Embrace Iowa paid rent for an Iowa Falls woman after she lost her job, car. You can help.

A few days before Christmas, a tire blowout started a chain reaction that put Felicia Gates and her family in a financial bind.

The car wasn’t drivable, so Gates left it by the side of the road near Iowa Falls, where she lives with her husband, Kyle, and three young daughters. Her car was towed to an impound lot, so they had to pay to get it out of the lot and then towed to a repair shop. Gates didn’t have a way to get to her job as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in a community an hour away, so she lost her job. Since she was out of work, the family didn’t have the money to pay February rent.

Friends told Gates about the Des Moines Register’s Embrace Iowa program, which gives Iowans grants of up to $750 to pay for things that fall outside of standard assistance programs — like car repairs, beds, working appliances, even rent if the family has fallen behind. The Gates family received an Embrace Iowa grant, which helped them cover February rent while they work to get back on their feet. Gates currently gets a ride from a friend to her new CNA position closer to home, and she’s hopeful she’ll be able to pay to get her car out of the shop soon.

Embrace Iowa applicants apply through 16 local Community Action Agencies serving all 99 counties across the state. First-time applicants are given priority in the review process, and applicants must be at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

“We were in a tough spot that made it hard to get out of the sinkhole we were in,” Gates said. “The grant money for rent prevented us from being put out on the street. This program is such a good thing; it helped us more than people might realize.”

More:Donate to Embrace Iowa to help Iowans meet basic needs such as new glasses, stove repair

The Des Moines Register’s 2022-23 Embrace Iowa fundraising campaign raised $343,178 from 1,303 donations from Iowans ranging from $10 to tens of thousands of dollars.

During this year’s campaign, the Register introduced readers to five Iowans in addition to the Gates family who received grants from Embrace Iowa.

We met Cady Walsh, who used her grant to buy an ADA-compliant range, allowing her to cook for her 2-year-old son.

Barry Refleng, who lives on disability income, used his grant to replace a leaky fridge.

Single mom Mary Campbell was able to replace her tires so she could safely drive herself to work and her teenagers to activities.

And Karen Meyer, who lives with her two daughters with disabilities, used her grant to replace a broken range.

“The Iowa Community Action Network and our association want to thank the generous contributors who supported the Embrace Iowa campaign this year,” said Katherine Harrington, executive director of the Iowa Community Action Association. “The personal contributions and corporate citizens supporting this statewide fundraising effort help provide Iowans in need — who often have nowhere else to turn to in a crisis — with resources that help right now.

“Make no mistake, there is far more need than Embrace Iowa can fulfill,” Harrington continued. “Every donation truly makes an impact. We receive so many thank you notes from folks who this program has helped, and they are blown away by the generosity of everyday Iowans who dig a little deeper to support their struggling neighbors. We honor them in print and in our hearts.”

More:Donate to Embrace Iowa to help Iowans meet basic needs

How you can help

Embrace Iowa accepts funds year-round. The 2022-’23 campaign has closed, so money contributed going forward will be applied to the 2023-’24 campaign. You can donate to Embrace Iowa online at iowacommunityaction.org/about/donate. Or checks can be mailed to Embrace Iowa, P.O. Box 10611, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0611.

One-hundred percent of donations are used to help the applicants, not to pay staff or agency costs. Donation receipts are available upon request for donations under $250; you’ll automatically receive a letter for donations of $250 or more.

Missy Keenan is a freelance writer based in Des Moines.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Embrace Iowa helps woman who lost her job pay her rent. You can help.