Action....Not Words December 25, 2003

Dear Friend,

Maybe you have heard of Action - running the holiday toy drive on WBACH - helping your elderly neighbor cover her winter heating expenses so she can stay warm - providing shelter and a hot meal for the homeless on Main Street - caring for disabled elders in their homes so they can keep their independence.

Maybe you haven't heard about Action, quietly, confidentially helping people in need for 38 years out of an old school building on Elm Street - teaching and mentoring Gloucester's young school drop-outs - retraining Gloucester's fishing families - helping adults get their High School Diploma - pleading a single parent's child support case - weatherizing homes to reduce a poor family's energy costs - providing emergency help to people at risk of homelessness - placing a disabled adult in a private foster home, instead of a nursing home.

All these actions help keep the fabric of Cape Ann together.

In the past year alone Action:

• Provided 1,478 households with fuel assistance and weatherization services.
  
• Helped 588 frail elders and disabled individuals maintain independent living.
  
• Sheltered 237 homeless people, and placed 66 individuals in stable housing.
  
• Prevented homelessness for 162 at-risk households through emergency housing assistance.
  
• Assisted 168 people with family and housing legal issues.
  
• Helped 167 families save money for bills over the holidays by providing 348 children with Project Uplift gifts and clothes.
  
• Trained 156 adults for new jobs.
  
• Helped 40 teens stay in school and out of court.
  
  

Out of every dollar you give, $.96 will go to direct services, with only $.04 going to administration and fundraising. According to the weekly North Shore Sunday and the independent charity evaluator Charity Navigator, Action is one of the top non-profits in our industry and in Essex County. Your contribution is invaluable because it provides money to support under-funded but important services and it allows Action to develop new initiatives for family economic security.

As state and federal government take less responsibility for the social safety net, it is up to the community to make up the difference. Please join with us to create a stronger Cape Ann.

Gratefully,
William C. Rochford
Executive Director

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