Lend a Hand helped Patricia cover one month's mortgage to help her prevent foreclosure

The following is a profile submitted by South Shore Community Action Council on behalf of one of its clients who has been helped by The Patriot Ledger's Lend a Hand campaign. The person's name has been changed to protect their privacy.

Patricia's story

Patricia has lived in Plymouth since she was a young girl, where she raised three daughters who are all now independent young adults. A surgery in February 2020 necessitated that Patricia leave her position as an esthetician after 20 years in the field and after 15 years at the same shop. Unemployment benefits were very difficult to obtain during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and once she recovered, jobs in the field had become scarce as a result. Finally, in April she was approved for unemployment and was advised that she could re-train to become more employable.

Patricia enrolled in a training program that would prepare her to use her 20 years of experience as a specialist helping cancer patients with hair, skin and beauty regimens that would complement their medical treatments. She felt like the luckiest person on earth to be able to re-skill in such a way that would allow her to help others who were suffering, a silver lining in her own dark season of surgery recovery and unemployment. Unfortunately, Patricia was advised incorrectly by her unemployment agent and her unemployment benefits were cancelled and the training program was disqualified. She had to withdraw from the course. When she found herself with no income and no way to pay the mortgage or her utilities she reached out to SSCAC to apply for fuel assistance and emergency mortgage assistance.

How Lend a Hand helped

Patricia expresses heartfelt gratitude that Lend a Hand was able to cover a month of mortgage to prevent a foreclosure. As a result, she was able to arrange a mortgage forbearance and now has some time to complete her certified oncology esthetician training. Her case is under appeal with the Department of Unemployment Assistance. She looks forward to working again soon so she can fulfill her dream of helping others to feel beautiful, even when they are fighting for their lives.

About Lend a Hand 

Lend a Hand, The Patriot Ledger's annual holiday charitable program, began in 1998 and has raised more than $3.3 million over the last 23 years for South Shore families and people in need. Working with three established community service agencies — Quincy Community Action Programs, South Shore Community Action Council and Aspire Health Alliance — Lend a Hand has presented the compelling stories of people in need and invited readers to open their hearts and wallets to help. 

Here’s how you can contribute to Lend a Hand 

Clip the coupon published in The Patriot Ledger, fill out all the fields, write a check or money order and mail it to: 

Lend a Hand 

The Patriot Ledger 

3 Webster Square 

PMB #467 

Marshfield, MA 02050 

Call our friends at Ansaphone at 617-424-9825 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 

Donate securely online though PayPal. Search: Ledger Lend a Hand Foundation. 

For questions email newsroom@patriotledger.com and make sure Lend a Hand 2021 is in the subject line.