Hi again! This is Abby, writing from Threshold Clubhouse. I don't know about you, but I can't believe that we have been working in our respective places for two weeks, practically! Time is absolutely flying by this summer, and I'm guessing that has a lot to do with how busy things have been at our work sites. As for Threshold, I know that every day throws something new at you. Of course, this is on top of running around all day! It is exhausting and exhilarating, all at the same time.
As Jiayu mentioned, our money management/budgeting class last week definitely had fewer attendees than we would have liked to see. However, we were expecting a low turnout in a way since a lot of the members seem to have a bit of an aversion to money! As we have said before, many of these people are unemployed and are attending Threshold to ultimately gain employment in a transitional employment job. As such, they are living on as little as $60 a month and it is unimaginable to me how they can do so! Speaking of transitional employment opportunities, we just heard that a few jobs will be opening up for our members at area McDonald's. Threshold already has job offerings at places around the area like Zaxby's, Angus Barn, Timmons Fabrications, and the ReUse Warehouse. We are hoping to be able to directly recruit more members to come to our class this Thursday, especially those who are working in these transitional employment jobs.
We will also implement our outreach to a select few members who need help starting savings accounts and setting up payment plans. It's not that these people are completely financially illiterate; it's just that many of them have grown up in poverty and have never had much to spend before. Consequently, when they are getting their checks from their transitional employment jobs, they immediately want to cash them and spend! Many of them are compulsive spenders, so it's a bit dangerous being in close proximity to drug stores and other spending traps. By the end of the month, it's not unheard of for some members to not have enough money to be able to get on the bus to get to work. Jiayu and I are really hoping that this class will be an asset to our members. We want them to be able to learn and to use these practical skills, which sometimes we may take for granted as being basic knowledge. It's a very different perspective to take. I am excited for the challenge of this Thursday's class.
As Jiayu mentioned, our money management/budgeting class last week definitely had fewer attendees than we would have liked to see. However, we were expecting a low turnout in a way since a lot of the members seem to have a bit of an aversion to money! As we have said before, many of these people are unemployed and are attending Threshold to ultimately gain employment in a transitional employment job. As such, they are living on as little as $60 a month and it is unimaginable to me how they can do so! Speaking of transitional employment opportunities, we just heard that a few jobs will be opening up for our members at area McDonald's. Threshold already has job offerings at places around the area like Zaxby's, Angus Barn, Timmons Fabrications, and the ReUse Warehouse. We are hoping to be able to directly recruit more members to come to our class this Thursday, especially those who are working in these transitional employment jobs.
We will also implement our outreach to a select few members who need help starting savings accounts and setting up payment plans. It's not that these people are completely financially illiterate; it's just that many of them have grown up in poverty and have never had much to spend before. Consequently, when they are getting their checks from their transitional employment jobs, they immediately want to cash them and spend! Many of them are compulsive spenders, so it's a bit dangerous being in close proximity to drug stores and other spending traps. By the end of the month, it's not unheard of for some members to not have enough money to be able to get on the bus to get to work. Jiayu and I are really hoping that this class will be an asset to our members. We want them to be able to learn and to use these practical skills, which sometimes we may take for granted as being basic knowledge. It's a very different perspective to take. I am excited for the challenge of this Thursday's class.