Darren R. spent his career saving the lives of others, but it almost ended when a patient pulled a gun on him.
“I sustained a brain injury, continue to battle PTSD,” Darren said. “On top of that, I’ve endured the loss of a child, the end of two marriages, homelessness and the loss of my mother. It’s been a long 12 years. And I’m still here.”
The most recent loss of his mom, after being a longtime caregiver for her, and then covering funeral costs, were just too much to bear for his already ‘well-worn shoestring budget’.
Providers at Impact 100 partner Beacon Mental Health learned he’d fallen behind on bills and was being threatened with utility disconnection. They helped connect him to United Way’s Critical Medical Needs program.
“I was really in a jam, and there was nothing I could do about it,” Darren said. “I’m in an apartment complex and if you get your power disconnected, they want you to vacate the premises. So there was a very real worry that I could have nowhere to go.”
The United Way Critical Medical Needs program wiped away his past due and current balance. Since the program launched in the spring of 2024, more than $55,000 in direct utility relief has been provided.
“I can’t tell you the relief it brought. It had been three long months of just dreading waking up,” Darren shared. “It feels really good to have that load lifted off and to know it’ll be okay. I’m not alone.”
Yvonne M. of Sedalia, Mo. also feared for her life this year, when a gun was held to her face during a domestic dispute. A family member had been stealing electricity from her home, running her bill through the roof.
“I kept getting cut off notices,” Yvonne said. “The stress was so bad, my breathing was getting worse. My oxygen levels fell by half. They ended up putting me on oxygen.”
The 58-year-old is disabled, living with COPD, nerve and spinal damage from the neck down and has endured countless surgeries.
Her local Salvation Army connected her with United Way of Greater Kansas City and the Critical Medical Needs program, clearing her past due utility bill debt.
“I finally got a good night’s sleep,” Yvonne shared. “The worry of not being connected because of my bills—it was keeping me awake at night. I was worrying about if I could have enough money to eat. I just couldn’t keep up. Thank you so much for being there for me.”
You can also learn more about the United Way Critical Medical Needs program through our utility provider partners, Evergy and Spire.