Cris Bacon didn’t think twice before picking up the phone
She knows first-hand what it’s like to need help and not be able to find it.
So when she saw the newspaper ad for a volunteer coordinator position at Hope Unlimited, Bacon acted quickly.
She explains why.
Bacon’s now grown daughter, Jessica, has cerebral palsy and lives in a group home with 24-hour-a-day care.
“When Jessica was a child we fell through the governmental cracks,” Bacon said. “We either made too much money to qualify for programs, or there wasn’t a program that fit her needs. That was until she turned 18 and we finally found a program that could help her.
“Jessica now has the care and help she needs to live a relatively normal life,” Bacon added, “the help we couldn’t find for her when she was growing up.”
The trials and heartbreaks of seeking help for her daughter have strengthened Bacon through the years.
“I’ve always said that if I had an opportunity to help others I would take it,” Bacon said.
That opportunity is helping those who enter the doors at Hope Unlimited.
Bacon began as a volunteer coordinator in December through a state grant from the attorney general’s office. Her job is funded through June when Dorothy Sparks, Hope Unlimited director, plans to seek additional grants to keep the part-time position viable for Bacon.
“I’m learning a lot about how Hope Unlimited works,” Bacon said. “I had no idea how many people walk through these doors everyday seeking help.”
As a fundraiser, Bacon is organizing a bake sale from 1 to 5 p.m. on April 21 at Walmart. Anyone who would like to donate baked goods for the sale may call 365-7566. Proceeds from the sale will be used to buy coloring books with educational pictures on safety and dangers children should be aware of.
