August 31, 2006
Number, please
Lending A Helping Voice To The Poor
In a world where people seemingly cannot survive without being constantly connected through pocket-size communications devices, it's difficult to imagine that anyone is without telephone service.
Still, for many in our society, basic phone service — never mind cellphones — must compete with even more important necessities. But Catholic Charities and the United Way of Tarrant County have a solution.
It's called Community Link, which launches officially today. The service is provided through cooperating social service agencies and is coordinated by Catholic Charities.
Community Link offers 10-digit telephone numbers and voice-mail service to individuals and families who do not have telephones. Catholic Charities says that through the service, "employers, case managers, schools and landlords will be able to contact these individuals by telephone and leave a message without knowing the user's phoneless status."
Heather Reynolds, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, is excited about the possibilities.
"A phone and voice-mail service is a vital tool in our society today to help individuals transition to self-sufficiency," she says. It meets a fundamental communication need, directly linking individuals to housing, jobs, healthcare, schools and safety from domestic violence.
"If an individual does not have a phone number and is looking for a job, how is an employer supposed to get in contact with them to come in for an interview or even make a job offer?" Reynolds said.
It also saves time for social service caseworkers who, if they cannot make contact by phone, "literally have to go track them down to give them a message."
Reynolds says several funders have generously donated through the United Way of Tarrant County for the first year of service of Community Link. But the need will remain long after the first year of funding runs out.
There's lots of talk about moving people back into the work force. But talk is cheap. Tools are not.
It's time to match philosophy with philanthropy.
Image: Delmar Gray, center, laughs at the sound of her recorded voice as Dania Lee, right, demonstrates a new voice mail service on a speakerphone and Mindy Castoreno looks on at Catholic Charities' southeast Fort Worth offices Thursday. Community Link will provide hundreds of people, including the homeless and low-income families, with access to voice mail to help them with job searches and healthcare needs.
(c) 2006 Fort Worth Star-Telegram