There is an orginization in Miami run by the local CBS newstation called Neighbors for Neighbors, which is a phone bank that is designed to help those in need.

http://www.neighbors4neighbors.org

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Food Banks:

Daily Bread Food Bank Inc

www.dailybread.org
5850 NW 32nd Ave
Miami, FL 33142-2117
(305) 633-9861

Miami Rescue Mission
miamirescuemission.com

offices at 2159 NW 1st Court · Miami, Fl 33127

305-571-2273

 Stop Hunger Inc.

12050 NE 14th ave #2
North Miami, Florida 33161

305-891-8811

Farm Share at the State Farmers' Market
300 North Krome Avenue, Building 12
Florida City, Florida 33034-3414
Phone: (305) 246-3276

Curly's House
6025 NW 6th CT, Miami

(305) 759-9805

Potatoes Plus
7795 W Flagler St # 61, Miami

(305) 266-8299

Ministerio International‎

16300 SW 137th Ave, Miami, FL‎

(305) 255-4407‎

Jewish Community Service Kosher Food Bank‎

2056 NE 155th Street, North Miami Beach, FL

(305) 947-8093‎

Kelly Food Bank‎

865 NE 177th St, Miami, FL‎

(305) 650-9700

Hope Relief Food Bank‎

6025 NW 6th Ct, Miami, FL‎

(786) 262-2851‎

Jewish Community Service Kosher Food Bank‎

2056 SW 156th Ave, Miami, FL‎

(305) 940-0844‎

Pass It On Ministries Inc‎

14617 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL‎

(305) 681-1594‎

Food for Life Network

3510 Biscayne Blvd, Ste 209, Miami, 33137

(305) 576-1234

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Through this wonderful group I was able to connect with an angel who has helped a great deal with finding resources in Miami.  I thought if there were others in that area who needed help they might like to know about these:

The pet friendly shelters in Miami are:

1. Sunshine Pavilion, on the grounds of the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, located at 10901 SW 24th Street in southwest Miami. They will accept cats, dogs, small mammals and birds, but no reptiles. Pets must be registered in advance and pet guardians must provide pet food and toys and be responsible for cleaning their pet's crate. There's room for about 150 animals and 350 humans to be housed on separate sides of the pavilion's 49,000-square-foot area. This was the county's first-ever pet-friendly shelter, first used in 2005.

2. Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, 1410 NE 215th Street, Aventura, in northern Miami. For residents and their pets.

To use either shelter, Miami-Dade residents must preregister their pets and have up to date records of vaccinations. For info about preregistration or to acquire an application, go here or call 3-1-1.

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Thanks loads, Dee.  After all, helping others in need is what we're here for, isn't it?

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Dee, thanks for the "heads-up" message in my box.

I haven't talked to her in a couple of weeks but don't imagine her situation has improved a lot.  The lady is actually the friend of a friend in another state.  My post was vague because it is complicated and really would require someone local to help.

Since my original post she has qualified for Social Security, so she does have some reliable income and medical care, however small, but her situation is not great.  She spent most of her life "off the grid," doing things like teaching in Thailand (she was actually responsible for bringing the Dalai Lama to the US ).  Prior to that I believe she had parents who were well off and took care of things.  As a result she has little idea of how systems and procedures work here in the US, how to get help, or how to be poor here.

Her parents have since died.  Her sister is living in the family home that she used for a home base whenever she returned from abroad, and had her removed by the police the last time she was there.  She's living in a converted garage that has regular problems with flooding, mold, insects, etc., and here we are at the start of hurricane season.  She's liable to lose that small foothold at any time because she was so far behind on her rent and the owner (who she made the agreement with) is now in assisted living.  His non-resident children are calling the shots and deciding what to do with the now-empty house, and there is no one to take care of the property.

Other than receiving Social Security her situation has worsened.  She lost her car (I think for overdue parking tickets from when she was in the hospital, if I remember correctly).  Some people who used to bring her spare groceries are gone.  Her sister has filed with the state to have her incarcerated against her will, and she thinks her sister is crazy. Etc.

She is not entirely without resources, however.  She has advanced college degrees and is a bright, artistic, highly intellectual, well-travelled person.  She is more than willing to move anywhere in Florida (or possibly beyond) if she can make it there.  The only things keeping her in Miami at this point are the program that provides her necessary medications for free and a lack of anywhere else to go.  Despite her disabling condition she is still quite active, walks miles every day, and her mind seems quite clear.

The best of all possible scenarios would probably be to find a live-in situation as a companion or tutor or something of that nature.  As long as she made a small contribution toward rent she would be able to keep her Social Security, and after all her years abroad she not only has wonderful stories to tell but does not require much more than the most basic room and board.

Short of that, if I could find someone local in the Miami area who would be willing to advocate for her and help her understand what she needs to do to help herself, that would be a great help.  She needs to be able to fight the involuntary incarceration claim.  I don't know how much she gets from Social Security, but since she worked little in this country I'm guessing that she only qualified for SSI, which at $600/ mo. might make her also eligible for Medicaid, food stamps, telephone assistance, energy assistance, etc.

That's the skinny.  Now you know why I was looking for someone in the Dade county area.  I can't do a lot from here, and though I've spent hours explaining to her what she needs to do, it would be a whole lot more effective to have someone who was actually there.

Thanks for your interest in helping.  She seems like a really interesting lady, and I'd hate to see her fall through the cracks.  She has way too much to offer.      

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Hoping you can come in and update us on your friend..If they are still in need of some help..I have a member who has contacted me and has offered to help in that area..But without knowing what kind of help is needed..they can't do much..

So hope you see this and can let us know..
Also


D~

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Thank you Dee, for keeping this going.     

Thank you Norm, for having the right answer at the right time (as usual!)  I completely forgot those threads were there.     

Hopefully I can find someone who can help advocate for her while she still has a chance.

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I don't know if anyone checks this group anymore.  I regret that I haven't in awhile.  Just in case...

I need to know whether there are any members in the Dade County area.  I received a call today about a woman there who is in pretty desperate straits, though she doesn't require much.  If there are any members currently active in that area, please post here.  It would be appreciated.

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