Saturday, July 25, 2009

Culture Connection Inc. lending a helping hand

Brent Ruffner News-Bulletin Staff Writer; bruffner@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas Carol Fisher sees the need.

Fisher, who currently works as a mentor for welfare recipients, has started a grassroots effort to help those recipients that need an extra push to help them become financially stable.

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Fisher started Culture Connection Inc., a non-profit organization that helps residents who are at-risk and on temporary aid for needy families.

The Los Lunas resident found that a lot of clients needed help with items such as clothes, auto repair and rent deposits that state public assistance doesn't cover.

"I saw a real need for small sums of money that welfare wouldn't pay for," Fisher said. "It was stopping people dead in their tracks."

Fisher works in conjunction with New Mexico Works, a state organization that offers residents cash assistance through the umbrella of the New Mexico Human Services Department.

She said she has helped out anywhere from paying for a required background check to helping out with a rent deposit.

"We helped someone replace the soles in their work boots," Fisher said. "It's the little things that stop you cold."

The program has raised a little more than $2,000 for Valencia County residents since Culture Connection, Inc., started last July.

Fisher typically finds her clients through her paying job, which assists people with skills such as creating resumes and helping people work through difficult problems they may face.

The Culture Connection Inc., president said she picks a handful out of her 20 to 30 clients she sees on a monthly basis to help them get over the hump. She said simple stumbling blocks could stop people from being efficient in society.

"People can get into problems when they don't have much money," Fisher said. "Things can get a little crazy."

But Fisher said the extra help might change someone's life.

"It's very frustrating when you are in a job like this," Fisher said. "But I can see that people can move along with a little help."

Donations disbursed to residents are limited since Culture Connection Inc.'s budget depends on others' contributions. Fisher admits the organization is in its early stages in terms of being able to garner larger donations. She said the group would need to complete a 501(c) 3 classification to deem it credible to other potential donors.

"People always want to see that (before they donate)," Fisher said. "They want to make sure you are legit."

Fisher said Culture Connection Inc. is the only one of its kind in Valencia County, and that it has been difficult to lobby for donations when she is at her day job.

Still, she wants to get the proper classification to be able to ask for money from larger businesses. She said some businesses have turned her down because the organization didn't have the 501 (c) 3.

"We just need to build up our donations," Fisher said. "The need is definitely there. It is a very good business for the community. It fills a hole."

Fisher said she is considering getting help from an attorney to fill out paperwork to get the classification underway.

She said she wants the organization to garner grants to help expand the program. She eventually wants to expand the program to have a substantial budget, and maybe even stretch to other counties.

"There's a lot of money out there and a lot of opportunities," she said.

Victoria Trujillo was one of those people who benefited from Culture Connection Inc. The organization bought Trujillo four tires for her vehicle after she learned public assistance wouldn't cover the costs.

"There was no way I would be able to buy tires (without the organization)," Trujillo said. "I could only afford a tire a month, and there were no other programs that could help with tires."

Jamie Lynn Cuevas also benefited from the unique Valencia County program.

Cuevas was unable to re-register at the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus because of a past debt at the school. Cuevas said Fisher and another Culture Connection member, Walter Lawendowski, paid the debt, an $81 fee. She was able to register the same day. Cuevas has since donated the money, plus about $20 more back to the organization.

"I think they are awesome," Cuevas said. "I wouldn't have been able to (register) without their help."

Cuevas, now going into her third semester at UNM-VC, said the group has made such an impact she changed her major to liberal arts to help other people with similar issues. She said she has made the dean's list since re-enrolling at the school.

"I would love to help people the way they helped me," Cuevas said.

Cuevas said she hopes to use the organization's help to stay motivated and on the right track in the future.

"They were very supportive," Cuevas said. "That is what keeps me going."

To donate to Culture Connection Inc., call (505) 222-0885.

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