Quantum Newsprint hosted by Bill Sjoblom

More SAFE Feedback

I have a couple more stories from SAFE to share with you:

The need: My partner has leukemia. The medicine that she is supposed to take everyday which has chemo in it costs $400. We cannot afford it right now. I am currently working almost every Saturday to try to get all the bills paid and to get her medicine. I really would appreciate some help to buy her chemo medicine.

SAFE awarded $400.

The response: Thank you so much for that! It means a lot to both of us. We are very grateful. We will be able to buy her medicine now thanks to you guys.

 

The need: My father is losing his battle with liver cancer. Doctors told us that he could be with us another week, so we are now looking to raise funds for funeral expenses. Unfortunately, my wife just got laid off 3 weeks ago and my mom stopped working to take care of my dad. So a lot is riding on me to come up with $9,000 that we calculate it will cost to put my dad to rest. So please find it in your heart to help me and my family through this painful process.

SAFE awarded $500 maximum.

The response: I just wanted to thank all the people who participate in the SAFE program that helped me out this past weekend. My dad lost his battle with cancer on Sunday a week ago and we were faced with scrambling around trying to come up with money to pay for my dad's funeral costs. Soon after I told a few QS co-workers about my dad, I received some text responses suggesting that I apply to SAFE for help. I hesitated to apply, I felt embarrassed to ask but I finally did. Within a few days, I received $500 from QS. To many this may not seem like a lot of money, but it helped us in many ways. I felt like I work for a company that goes beyond to help out it's employees. My mom started to cry because of the fact that someone she didn't know was helping out. We laid my dad to rest this past Sunday and we had over 200 people show up to my dad's burial. It was one of the most painful days that my family and I have gone through. Thank you for all of your help.

SAFE Provides a Lifeline

I know I just posted a blog about SAFE but I wanted to share with you some of the feedback we have received recently from QS folks that were given funds from our SAFE project. Many of you currently contribute to SAFE and I wanted you to hear the positive impact you are making in the lives of your friends and co-workers.

The need: My daughter has a chronic illness that has been in remission for almost 2 years. Over the Memorial Day weekend she had a flare up and is no longer in remission. In the last three weeks I have spent over $250 in doctors co-pays and medicine. Because very few children have her illness I have to travel more than 350 miles round trip to see a specialist. Plus I have to miss work each time I go. My job with QS is all that my daughter and I have to live on. I am asking for your help with these medical expenses and to offset the pay I lose when I have to take her to the doctor.

SAFE awarded $500 maximum.

The response: I saw your email yesterday telling me that the money from SAFE was on the way. I was so touched that I could not reply then. I want to thank you and everyone who contributes to SAFE. You have no idea how much this eases my mind. I don't feel that saying thank you is enough, but it is all I can do. You all will never know how much you helped.

The need: There was a bad storm on Friday and that made a tree fall on to our home. Currently I am the only person working and there are seven of us in the house. So after paying bills with my last paycheck, I have just enough to cover gas for the next two weeks for work. I am asking for $425 to have an insured and licensed individual to come and remove the tree. Thankfully there does not appear to be any serious damage to my home but the tree is large and much too dangerous for us to remove ourselves.

SAFE awarded $425.

The response: Thank you sooo much! I just called the tree service and they will be out tomorrow to remove it. Thank you again! You are a life saver!

The need: Due to unknown reasons, the water pipes in my home keep exploding. The first happened three weeks ago which we were able to repair. The following week the water line to my water heater blew apart leaving me without water for three days. I had to replace pipes and rework part of the floor. There is a new leak today. Now it looks like I will have to replace all of the pipes in my home. I have already taken all the money from my HSA account in order to help pay for the other repairs and now I have no way to finance the repairs that I need to do.

Safe awarded $500 maximum.

The response: It has just been crazy. I have had pipes leak before but never like this. I greatly appreciate the fact that we have the SAFE program. And I would like to thank those that gave money to help out. This has really helped with some of the stress this mess is causing.

If you are not currently contributing to SAFE, please consider signing up now!

SAFE Awards $42,362 to QS Employees!

Do you know about the Support and Assistance For Employees (SAFE) program? It was started in February of 2005 and since that time the program has awarded $42,362 to QS employees that have experienced some type of unforecasted hardship or emergency.

Do you remember why we started SAFE? It was in response to an unprecedented hurricane season in 2004 in which the state of Florida was hit with four hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne) and one tropical storm (Bonnie). Many of our people in Florida suffered damage to their homes and all of them lost work days as stores were cancelled. We got a lot of calls and emails fromQS employees in the rest of the company asking "How can we help the QS people in Florida?"

So we started SAFE which provides an opportunity for every QS employee to contribute a few dollars each payperiod toward a fund that is used to help other employees in a time of hardship. It is totally voluntary but right now we have 41 people contributing $126 each pay period. In 20010 we awarded $4325 and this year we have already paid out $5745.

If you would like to participate in SAFE, you will find more information and a sign-up form on QNet. Just click on "reports and forms" and look for "SAFE Pledge and Application." There is also a form to apply for SAFE funds if you have experienced an unforeseen hardship. We have found that people in need at times are reluctant to ask for help so you can even submit a request for someone in your division that is in need. Awards are currently limited to $500 per employee per year. You do not have to contribute to be eligible for an award.

This is a great way to help your friends and peers at QS...I strongly urge you to sign up for a small contribution to SAFE.

If any of you have benefited from SAFE, it would be great to hear your story.