Saturday, July 2, 2016
Graniteville • Vaucluse • Warrenville
Vol. 2, No. 7
Independence of Life
by Anne Fulcher
Independence is defined by MeriamWebster as: freedom from outside control or support: the state of being independent: the time when a country or region gains political freedom from outside control. At this time of year, we think of our country celebrating freedom from rule of the British Empire. On the Fourth of July our country celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence which was signed on July 4th, 1776. After working at Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS) for the past few months, I have realized that there are many more things that can impact the independence of a person/people. It’s those little things that many of us may tend to forget but I feel I must address. Financial independence is always at the forefront in our adult lives. We strive to grow up, get married, have a family, own a car, own a dwelling and establish security. For many people, life is just not that simple. Life can change at the drop of a hat pin and a life can take a downward spiral AND IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY ONE OF US! I know, I’ve been there. You have the perfect life with the perfect house with the perfect white picket fence, two perfect children, the perfect spouse, the perfect credit score and the perfect job. Then things happen! Job loss, terminal illness, death, divorce, accident, etc. The list can go on and on and I am sure each and every one of you know of someone who has dealt with tragedy and
Photo Credit Mr. Cleve Koon
devastation. You get behind in your bills, you lose your perfect house, your perfect car is repossessed, the perfect children have now become disruptive in school and you and your mate are teetering on going your separate ways. You MUST have help/assistance. But where do you go? Family and friends will see you as a failure if you ask them for help. The bank will not help you because you no longer have a job. Your entire family is exhibiting signs and symptoms of depression and you know you must get help… ¬¬Help to regain your independence from the destruction that has caused you to lose your footing. There are many organizations in Aiken County that are here to help people gain
independence when working through difficult times. You have ACTS, Christ Central, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Center, Community Action Agency, St. Vincent De Paul, Second Baptist Church of Aiken, the Salvation Army, and many many more. But it is very important to know that 211 is the Help Line of Aiken County and their volunteers can direct you to which agency may help you. There are boundaries that many agencies have so that there is minimal duplication of services. Many of these agencies use the school district map to divide the county in to help districts. All of these agencies are founded on the premise to help those in need to gain their independence again. Do NOT be afraid to ask for
help if you are in dire straits. There is also the need for emotional independence. The Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center can offer counseling for behavioral health issues. It is nothing to be embarrassed about to ask for help or to go for counseling. Many times when we go through troubling events, it is easier to talk to an unbiased individual: someone we do not know. There are times when we just want to know that someone will take the time to listen to our problems and not judge us. It’s not easy to ask for help of any type much less to ask for emotional help when many people deem behavioral health counseling as a sign of weakness. It is not! An individual’s emotional health is just as important as one’s physical and for that matter behavioral health problems can cause physical ailments to occur. As we celebrate the Independence of our country, let us not forget those who may not be as privileged as you and I are. You may be the missing link to help someone else gain their independence by your volunteering at one of the many agencies in Aiken County. I have been truly Blessed to have been given the opportunity to work at ACTS. I know that I have been able to help many many people who have come upon some difficult times. You can help make a difference too. On this Independence Day, take the plunge, not in the pool or the lake, but take the plunge to be a volunteer at one of these amazing organizations. You will find it will give you a freedom of heart you have never felt before!