Posted 2:25 pm Saturday, September 12, 2009
Path Makes A Point: Fulsom Sheds Light On Growing Poverty
By PATRICK BUTLER
Staff Writer
The point is, Christina Fulsom said on Thursday, a kind of poverty not previously seen in Smith County is here and growing. It's middle class "situational poverty" said the executive director of Tyler's People Attempting To Help.
Staff Writer
The point is, Christina Fulsom said on Thursday, a kind of poverty not previously seen in Smith County is here and growing. It's middle class "situational poverty" said the executive director of Tyler's People Attempting To Help.
"I'm here to tell you its real. We see it every day at PATH," Mrs. Fulsom said. "In our offices you'll see hurting people who are scared and confused by what's happening to them. They're not used to not being able to provide for themselves and they're lost. They are ashamed by what's happened to them, but they shouldn't be."
Mrs. Fulsom made her remarks as the keynote speaker during the PATH Philanthropy Dinner at Villa di Felicita. About 150 people came to show their emotional and financial support to the faith-based charity that taps community resources across denominational and faith lines.
PATH began as the response by the Christian and Jewish communities in Tyler about 25 years ago to address the food and clothing needs represented in the community.
HONOR: Tyler Junior College sociology instructor Rebecca Foster (center) and TJC Board member Lonnie Uzzell (right) receive the Community in Action Award from Becky Duncan at the PATH Prayer Luncheon on Tuesday.
In 2008 the Tyler agency received $1,343,463 in monetary contributions and parlayed it into $5,874,248 in services when in-kind items, volunteer hours and free PATH programs are counted, according to information from PATH.
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
Mrs. Fulsom said the point is that the need is more than academic and monetary.
"It's all about relationships," she said. "It's the 'emotional resources' that our volunteers can give. A simple smile, a touch on the arm, a listening ear -- and then the ability to do something about it. We need to listen and that means more than just being silent. It means knowing what questions to ask. It means knowing how to design a program and address needs."
What the agency had "done about it" is to use 25 years of experience dealing with the mindsets attached to failure -- to aggressively address and cut off the paths to poverty -- and turn it into what they call the PATH to Success.
It's a comprehensive five-fold program, Mrs. Fulsom said, and summed up with the words, prevention, rescue, stabilization, growth and independence.
"Poverty is more than needing food, clothing and shelter," she said. "It's also needing the cognitive and literacy skills to move freely from where they (clients) find themselves in order to enter the stable middle class. People in poverty want choices, but they don't know what to dream for."
FIVE STEPS
She described what PATH "does every day."
"We begin the path to success with prevention - reaching children who are the victims of poverty and most vulnerable to it -- and provide encouragement through mentors. This cuts the cycle of poverty before it begins. And it works," she said.
Rescue is for those already caught in poverty's cycle. A food pantry, prescription assistance, dental program, mortgage and rent assistance and eyeglasses are some of the services available.
Stabilization for families includes providing "costly necessities" such as the Coats For Kids program, the fan drive to beat the heat, the School Supply Train for elementary, middle and high school students, a diaper and toilet paper drive and a Christmas program.
Growth is next.
"That's through relationships again," Mrs. Fulsomsaid. "We have programs like the Literacy Council, money management and home ownership programs." Independence is achieved through the family support and development programs offered through PATH.
"That's through relationships again," Mrs. Fulsomsaid. "We have programs like the Literacy Council, money management and home ownership programs." Independence is achieved through the family support and development programs offered through PATH.
Fred Smith of the Fourth Partner foundation was given the Gertrude Windsor award for outstanding lifetime dedication helping the needy. He also gave the appeal for PATH funding.
WEALTH VERSUS RICHES
Quoting Tyler philanthropist Ben Fisch, Smith said, "You can be independently rich, but you can't be independently wealthy."
Those "called to wealth," he said, have a deep sense of responsibility for community.
"They (the wealthy) have allowed this community to have a claim on their lives ... when God gives wealth, he also gives weight and substance to a person's life and a sense of responsibility for their community. You can be rich and be irresponsible. You can be rich and weightless. But wealth means you have accepted the responsibility. Merely rich is counting money. Wealth is concerned with what counts."
Bill Hebb was given the Stone Soup award for his outstanding service to the PATH Food Pantry and his consistent dedication to meet the needs of the pantry throughout the year. The Tyler Chamber/Civic Chorale provided the music and the Rev. Stuart Baskin made the opening remarks and offered the prayer.
