The following day Sandi put on a gray linen skirt and a simple white pullover with a matching cardigan and black pumps. After pulling her light brown hair back into a classic twist, she picked up Annie and headed out the door. “Are you going to wish Mommy luck, sweet baby? Mommy’s going to take you over to play with Jen for a little while, but I’ll be back soon.”
Fifth Street was in an older section of town. Many old brick buildings stood with dirty, broken windows, sad and neglected. However, there were also signs of urban renewal. Brave young urbanites were buying property and lovingly renovating the worn houses, turning them into family homes, while old factories were now converted into beautiful uptown loft apartment buildings.
After circling the block without finding a parking space, Sandi gave up and pulled into a lot. Giving the attendant her last $5 bill, she then walked around the corner where a sign on the front of an old brownstone stated… “Fifth Street Center,” and on a second line— “Job Placement and Counseling Services.”
Opening the door, she spoke to a young woman sitting behind a glass panel that separated her from the outer room.
“Excuse me, I’m supposed to see a Mr. Landers.”
The girl at the desk smiled. “He’s on the phone right now, but he will be with you in just a couple of minutes. You’re welcome to have a chair while you wait. I will let him know that you are here.”
Sandi sat down in one of several upholstered chairs that filled the outer area and picked up a magazine. She didn’t have long to wait before an older man with gray hair and piercing blue eyes came from behind a closed door.
Wearing a somewhat rumpled gray flannel suit which had seen better days, a bright blue shirt, and a black tie, Sandi thought he looked more like a “Grandpa” than the stiff businessman she had expected to meet. “Well, Ms. Breese,” he said after introducing himself and shaking her hand. Sandi was an attractive young woman, a fact that Mr. Landers noticed. She held her head high and gave the appearance of confidence. He liked that even though he realized she was likely more nervous than she appeared. His friend and colleague Jim Benning had given him some information about her situation. He was hopeful the organization would be a good resource to help her.
“Sit down Miss-err–Sandi, is it? Yes, please do sit down and make yourself at home. Let me see here,” he said, picking up a notebook and flipping several pages before stopping to read from one of them. “Yes, of course, Sandi. Jim Benning tells me that you are looking for employment. If that is the case, I think you may have come to just the right place.”
He handed Sandi some papers and explained to her that he would get whatever information she could give him now, and if she needed to finish, she could take what remained with her and finish at home. “We need your work history and educational background.” He then explained that the placement center was a pilot program, funded by State money and that it was the first of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania. “Our focus is not only to help with job placement, but it is a mentorship program. Our goal is helping people become financially independent.”
Sandi nodded and listened carefully, responding when necessary, although Mr. Landers did the majority of the talking.
“Now let’s see here. We have a number of options for our clients. Some folks take advantage of our Basic Education Classes, and we offer an English Skills class. Furthermore, we will assist with resume’ preparation, and we also coordinate with employers that are willing to do hands-on training. Last but not least, we keep a running list of businesses in our area that are currently hiring. In order to keep our facility operational, we are required to keep the State updated with whatever information we gather that will show the program is working as it should. We also help those that have special needs, mental and physical, and are unable to find a job on their own.”
He stopped and looked at Sandi with a smile on his face. “I know it seems like a lot. What we need to do right now is to determine your needs and see what we have to help you meet your personal goal. Once you are employed, we continue to follow your progress, using all pertinent data. This will then, hopefully, help us renew our grant.”
Pausing again, he said, “It is a lot of babble, but we want our clients to understand how important our program is to our community. The follow-up is not intrusive at all. You have the option of either stopping at the office once a month, or we will mail you a questionnaire that you can send back to us. It only takes about 10 minutes or so to fill out.”
It was almost an hour later when the paperwork and discussion with Mr. Landers was finished, and Sandi left the office.
He had been correct about the fact that it was all quite overwhelming. Nevertheless, she felt like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders and that perhaps there might be a brighter time coming. She left the office with the addresses of two businesses and a nursing home that Mr. Landers suggested she visit…and all three gave on-the-job training.
Sandi stopped first at a business downtown, a photography shop not far from the placement agency. They were looking for a receptionist. It appeared to be a pleasant enough place to work, but Sandi worried that her car would not last another winter as it was. Driving an extra 40 miles a day would be a huge problem. In addition, she didn’t know how she could handle childcare. She decided this would not work.
Her next stop and the last she would have time for today was “Maryville Home for the Elderly,” a privately-operated facility with beautiful landscaping. It was quite close to where she and the children were now living.
She would stop and put in an application before she picked the baby up from Jen’s house.
Pulling into a parking place in front of the nursing home, Sandi watched several older people and two young women who were sitting on a covered veranda in front of the long brick building. They were talking and laughing and appeared to be enjoying the sunny afternoon.
A brilliant red cardinal was happily hopping around in a flowerbed full of colorful late-summer flowers, and the smell of newly mowed grass hung in the air.
Sandi stepped out of the car and went through the double glass doors into the front entry area. Inside, she walked down the hall passing several people, some sitting quietly in wheelchairs looking at nothing in particular and others watching TV or visiting in pleasant community areas near the nurses’ station. Off to one side, an ancient looking man sat with a heavy blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders although it was almost 80 degrees outside. Next to him was a silver-haired lady holding a stuffed teddy bear. The bear was worn and tattered. It looked almost as old as she did. Reaching out her thin hand to Sandi, she asked “Where’s my Mommy?” Sandi smiled and patted her on the shoulder. “I think she’ll be here soon, honey.” Seemingly satisfied, the old woman went back to rocking her teddy, humming a tune that only she and her little friend knew.
“Hi.” A woman working at the reception area interrupted Sandi’s thoughts. “Can I be of assistance?
“Oh, yes. Please, may I speak with someone about the job opening you have?”
Two hours later, Sandi was in the kitchen when she heard the door open. “Joletta, Honey, is that you?” Sandi turned from the stove, a smile on her face as her daughter entered the kitchen. Sandi was so excited that she could barely wait for Jo to put her things in the other room. “I’ve got news!”
“News? What is it, Mom?” Joletta’s voice came from the bedroom where she carelessly tossed her light jacket and book bag. She came around the door into the kitchen…
“Honey, I have a job! I start working tomorrow evening at the nursing home over on Valley Drive. Can you believe that? I stopped there a while ago, just to get an application, and the person in the office was not an employee– She was the owner!” She waited for a response from her daughter, but since none came, she continued. “She invited me to come into the office, and before I knew what was happening, I had a job! Can you believe that?” Sandi turned from the stove toward Jo.
“Joletta, I will have to be at work at 8:00 in the evening, and I won’t be off work until around 3:00 a.m. You are going to have to take care of your little sister while I’m working. We’ll make up a plan for you; things should work out pretty well…
There was still no response from her daughter, and Sandi began to feel a little uncomfortable… “I’m really sorry, baby. I know it isn’t ideal, but I don’t know what else to do.” Sandi put down the large spoon that she was using and stepped across the room to put her arm around her daughter. “Before I leave, I’ll have Annie all ready for bed so that all you will have to do is give her a bottle and tuck her in for the night. After you get her down, you can read or watch TV for a while.”
“That is, as long as you have your homework done. I know that’s really late honey, and I don’t like asking you to take on so much, but other girls your age baby-sit, don’t they? You just need to make sure that the doors are locked, and the curtains are drawn. I’m sure everything will be ok.”
“Do you think you can do that? Of course, if you get nervous or need me, you can call me at work.” Sandi was getting concerned because Joletta was still quiet. “Honey, this way I’ll be home with you girls in the afternoon.” Her eyes searched Joletta’s face. “The best thing is, their pay is better than most nursing homes because it is privately funded, and as long as I continue to work with the Job Placement Agency, I will also be getting a supplemental check. Mrs. Hardy, that’s the owner’s name…even called Mr. Landers and promised she would have my application processed immediately, so I will be able to start tomorrow evening.”
The girl looked at her mother with her serious dark eyes. Then, her face lit up, and she smiled. “Wow, Mom, that’s just great!” She turned and threw her arms around Sandi. “Of course, we’ll be just fine, Momma. I’m not afraid to stay alone,” she said.
Sandi’s heart was about to burst! It had been days since Joletta had willingly hugged her. Although she was not entirely happy about putting so much responsibility on Joletta, she could not think of any other options. Joletta had turned 13 in May. She was a very responsible girl.
“I thought we would celebrate,” she said. “I’m making spaghetti…. Oh! I’d better stir the sauce before I burn it and we don’t have anything to eat! There is brownie mix in the cupboard if you would like to make some. I already have the oven preheated.”