ENC Employee Support

October 28th Update:

ERSCC has received many notes and words of gratitude from those former (and in some cases, still yet current) ENC employees. We want to share some of those with you:

"Thank you again for sustaining us with this check. I was thinking of it like ‘manna’ as it arrives in time to bridge the gaps in provision for our living expenses, until more stable income arrives."

"We had returned home weary from our move & all the stress that goes from that whole process with an amazing blessing awaiting us! The $250 check was in our new mailbox and we are so very grateful. Thank you for this lovely gift, and for such a thoughtful, necessary mission on behalf of some very bruised ENC faculty & colleagues. May God bless you with even more than you gave out!"

"Thank you so much for your caring for ENC employees and the compassion you are showing us during this extremely difficult time. Not only are we losing our jobs, but also our sense of purpose, our daily interactions with friends, and our home away from home. It is disorienting and grievous. You are doing so much more than just providing us with money- you are helping us to not feel so alone and helpless. Maintaining a sense of compassionate community is desperately needed. Thank you!"

Further, we are deeply grateful for the community's support for this initiative. It has provided vital assistance to those impacted by ENC's closure. Over a hundred compassionate donors have given ~$34,000 on top of the $50,000 the Sanger Center initially committed. We have word of a couple of significant donations that are forthcoming and will update the total when checks are in hand. To date, 75 individuals have applied for help, and $37,500 in support has already been distributed. 

We are currently receiving additional applications from individuals for a third phase which is taking into serious consideration the specific needs of each particular situation. 

September 28th Update:

• 73 applications have been received from ENC employees.

• 72 employees received an initial support check for $250, totaling $18,000 for Phase 1.

• 71 employees received a second check for another $250, totaling $17,750 for Phase 2.

• The third and final phase will begin soon in which specific cases of particular need are addressed with what funds are on hand. 

• Over $20,000 has been given in support of the initiative on top of ERSCC's initial commitment of $50,000. 

August 15th Update:

It's been a week since we announced the initiative to support ENC employees affected by the college's forthcoming closure. To date, we have received 51 applications for assistance. Most of those applying are receiving $250 as an initial help (some are declining financial aid). Judging from what many of them are sharing, there are many specific situations that will require further help.

The needs are multifold and extensive:

• Many of those are communicating significant need due not only to lost income, but also housing.

• Some households are losing two incomes.

• Some have multiple kids in college (including kids at ENC), facing tuition costs now in the wake of lost income, and potential complication of college transfers and substantial new costs.

• Some of these employees have worked for ENC for many years, the near entirety of their career, and are entering the job market for the first time.

• There have been many requests for help with moving. We are exploring how to help facilitate this (help with loading trucks, etc.).

The first termination date for many of these employees is fast approaching (August 29th). We are working on a process for a second round of financial aid for those in greater need. But we need your help.

___

August 8th Announcement:

The Esther R. Sanger Center has served in various ways and during different seasons throughout the last 45+ years in the Quincy community and beyond. While previous operations ceased in 2019, the ERSCC is undergoing a resurgence of late. More is to come about how ERSCC hopes to support the work of nonprofits and ministries in the years to come by advancing a culture of compassion, but the immediate moment calls for some action.

The Board of ERSCC is saddened at the announcement of closure for Eastern Nazarene College. The ENC community has been a significant contributor to the things of compassion through the Sanger Center. It is certain that the Quincy Crisis Center and the ERSCC would not have been nearly what it was without the influence of ENC these last several decades. 

The board is also saddened to hear of the impact this closure is having on faculty and staff in the wake of such an event. As an effort to both provide immediate relief and also to spur the efforts of many other concerned alumni and friends alike, ERSCC is committing $50,000 to support employees affected by the closure. ERSCC is working with key volunteers and alumni in the coming weeks to, as best possible, responsibly disperse these in-hand funds to those affected. 

But this is just the beginning and that amount of money will not extend very far. There is much room for compassion for those faculty and staff who stuck through with ENC to the end and now find themselves in a difficult spot regarding housing, employment, and other general living costs. We are calling on the greater ENC community and Quincy community to help support the effort. Please stay tuned to the Sanger Center’s website (www.sanger.center) in the coming weeks for further info as we have it. If you have questions, email ENCEmployeeSupport@sanger.center. 

Administration at Eastern Nazarene College has asked us to duly note that the college is not endorsing this initiative as a project of the college.