Giving Words

About

Through community partnerships, we help mothers struggling to meet their basic needs, so they are better able to form safe and nurturing connections with their children

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Where do we serve?

• Louisa County
• Albemarle and Orange on a case-by-case basis

Who do we serve?

Single mothers (divorced, separated, never married, widowed, dating, spouse incarcerated) with one of more underage children or an adult disabled child

What criteria should the mother meet?

Fall under the current Household Survival Budget (about $45,000 for family of 3) as defined by ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed)

Complete required forms (participant profile, initial intake and possibly car intake form)

Required documentation: can include pay stubs, identification, proof of car ownership and insurance

How does the mother get started?

If she’s working with social services, a non-profit, or another organization, the organization contacts the intake coordinator first since we may not have the capacity or resources to meet the need.

Otherwise, the mother contacts the intake coordinator directly.

What is the car repair process?

1. Complete all three forms.
2. GW evaluates whether the work is feasible and financially sensible.
3. Mother verifies ownership, current title, registration (in name of mother), and insurance
4. If the car meets criteria, it is scheduled at a repair shop.

What type of car repairs can we do?

1. Diagnostic to determine all issues
2. General maintenance: oil changes, tire rotation, alignment, and balancing, replace spark plugs, brakes, alternators, starters, radiators
3. Windshield repair
4. Headliner repair
5. Engine and transmission maintenance

What repairs can we NOT do?

1. Engine and transmission replacement or rebuilds
2. Body shop work, which includes body repair and paint

What is the car gifting process?  

1. Our cars are donated and must be thoroughly evaluated before we are prepared to give them away.  Whether or not we have cars to give away is also unpredictable.
2. Mother completes three forms.
3. The mother must have a current driver’s license and the ability to title and tag the car as well as obtain car insurance and cover these three fees.
4. We match cars to mothers based on the number of children and/or their specific needs.

What other services do we offer?

1. Free clothing closet and limited access to free consignment shops (Louisa)
2. Baby and home items from donations (Louisa)
3. Community events
4. Counseling
5. Gifting programs for holidays and back-to-school
6. Resume building
7. Work from home opportunities
8. Assistance with navigating other local resources (like food bank and rental assistance).

What services do we not provide?  We typically don’t provide services that already exist in their local communities.

1. Rental assistance
2. Food assistance (EBT and the local food banks take care of this need)
3. Bill pay
4. Childcare assistance (at this time)
5. Cash
6. Financial counseling (but this is on our to-do list)

Contact information

Eddie Brown: Executive Director: email (preferred) concerning partnership with organization, fundraising, volunteering with GW: eddieb@givingwordsva.org or 540-569-3308

Ginny Brown: Communications Director: email (preferred) concerning any events or written descriptions for publishing: ginnyb@givingwordsva.org  540-369-2882

Allison Coleman: Intake Coordinator: email (preferred) or call concerning new mothers or continued services: allisonc@givingwordsva.org or 540-603-1187