MCRAE — Nearly a year ago James and Edwina Neff were chosen to receive the Step Up to Hope Award from the diocese’s Hurricane Recovery Office. The $50,000 grant, provided anonymously by a local Catholic couple, was created to help a hurricane evacuee family in Arkansas escape the bonds of lifelong poverty.
The Neffs, both 28, have three young sons. Hurricane Recovery staff surprised the family with the award presentation at their home in May 2007.
Since then, the Neffs have experienced many changes. Edwina enrolled in college. Six-year-old Blake started kindergarten while “Little James”, 3, and Devon, 19 months, attend daycare. James was promoted to kitchen leader at Doc’s Grill in Searcy, the restaurant where he has worked for two years.
In addition, their financial stress was eased, many home improvements were made and they have a newer, more reliable car to drive.
During their final meeting with Hurricane Recovery staff March 12, the Neffs spoke with Arkansas Catholic about the past year.
James Neff said life is not as much of a struggle anymore. “We’re able to not have to worry struggling from paycheck to paycheck,” he said.
With his promotion, he makes more money and works during the day rather than at night, allowing him to spend more time with his children and his wife to attend night classes at Arkansas State University at Beebe, which she began in January.
“I got an A in a class I never thought I’d see an A in,” Edwina said. “It’s history.”
Still wearing the same gold cap with the purple “LSU” logo across the front, Neff smiled brightly as he proudly proclaimed that he now manages six people at his job.
Yet, despite their progress, the family has a long way to go before they can achieve their dreams, which include James owning his own restaurant and Edwina becoming a professional counselor.
“They came in with many more problems than just the disaster-related issues of evacuating out of Louisiana,” said Brigid Ryan, northeast Arkansas regional case manager for the Hurricane Recovery Office. She has worked with the family for nearly two years.
Originally from Chalmette, a suburb of New Orleans, the family evacuated before Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. They ended up in Searcy where Edwina has relatives. In the fall of 2006, they bought their home in McRae.
As children, Edwina suffered abuse and James never had a steady home. Both suffered the affects of alcoholism and generational poverty. Neither finished high school, but Edwina passed the General Educational Development test in April 2007.
“They were two young people with very minimal skills,” Ryan said.
Edwina suffers from depression and James has dyslexia and arthritis in both knees.
“I’m to the point to where I can read enough to make a living out of it, but when it comes to schooling, it’s very difficult for me,” James said.
Their oldest son, Blake, takes medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the younger boys, who have developmental delays, benefit greatly from daycare, Ryan said. Devon recently learned to walk.
Ryan praised the couple for their hard work, courage and willingness to learn.
“They really have made a lot of progress from the people I first met,” she said.
Peggy McAllister, a parishioner at St. James Church in Searcy, served as the couple’s mentor. She is on her parish’s hurricane recovery team, which assisted the couple along with the team from St. Albert Church in Heber Springs.
“I cannot say enough about Peggy McAllister who worked hands-on with this young family, working with them on everything from finances to nutritional concerns to medical needs,” Ryan said. “There wasn’t one aspect of their life that we were not involved in and working with them in.”
To receive the grant, the couple signed an agreement, which stated that they would not receive the money directly. They were required to work with Hurricane Recovery staff and their mentor through March 2008. Together they developed a financial plan specific to the family for the grant money.
The Neffs were also required to pursue education and job training, take money management and parenting programs, and inquire about other financial resources to assist them, such as the state grants that are paying for Edwina’s college education.
Sister Joan Pytlik, DC, hurricane recovery director, said Step Up to Hope money was used to make home improvements, purchase a 2004 Ford Taurus, pay down the family’s mortgage and help the couple pay for daycare.
Home improvements include a new kitchen stove and floor, energy efficient windows, electric heating and air conditioning unit, water heater and wiring, beds and a dresser for the youngest children, pest control services, and remodeling of the bathroom.
The home improvements totaled $20,136. The amount paid toward the mortgage was $15,609. The car cost $8,500 and a $5,755 payment will go for the two youngest children to attend daycare through April 2009.
Sister Joan said the couple also put $1,500 of their own money toward their mortgage.
Though the car expense was unplanned, a recent car accident in the family’s old car made the purchase necessary.
“If I don’t have a vehicle, I’m going to lose my job. If I lose my job it’s going to cause a chain reaction on everything,” James said. “I don’t want to lose my house. I don’t want to lose everything that I’ve worked for.”
As the Hurricane Recovery staff wrapped up their meeting with the Neffs March 12, James thanked them for their help.
“Y’all are the most loving people I’ve ever met. I’ve never seen people care for other people as much as y’all have cared for us,” he said tearfully. “I just want to tell you, thank you, for being there for us and helping us through everything.”
Even though their formal relationship has ended, Sister Joan said in an interview, that McAllister would continue to serve as mentor to the Neffs on her own.
Ryan said she thinks their efforts made a “true impact” and not just by “making the house pretty.”
“That was probably the least of everything we did,” Ryan said. “We showed them love, we gave them hope. We supported them in their challenges as they took steps they’ve never taken before.”
Now the family needs lots of prayer. “We may not see the true fruits of our labor until those three little boys are young men and starting their families,” she said.
