Xai Yang, Community Sharing Fund Grant Recipient
Having recently immigrated from a refugee camp in Thailand, 33-year-old Xai Yang found a job at a packaging company to support his wife and seven children. While his 20 hour-a-week job left the family on a very tight budget, it was a start for them in this new country. A car accident, however, placed the family in crisis. The car insurance covered all but the $750 deductable and the $650 rent was due shortly. Without help to pay the car repair bill, Mr. Yang would not be able to travel to work and then the family would be in a real crisis. Mr. Yang sought support through the Hmong American Partnership, an agency which provides culturally appropriate services to Hmong Families in Minnesota. The Hmong American Partnership approached Community Sharing Fund to help Mr. Yang with this crisis. Community Sharing Fund understood that a $500 grant would not only repair the car, but it would allow Mr. Yang to continue working and supporting his family in this time of transition.

About Community Sharing Fund
Community Sharing Fund is a unique, one-of-a-kind, resource that provides immediate and direct financial support, through grants of $50 to $700, to individuals and families in the East Metro in order to stabilize housing, employment and, ultimately, promote economic independence and self-sufficiency. The moment an unforeseen crisis occurs, individuals and families may no longer be able to balance all their financial commitments. Without immediate financial support, those individuals and families too often find themselves without a home, a job, or a variety of other necessities to remain self-sufficient.

In 2008, Community Sharing Fund responded to over 3,500 requests for emergency assistance from 84 different agencies in the East Metro. This was a 16% increase in requests from 2007. The program approved 1,735 grants totaling $700,724 and impacting nearly 4,500 community members.

Your Financial Support Ensures:
* Those in crises situations receive timely assistance
* Fathers like Mr. Yang can continue working and supporting their families
* Individuals can obtain help in the most critical circumstances
* Community Sharing Fund staff have adequate resources to respond to each request for support.

Thank you for supporting our community through Community Sharing Fund.