Elizabeth Justice

CLC - Part 2 - Sarah: "I love working with the clients. I've been here a while, and I've gotten to know a lot of the clients personally. They bring in their new babies and their family. For me, that's the best part. Watching their kids grow and seeing them overcome in new jobs. It's pretty cool."

Scott: "I love being able to provide what's needed. This is where I should have been a long time ago. No question."

Sarah: "I've always been someone who cared about other people, but I used to be pretty ignorant about what was happening. People sometimes complain about nice cars showing up for pickups. Some people have been in this situation for a while. It's a cycle. But then there are people who have never experienced this before and are having to ask for help for the first time."

Scott: "One family, both mom and dad lost their jobs in the crisis. Prior to this, they weren't rich by any means, but they were doing OK. And then two job losses in two weeks. They have kids, and now they're on the rocks.

There is a couple that used every bit of money they had to move here from Florida for a job opportunity. He went into work and was immediately laid off. Now they are destitute. They literally spent every dollar to get to McKinney for an outstanding job.

We have people that may have a nice car, but they have zero income. We've had so many people come to us recently saying, 'I've never been in a bind, I've never asked for help.'"

Sarah: "'I've never had to do this before.'"

Scott: "'I've never been in need. I've never been hungry.'"

Sarah: "It's such a weird time because so many are struggling. Agencies are struggling, fundraisers are being canceled, and all of that. It's been difficult. We've had events canceled, and we've had challenges. But it really drills down the fact that our mission is important. Anyone is a crisis away from being in this exact position."

Scott: "COVID is equal opportunity destruction."

Community Lifeline Center is located in McKinney, TX. Their mission is to guide individuals and families back to self-sufficiency. Scott Elliott is the Executive Director, and Sarah Switzer is the Operations and PR Director.