Joshua's House

Walkathon For Joshua's House Raises $1,000
Monday, 19 October 2009
By: Christopher Roy
Express Staff Writer

ORLEANS - For the past 15 years, Joshua's House has been helping residents of Orleans, Caledonia, and Essex counties in times of trouble. The organization, which received its non-profit status in 2007, raises its money from donations and fundraisers like the one held at the Lake Region Union High School track Saturday.

The organization has no building.

"Because we're a homeless homeless shelter, we have almost no overhead," said Executive Director Casey Boyle-Eldridge. Some of the expenses include mandated liability insurance. "We have no paid positions."

One of Joshua's House's goals is to find temporary shelter for those who are homeless. The organization usually lodges clients at area hotels and motels at $130 a week. It also helps residents in the tri-county buy heating fuel. The request for this type of assistance has been dramatically increasing over the past several days.

"We received more calls in the last week alone than we have in five years," said Boyle-Eldridge. She said 10 calls came in during the last two days. "Part of the problem is the fuel assistance program is not starting until mid-November. Nobody anticipated 20 degrees for multiple nights in a row."

Boyle-Eldridge said a call came in on Friday from a woman who needed propane. She had been using her oven to keep her home warm, but that is dangerous.

"Ovens are not designed to heat a house and you could have (gas) leaks going into the house if the flame went out," warned Ken Johnson, president of the board of directors.

Anyone making a request for assistance has to find out if they're eligible for help from human service agencies like Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA), first.

"There are a lot of services people can have," said Boyle-Eldridge. Those Joshua's House likes to help are the ones who are just over the traditional income guidelines. "A lot of times the people we help are $50 over eligibility."

In the past, Joshua's House has helped purchase medicine, oxygen, tires, and gas cards, said Boyle-Eldridge.

The hardest, worst, and saddest calls are from people with medical situations who have suddenly been diagnosed with an illness and have medical bills, said Boyle-Eldridge.

Joshua's House usually gives between $10,000 and $15,000 a year.

"We can only give out what we get," said Boyle-Eldridge. "It's a cash in and out situation."

In all, 40 walkers raised just over $1,000 at the walk on Saturday.

One of those walkers was Allison Piette, 12, from Irasburg. She said helping out is important, because there are lot of people in need. "It's not that big of a deal," said Piette, who was referring to Saturday morning's cold temperatures. "I bundled up and had a big breakfast this morning."

Piette's mother Teresa added that the walk was encouraged by St. Paul's School. She said she's done other fundraisers for the organization in the past. "It's important to give back, what we've been given," said Piette. "This also gives Allison a chance to connect with some of her friends outside of school."

Kristin Poginy of Irasburg attended the walk with her daughters, Emma and Addie. "Everybody needs to stay warm," said Kristin Poginy. "We're all people and every one of us is valuable."

"I don't want people to freeze to death in the winter," said Addie Poginy, age eight. "We're all people and we need each other to live."

For more information on Joshua's House, please call 802-754-2611 and 802-754-2393.