Ruthann picks up the ringing phone. "Thank you for calling Love In the Name of Christ, this is Ruthann. I'm a volunteer. It is a pleasure to talk with you today. May I have your name please?"
A voice with an unmistakably foreign accent comes across the wire. Sophia needs help with gas and clothing for her children. Ruthann checks off the boxes taking down sizes.
"Who referred you to Love INC? Mhmm...I see. And have you or your family ever been helped by us before?"
"Sophia, we try to match your need with resources from agencies, volunteers, and churches in the community. We are not designed to offer direct financial assistance. We work with other resources within the community to provide assistance like food, clothing, and repairs that can help you to have more of your money put towards things like rent and utilities. Would you like to complete an intake with us to see how we can help? Excellent! Before we speak further, I will need to get some basic information."
Names and numbers fill the screen in front of Ruthann. "Alright, so you need help with gas and clothes for you and your kiddos right Sophia? I understand that you have given us permission to verify your information that I have just taken down. Is that correct? Wonderful.
"Now, what events led to your current situation?" Ruthann's expression becomes sober as she listens. Sophia is alone. Her husband has left her and she doesn't know what to do. How can she care for her children? Herself? She doesn't even know where to begin.
"OK. Well, what steps have you taken so far to improve your present situation?" Ruthann's curser dances across more blanks, a click of the mouse fills in the boxes. "Sophia, I have to gather some information about your husband even though I know he currently isn't in the picture. I'm sorry. I know this is hard. We have to be thorough so that we have all the information we need to help." Ruthann knows all too well the pain and fear of being alone. For her it was different. Death took her husband away, but she was not alone. She had a church family who took her under its wing and helped her. Finances, her health, even her emotional wellbeing: nothing escaped their notice or their care. This woman has no one and Ruthann is determined to let her see she is not alone anymore.
Ruthann has filled in the names and dates of birth of Sophia's children and she moves along the questionnaire. "How do you get around Sophia? Bus? Do you have a car? OK." She continues down the list. "And have you applied for assistance from other agencies or organizations? Alaska Housing, ATAP/ATP, food stamps...?" Ruthann is not surprised when few of the boxes are marked off from an extensive list of possible resources. How can a woman from another country, abandoned by her husband even be aware of what is available to her much less be able to navigate the system effectively? The good news is that there are several avenues available to her. "I hope it encourages you to hear that there are all these resources available to you. There are also ministries like New Hope, Catholic Social Services and Lutheran Social Services, among others. Are you familiar with them?"
"Sophia, do you have a case worker yet? If so, I need his or her name and phone number. OK. And how about a church?" Ruthann continues are her hands flies across the keyboard documenting Sophia's responses. "Do you currently attend a local church?"
She is gentle as she asks questions about the spouse who has left her and his employment and income. "Even if he is not willing to support you on his own Sophia, we need this information because it might become necessary later. "
"I know this is hard, but we are almost done. Can you tell me about your living situation?" The keyboard keys click away. "And are you current with the rent? What's your landlord's name and number?" She finishes the questionnaire and begins to wrap up the conversation.
"Sophia, you've made it through. Thank you for taking the time to provide the necessary information for this intake. At this time, I will give the information to the coordinator. She will determine what information needs to be verified and help determine resources we have access to that could help meet your needs. It sounds like I detect a note of hope in your voice that wasn't there before. Yes? Good." Ruthann's smile spreads across her face.
"Now that I'm done asking my questions, do you have any for me?" Ruthann listens carefully and answers as best she can, making a few notes to help her remember this part of the intake. It isn't long before Sophia falls silent. The most important part is still to come in Ruthann's mind.
"Sophia, I would like to have the privilege to pray with you regarding the specific needs you have mentioned to me today. Would it be okay if I were to do that with you now?" Only a moment passes before Ruthann's hand leave the keyboard and she relaxes into a moment of prayer with the unseen woman across the wire. With the information fresh on her mind, she unburdens the woman's heart before God and thanks Him for His love and care for Sophia. "Thank you Sophia for the privilege to pray with you. I'm going to let you go now so that I can get this information to the coordinator so we can get things going for you. Alright? God bless you. Good-bye."
Ruthann disconnects, adds her name and date to the intake file and makes a few more notes. Her mind works through the possible ways this woman can be helped by the Body of Christ in Anchorage and the resources available to her through state and legal channels. Her prayer, begun with Sophia, continues as she passes the information along in the next step of the process. As she returns to her desk the phone rings again. "Thank you for calling Love In the Name of Christ, this is Ruthann...."
