Five families with big problems; five families that received life-changing help.

That was the theme of the Monroe County Interagency Council annual breakfast meeting."We wanted to do a breakfast that was uplifting," says Emily Daly, president of the organization"We are all so aware of all the bad news, we wanted to share some good-news, so we looked to several clients who have been helped by several Monroe County agencies and asked them to share their success story."Beginning the sharing of good news of a West End family was Karen Fusco, Head Start site supervisor speaking for her one client, a mother of four, who could not be present as she was in the hospital with the youngest of her boys who was having surgery that day."I knew Penny long before she was a Head Start parent," explained Fusco. "Her two cousins came to Head Start when they lived with her family and from the home visitor I would hear the family dynamics."The years rolled by and the three older boys had many positive experiences. The fourth son was born with spinal bifida and has no feeling from his waist one down, shared Fusco."So, before he came to Head Start all of the adults he was in contact with were in the medical profession. The obstacle for him was the fear of adults."Fusco detailed how Miss April, all the staff and the mother worked to establish trust, setting timers, letting Adam see his mom in the parents' area, and letting him begin to interact with other class children in his own good time."After several weeks, Penny mentions to her son that she is going to leave the building to get coffee and he just kisses her good-bye."Head Start has given the family hope, education, independence and support. He receives a walker and Miss April creates games for him and his class so he has to use it and he takes his first steps under his own power.There are tears and movies of that time and today, after having met a Head Start staff person who also has spina bifida and seeing how she can drive, he told the Head Start "family" the next day, he was going to be a UPS man and drive the truck.As he began his second year with Head Start, he was overheard telling one of the children who is crying not to worry and that the child's mom will be back and you can have a lot of fun here, but you must first stop crying.The second speaker was helped by Consumer Credit Counseling.His key to success was listening and doing what Carole Bachman, counselor, advised. He had bought a house in 2005 with zero debt, opened up credit cards, and lost his job in 2009.He depleted his savings, used the credit cards to pay for food, missed a mortgage payment, etc. and then in 2011 got a mortgage modification."It takes months" to correct problems said he, "It's a nightmare."However, with the support of Consumer Credit Counseling and determination, he was able to share good news.A round of applause greeted the announcement that he was doing things differently and had knocked $8,000 off his debt and had finished his first year of law school. Family Promises' client also could not be there due to both of the family adults having gotten jobs.In that program they get up at 5 a.m., at any one of 13 supporting churches, come back to the day quarters for Family Promise on Route 611. Their child is in day care and they have contacted housing, said Karen Falcone, case manager at Family Promise."They are very appreciative of the outreach," she added.A tennis-size tumor between her eyes led to Kathy Hayes' sudden vision loss in August 2010. She had been having headaches and a change in personality since 2008.A seven-hour surgery took place, followed by radiation.Kathy "sat in the house for a year and a half" and then was introduced to the Center for Vision Loss in Snydersville, from which she receives much support.Since that time she has taken the Civil Service test and is writing a book.She's accepted her vision loss and has adapted to it."I'm still me," said Kathy as she ended her presentation.Mary Rehm of Kresgeville shared her story of help received from Habitat for Humanity with part-time staff member Joanne Kingkiner as they sat in a typical friend to friend setting.She and her family were living in a 1971 trailer held together with plastic and duct tape for 12 years."We were the plastic bubble family" then living in another part of Monroe County explained Mary."I have a mission for you and your husband Joe," her friend Janet told her.That mission was to begin the process of filling out the paperwork to be a Habitat for Humanity family."We're getting a home," was the great news when a Habitat committee member finally called.Habitat volunteers gave their own time and Joe and Mary also gave their sweat equity to be among the volunteers for some 250 to 400 hours."We bonded like a family" said Mary of the volunteers at Habitat home, Number 13, in which the family now lives in Kresgeville.An "Army of Angels" worked on that house, with two "teams:" the volunteers and Liberty Homes.In concluding her presentation she shared a letter she had written for the dedication of that new home, capturing the work, the emotions, the positive change in life for her and the family.The changes of these five families, through the help of the particular agencies, can be repeated time after time at other IAC agencies whose mission is to help folks in need."We do such good work," summed up an IAC member, with the stories of these five families underlining that claim.