Samuel, from Detroit’s East Side, knew his 1994 refrigerator wouldn’t last much longer, but being on a fixed income, he also knew he didn’t have the finances available to fix or replace it. As he shifted food from the defective refrigerator cabinet to the partially working freezer, eventually both gave out. Samuel resorted to using coolers for his perishable foods.
Seeking help, he turned to his neighbors and local churches for advice. Of the five churches he visited, according to Samuel, three said the same thing, “Go to Matrix, they’ll know about some available programs to help you.”
As he entered the doors at The Matrix Center for a walk-in appointment, Samuel was skeptical while Mr. Burns helped him fill out an application for DTE’s Refrigerator Replacement Program, but he was willing to give the process the benefit of the doubt.
“Mr. Burns and everyone at Matrix was so kind, considerate and friendly. They helped set my mind at ease because I knew they genuinely wanted to help me,” said Samuel. “It wasn’t a game with them, they helped me every step of the way and answered all of my questions. They never told me, ‘no.’ The response was always, ‘let’s try.’”
Samuel was approved for a new refrigerator in August 2017.
“I’m loving the new refrigerator!” Samuel said. “Matrix is genuinely here to help, so anyone who needs a hand should start with them. They made my trouble so much easier to deal with, and I’m so, so thankful to them for that.”
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
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