THRIVE PENINSULA

-Provide emergency food and financial aid to eligible individuals and families
-Motivate, mentor and equip people to participate in the resolution of their financial hardships
-Advocate cooperation between people and creditors
-Refer to appropriate supportive resources
-Lead a collaboration of Peninsula faith-based organizations and other contributors to accomplish these goals

THRIVE Peninsula, formerly called DUCO, has been serving Peninsula individuals and families in crisis since 1973. Newport News and Hampton residents who are facing eviction or a utility cut-off can call THRIVE to apply for the organization's Building Financial Foundations program. Each program participant meets with a trained financial coach to chart their personal household budget using their real income statements and current monthly bills. With a budget that works and custom financial tools in hand, families then self-select a weeks' worth of food and toiletries in our pantry to ease the current financial burden. Upon program completion and verification of the need, THRIVE provides a financial gift to the residents' utility company, mortgage company, or landlord to prevent impending homelessness or utility cut-off. This process is designed to equip the families we serve with resources to become active participants in their present plight as well as ensure that every bill 100% verified and all local resources are being used to their advantage. To help families become sustainable in the long term 1)Families can meet with a THRIVE financial coach who can help them create a debt management plan or spending plan, can advocate on their behalf to creditors, provide ongoing accountability, and other credit-related services. 2)Families are given custom referrals to job training programs, childcare services, or other non-profits who offer programs to meet their needs. Additionally, THRIVE operates a food pantry 5 days a week which provides a weeks' worth of food to each person served. Items given include fresh produce, dairy products, frozen meats, deli items, bakery goods, and shelf-stable items.

THRIVE Peninsula has a network of more than 80 partner churches on the Peninsula, dozens of corporate and community partners and hundreds of individual donors. Our partners provide support in the form of financial gifts, volunteers, and in-kind goods including food for our pantry, and more. THRIVE operates out of a professional 5,700 square foot outreach center, conveniently located steps away from the nearest bus stop, so we are easily accessible to those who struggle with transportation. Operating with 4 full-time staff member and 5 part-time staff members, the backbone of our our organization is our volunteers. THRIVE has approximately 200 weekly volunteers who come in to provide services throughout the calendar year.

Since 1973 THRIVE Peninsula has grown from a group of 3 or 4 local churches providing volunteers to offer budget coaching over the phone to a group of 80 churches, foundations, businesses, organizations, and individuals that pool resources to aid struggling Peninsula families. From 2020 to 2023, our services provided to the community have doubled. Today we serve thousands of families each year with financial coaching, emergency financial aid, and food pantry services in a dignified way. Learn more at www.thrivepeninsula.org/ourimpact