Help from ICM for food, clothing, and medical needs.
Providing emergency aid for basic needs is the charity known as Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (ICM). They operate a food bank, clothing closet, and coordinate free health care in partnership with regional clinics. While resources are limited and program terms may change, the ICM organization may help hundreds of people per day in some capacity or another.
Much of their aid is known as an immediate response. This is a form of emergency support from the ICM Food and Clothing Bank. They also operate in partnership with other charities such as St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance as well as Cathedral Health Services. Examples of the resources offered are below.
- A free food box may have boxes of groceries or serve the homeless and very low income in Maricopa with hot meals.
- Clothing closet – Work and school items may be passed out, including a free change of gently used goods. There may also be a sturdy pair of work boots for farm workers or people that are outside. Or job seelers may receive a uniform.
- Personal hygiene items such as soap, free shampoo, and toothpaste.
- They link women with newborns and families to community resources such as AHCCCS and WIC.
- While more details are below, free medical care is also offered on-site. This can help the under or uninsured in Arizona.
Case management is a focus of the volunteers and staff at ICM. This is fully comprehensive and will try to address the root cause of why someone is struggling or in poverty. However, as part of case management, the charity may have referrals to other forms of support, such as government benefits.
Clients can learn about low income housing programs and apartments as well as employment services. Or they can get help in applying for SSDI disability or social security payments, SNAP food stamps and other government grants.
As noted, a focus is on helping the individual emerge from poverty or their struggles. So to this end, families can get information on job training centers in Phoenix. These can help both the unemployed and people seeking a new career. ICM is firmly committed to working with clients as they gain stability over the long term. Also, note the case manager that is on site also handles phone requests if and when possible.
Free medical clinics are available from ICM in partnership with groups such as Cathedral Health Services. Nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals, many of which are volunteers, will work with patients in an effort to give screenings, checkups, and more once a month. While of course not every medical or dental need can be addressed, a number of conditions will be treated.
Most of the patients are without health insurance and/or very poor. In some cases, the person seeking treatment has chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. There is assistance for the uninsured, immigrants, and very low income in Maricopa County. The CHS/ICM Health and Wellness clinic relies on those volunteer nurse practitioners, dentists or doctors, so please contribute your time, pay a small fee or donate resources if you can.
What may be offered by the Cathedral Health Services is medical checkups including vision tests, glaucoma, cholesterol screenings, child development assessments, and heart disease tests. Much more is available too. If there is a more complicated condition being faced by the patient, then ICM or the clinic will refer the patient to a specialist in the greater Phoenix Arizona area.
The number and breadth of programs offered are extensive. The location is 501 S. 9th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Call 602-254-7450 for details on resources.
|
