The Help Office of Owensboro, 1316 W. Fourth St., provided its clients with some holiday cheer on Monday as it began handing out toys and essentials for Christmas.
âUtilities is the big request right now,â said Angela Settle, the Help Officeâs director.
The Help Office and the Salvation Armyâs Owensboro office both have utility assistance funds available, officials said Tuesday. Audubon Area Community Services is currently out of utility assistance dollars, although more funds are expected in early January.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused multiple hardships for people, even those who havenât become ill. Settle said some Help Office clients are reporting losing income when they learn they have a possible COVID exposure and have to quarantine.
âA lot of people have lost income due to COVID,â Settle said. âOne client said they were exposed and had to quarantine, and ended up getting (the virus). So they were off for several weeks.â