A single mother couldn't afford new tires for her van. Embrace Iowa paid the bill.
For a busy mother of four, juggling work and further education, Lahtecia Uhl was unprepared for the sticker-shock of repairing a well-used van.
“I'm the sole provider for all my kids and making sure they get to all their appointments,” she said. She urgently needed four replacement tires and other fixes before the onset of winter.
Following the advice of a friend, the Hull, Iowa, resident approached Mid-Sioux Opportunity Inc., the closest agency partnered with the Des Moines Register’s annual Embrace Iowa campaign.
For more than 30 years, the charitable program has supported families and individuals who need a temporary helping hand. Supported by the generous contributions of newspaper readers and operated with the support of the Iowa Community Action Association, 16 regional agencies dispense funds valued up to $750 to cover a diverse range of financial hardships.
More: This Decorah woman needed help with medical bills. Embrace Iowa gave her a hand up.
During last year’s fundraising season, 679 cases were funded from a total of 1,461 applications and to deter any fraud attempts, Embrace Iowa’s awards are not distributed to individual claimants. Uhl received a quote from a local repair shop to fix her van, and in turn, the shop was paid directly by the Mid-Sioux Outreach offices.
The award helped her rise from a situation she describes as “very bad,” to one with a better sense of security and the ability to continue her schooling in nearby Sheldon, Iowa.
Unlike food stamps, or Iowa’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that are dedicated to alleviating immediate issues of heat and hunger, Embrace Iowa agencies have more flexibility in distributing their funds. Expensive, but essential, car repairs are a frequent request, alongside requests for funds to help with rent, medical expenses, or purchasing necessary appliances.
Uhl didn’t find the experience of gathering paperwork and quotes too difficult and has encouraged a neighbor to apply for their own award. “I definitely have been spreading the word about it because I think it is a good program and it's a good thing,” she said.
More: Embrace Iowa helped disabled man pay his car repair bill to travel to medical appointments
How you can help Embrace Iowa
Helping those in need located anywhere across Iowa’s 99 counties, this year’s Embrace Iowa campaign is accepting contributions until Jan 31. 2024. Any donation qualifies as a charitable deduction if made before the end of December and all the money raised is distributed to the applicants, not diluted to cover staff pay, or administration costs. The fundraising goal for this year has been raised to $400,000.
Online donations can be made at iowacommunityaction.org/about/donate, or checks can be sent to Embrace Iowa, P.O. Box 10611, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0611.
Richard Lane is a freelance writer for the Des Moines Register.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Embrace Iowa helps single mother who can't afford to pay for van repairs
