Nesin, priest in charge at the Church of the Good Shepherd, presents a $200 check to Rev. David Hutchinson, minister of the Houlton Unitarian Church for a human needs and emergency fund just as the account was nearly depleted. The money goes to the Southern Aroostook Ministerial Association’s (SAMA) emergency fund to assist people caught in stressed economic situations after an emergency. Hutchinson says: “There is no gift too small or too large.”
    Hutchinson, probably most well known around town as minister of the Houlton Unitarian Church, said the fund started about four years ago with seed money from area clergy and churches to address local needs like fuel assistance, electric bills, plumbing repairs and food. It has evolved, he said, into a general human needs and emergency fund for residents and people at the border in “stressed economic situations when they cannot make ends meet.” The reasons are varied from unemployment, a fire, lack of fuel or an  emergency that pops up when the budget is tight.
    “I think churches are seen as the resource of help in communities. Where else would you go for help?  You might go to the Salvation Army. Yes, but you might prefer to go to a local pastor. So, we do have people on our doorstep from time to time. It’s awfully nice to have someone to go to,” Nesin said.
    The fund is administered through the Salvation Army that accepts referrals from ministers in SAMA and assesses the need for case management, according to Hutchinson. He also said that needs can be met quickly by dispensing funds to people in emergency situations.
    However, he also said “we’re constantly dispensing. So, we never have a high balance. For most clients the average is $200 and there are no huge amounts given to any one client.”
    To replenish the fund SAMA relies on events like the group’s ecumenical Thanksgiving service at St. Mary’s Church last night. Half of the offering went to the SAMA fund and the other half went to the Salvation Army fuel fund. Of course, Hutchinson said, individuals or companies can also make donations.
    Nesin said “we always tithe 10 percent of our fund-raisers to a local need. We decided after the Harvest Bazaar, to tithe to SAMA’s emergency human needs fund. We like to think that people will know that if they come to our affairs 10 percent of what they spend goes right back into the community.”
    With their ecumenical services during the Thanksgiving holiday and Lenten season, SAMA sees those opportunities as ideal to publicize the fund and its need for support.
    So far the small-scale project has dispensed about $2,500 to 22 clients according to Hutchinson who says the group is “hoping to be handling larger numbers of clients.” Donations can be made to SAMA or the Salvation Army.
    When asked how small a gift can be donated, Nesin replied: “A dollar.”  And, Hutchinson quickly added: “There is no gift too small or too large.”