Good Faith Fund

During 2007, St. Matthew's was able to provide assistance to over 200 families, including the terminally ill, working poor, disabled and unemployed. We help with such things as utility bills, rent payments, car payments, etc., helping individuals and families get on their feet in hard times.

The Good Faith fund was created in 2001 to respond to the needs of people who come to the church in financial crisis. In accordance with the canons of the Episcopal church, it is funded by the loose offering that is put in the Sunday plate one Sunday a month (the first Sunday is Good Faith Sunday at St. Matthew's), as well as from designated checks given to the fund. The requests, which come from all over Travis County, are reviewed and the funds are disbursed by a faithful committee of lay people. They disburse the funds that are collected each month on the principle that God brings both the money and the applicants, month by month. Awards are made only to creditors - mostly landlords and utility companies. Recipients may apply only once in a twelve month period. Priority is given to people who have never applied. Most of the awards go to people outside the parish, but we have helped members too, particularly with medical emergencies. At the end of every meeting, we lift in prayer all of the applicants and their families, knowing that it is God alone who can help and heal them.

Here are just a few of those helped with your Good Faith donations in 2007:

J.W. was unable to work because his wife suffered a breakdown after the birth of their child. J.W. had to care for the infant until he could find suitable child care. He is now working again but behind in his bills.
L.F. was briefly jailed for driving with a suspended license and was terminated from her job. She is the sole support for 7 children and currently has no income.
C.P. was disabled on the job. Surgery for the injury left her more disabled. She collects disability from her former company but must live on much less than when she worked. The mortgage company is threatening foreclosure on her home of 22 years.
M.W. was able to scrape by until she became the sole support for her 10 year old grandson when his mother was sent to prison. As the grandmother, she receives no financial support for the child. She is looking for a one bedroom apartment to cut expenses. Her current landlord is threatening eviction.
V.R. lost his job after being seriously injured in a car accident. His wife is currently being treated for cancer. Their children, a 3 year old and one year old twins, are being cared for by his grandmother who lives with them. During his injury he got behind on his bills.
Anonymous high school student whose mother was recovering from heart surgery and unable to work. The student was planning on using her college scholarship money to pay the late rent.
G.W. is a 69 year old widow living on Social Security in section 8 housing. She recently underwent double knee replacement and the extra medical expenses caused her to get behind on her electric payment plan. She received a shut off notice.