My Nonprofit Reviews

One Can Help provides the missing resources at-risk and foster children urgently need to remedy court concerns, improve difficult lives and build better futures which are not available elsewhere. OCH fills the chasm in juvenile court that leaves vulnerable children and families without adequate access to basic resources which many of us take for granted and can make a positive difference. It is difficult to take positive steps forward, or participate in the types of opportunities that might enhance future prospects when poverty barriers stand in the way.

One Can Help (OCH) was created by juvenile court attorneys and social workers who identified an innovative way to to provide individualized needs, quickly, effectively and responsibly to this very vulnerable and easily overlooked population.

OCH has provided assistance to approximately 5,000 under-served children and families since 2006. In 2016, after receiving numerous requests from juvenile court attorneys, social workers and judges who wanted OCH to serve their community too because nothing similar existed and the lack of resources was a statewide issue, OCH began serving all of Massachusetts.

Juvenile Court Professionals recognize the significance of the work of OCH:

“Our clients benefit in so many ways from this assistance and it wouldn't be possible without OCH. And on a selfish note from the social worker side of things, they make the process so incredibly simple and fast to minimize the hurdle even more. I truly do not know what I'd do without them and am forever grateful!” Social worker

“I know places to go for food or second-hand clothing or furniture. But I don’t know anywhere else to go that listens to what the individual needs and gets exactly that. Often our poorest children and families have nowhere else to turn and this assistance can make such a difference to them- and makes it possible for the professionals trying to help them, to do so!” Attorney

Perhaps a story can best explain how important The Good People Fund has been to us:

We, a group of court appointed attorneys and social workers, started a small non-profit so our poorest child clients could get the help and services they desperately needed, which we could not find elsewhere.

Here are some examples of what we face in court:
children not going to school who live in homes without electricity or heat, stressed parents who because they can't afford to fix their car, are about to lose their job and possibly their home, teens getting into trouble on the street because they can't pay sports team fees, unsocialized children who need quality after-school activities, a foster child who has settled into a nice foster home but may need to change foster families because of allergies unless an air conditioner can be purchased, a young mother in a homeless shelters who feels frustrated and hopeless because without a phone or bus fare, she can't get a job so she can get back on their feet..

For 9 years we have held fundraisers to raise the money to help these children and families, but we have paid basically all of the expenses involved in actually running this non-profit (while servicing more than 700 requests for help) from our own pockets.

So I can't tell you how grateful we are to The Good People.

I initially heard about their good work from a friend who has been contributing to them for years.
From the moment I first called Naomi to see if 'TGF' might be interested in One Can Help, they have been exceptionally responsive.

Naomi immediately understood what we do and why the help we give is so necessary for this very vulnerable and underserved population. While the money we give beneficiaries is relatively small, these small amounts really can make an enormous difference!

'TGF' provided us with a matching grant this year of $7500. It was so impressive to see how their offer helped create excitement among our supporters . As a result, we easily surpassed our initial fundraising target!

I can truly say that 'TGF's generous support is helping One Can Help develop the infrastructure we need in order to continue our mission into the future with confidence. Their advice and their support are proving to be invaluable.

Anne Bader-Martin, Esq.
www.OneCanHelp.org

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