Turning dreams into reality

Community Action Commission

Brenda Wingfield

In February 2005, Brenda Wingfield was referred to the Community Action Commission's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. Because of a disability, Brenda had not worked since 1990 and had been living with her parents for years. Her parents were managing all aspects of Brenda's life, including her finances. She dreamed of returning to work and having her own apartment but lacked the confidence and experience to achieve these dreams.

For the first few months that she was involved in the Family Self-Sufficiency program, Brenda struggled with scheduling appointments and preparing paperwork for Mollie Seifert, her FSS case manager. To avoid conflict with her parents and maintain an acceptable level of privacy, Brenda and Mollie met frequently at the local library to establish realistic goals.

In May 2005, Brenda made a milestone step into taking control of her own life when she packed what she could fit into one bag and left her parents home. With the help of the Community Action Commission she obtained a subsidized apartment in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. From the day she moved into her own apartment, Brenda seemed to soar through the remainder of her goals she had set to achieve.  

Several months later Brenda began working part time at a local retail store. This allowed her to achieve a first in her life, car ownership. After completing some budgeting work with Mollie, Brenda was able to secure her own checking and savings accounts and now tracks all her own bills and expenses. Brenda was reaching new levels of independence and realizing that she was capable of accomplishing things on her own.

In April 2006, Brenda was promoted to the full-time manager of the store. She is responsible for managing all aspects of the store on her own including hiring employees, store inventory and deliveries. Brenda now lives in a non-subsidized rental unit and lives without subsidies.  

In slightly over a year, Brenda has achieved every goal she set for herself the first day she met with Mollie. The Community Action Commission was able to help Brenda find the community linkages necessary to obtain the help she needed and build her self-confidence. Brenda is a client that separates herself from others with the attitude to never give up; things will get better.   Brenda appreciates everything good that happens to her, remembers where she came from and knows where she wants to go.   

"I don't know where I'd be without CAC [Community Action Commission]," said Brenda. "After years of being told I couldn't do anything it was nice to have the encouragement to know that I could. Without CAC I would have never even tried to work again or drive a car. I have more now than I've had in the last 41 years of my life."

Community Action Commission mobilizes the resources necessary to move low-income residents of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties into self-sufficiency.