Pandemic raising need for vulnerable in our community

By Justine Ziegler with The Next Door

What is it like to live in fear? Because of COVID-19, we’ve all been experiencing a fear, unlike anything we’ve ever felt.

But while many of us live in an otherwise safe and stable environment, what has the pandemic been like for your friends and neighbors who were already struggling with poverty, food insecurity, abusive relationships, and more? The danger in which they live has become almost unbearable. But you can help - help people like Shelly who was interviewed for this story.

“For the last couple years, I was abused by my ex. Finally, for my kids’ safety, I left,” says Shelly a program participant of The Next Door.

Terrified, Shelly and her kids moved to start a new life in a new city. She found a job, but it wasn’t the happy ending she had hoped for.

“We couldn’t find a place to live,” she says. “Some nights, we slept in our car, my three babies all sharing one blanket. Other nights, we would stay with friends.”

While staying with a friend of a friend, Shelly was raped. She felt guilty; like it was her fault. Among all this, Shelly worries about exposure to COVID-19.

“What if we get sick? Should I have stayed with my ex? Yes, I was unhappy and scared, but we were safer from the virus. I constantly doubt my decision to leave,” Shelly says.

You can keep Shelly safe and help her and her kids find the happy ending they deserve. Visit nextdoorinc.org/donate and make a gift today. 

Thanks to Rich and Pat Gleitsmann. Your gift to The Next Door will be matched up to $10,000 through December 31st. Double your impact and make a special holiday gift to ensure people like Shelly feel safe and valued.

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The Next Door has more than two dozen programs that support and empower people in our community. We help people build skills for loving relationships and healthy lives with programs in Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat, Gilliam, Wheeler, Skamania, and Sherman Counties.

What we provide:
Provide a safety net for children at risk of abuse and neglect and for victims of crime.
Leadership opportunities and economic development in our communities.
Parenting support and education
Health and wellness education and advocacy.
Mentoring, education, and treatment for high-risk youth and families.
Giving extra support to local youth through Big Brothers and Big Sisters.