My Nonprofit Reviews
Kris M.
Review for EPISCOPAL HOUSING FOUNDATION INC dba Episcopal Place, Birmingham, AL, USA
It's a joy to see how, through using supportive services, seniors are able to stay in their homes longer and compensate for the things they can no longer do. Many of the seniors at Episcopal Place no longer drive, so the Episcopal Place van takes them to the grocery store, to WalMart, to the bank and to other places where they need to take care of business or purchase needed items. When they are no longer strong enough to lift and maneuver the vacuum cleaner, they can get monthly housekeeping service at a very affordable price. If they get sick and need to drink Ensure to help with weight gain, Episcopal Place helps provide them Ensure if their monthly income is so stretched that they cannot afford it. I can't image being in those situations as a senior and not having the help that Episcopal Place residents have. I know that my contributions are making a real difference in the lives of older people.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Review for Episcopal Communities Foundation, Inc. dba Episcopal Place, Birmingham, AL, USA
Now that my own parents are living in an assisted living facility, I can even better understand why Episcopal Place is so needed in our community. Fortunately, my own parents can afford to pay the $5,000 per month that it costs for them to live in assisted living. They are fortunate to be among the elderly and disabled adults who have retirement income, retirement savings and a long-term health care insurance policy to cover the costs of long-term care. But for the 146 seniors and disabled adults who live at Episcopal Place, that is not the case. Our residents lived on fixed incomes and some of them do not have enough income to cover the bare necessities they need each month. Our independent living facility provides them affordable housing through HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) and our foundation raises funds in the community to provide them with supportive services like transportation, subsidized noon meals and housekeeping, resident activities, pastoral care and counseling. Many of our residents, based on physical disabilities and limitations, could qualify for assisted living, but they cannot afford the cost, so living at Episcopal Place with supportive services helps them avoid having to move prematurely to a nursing home on Medicaid. One of our most remarkable residents is a 42-year-old man with cerebral palsy. Despite his physical limitations, he works part-time at Publix and tries to be a positive influence in the lives of everyone he encounters. His whole life is about helping others and doing good works. He is a customer service representative for Publix, helping shoppers find items they need in the store. Many people who shop at that store on a regular basis know this resident by name. Each time we take our display board out in the public to promote Episcopal Place, we have someone comment on the picture of that resident and say they know him from Publix. They always comment on his positive attitude and his desire to help. This resident says that living at Episcopal Place for the past 7 years has helped him become that person that he is today. Because Episcopal Place has been here to help him with his needs, he wants to share his good fortune with others. We hear that same sentiment from many of our residents who feel blessed to live at Episcopal Place. It is a wonderful facility that is making a real difference in the lives of those who live here.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
watching residents live their everyday lives. Each day, I see their needs and see how Episocpal Place staff help them access resources that will help them meet those needs.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make it bigger and able to serve even more people. This is a wonderful model for providing affordable housing and supportive services for seniors and disabled adults. We have a very long waiting list and need to be in a position where we can serve more people who need help.
