Angela T. is still trying to fully heal from a surgery that didn’t go as planned.
“I ended up having an operation on one of my feet and it didn’t heal properly with the nerve damage to my foot,” she said. “So I had to have another procedure where they had to go up into my back to fix the issue with my nerves.”
That meant Angela was out of work for months. And the bills started to stack up.
“I owed a whole lot of money to Evergy and Spire, and didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said.
Combined, her overdue utility bills alone exceeded $700.
She contacted a local social services provider, who connected her to United Way and the Critical Medical Needs program. Her doctor’s office was able to submit a form certifying her medical condition, and within days, all of her utility debt was paid in full.
The United Way Critical Medical Needs program is possible thanks to a multi-year multi-million dollar pledge from utility providers Evergy and Spire, and it’s designed to ensure patients like Angela can focus on healing instead of worrying about utility disconnection, which could worsen the patient’s health and wellbeing.
“I was very, very grateful to receive this help,” Angela said. “Not having to stress over those bills really helped me to focus on my health. And it was a blessing that you were able to help me.”
Angela was familiar with United Way, having made donations through past workplace giving campaigns. She hadn’t imagined back then, she’d one day need United Way’s help.
“But I couldn’t be more grateful you were here when I needed it,” she said