Money & ME in Peoria, Illinois

Money & ME was written to help empower people to take control of their money and their lives and that is exactly what is happening in Peoria, Illinois. A couple of years ago, Pam Wiley, was a participant of the Money & ME program and now she is teaching it! Pam organizes a food pantry and she decided she wanted to do more than give food. She decided to teach financial literacy and have classes once a week for six weeks and add guest speakers to each session to share more information about shopping, nutrition, and exercise. The classes started with most participants on Zoom, but last week participants were able to get together in person. I, Sara Money, joined for a brief period of time via Zoom to talk with the participants, and I hope to join more classes in the future…please invite me!

I called several participants the following week and talked to them about their experience, and this is what they shared with me:

Joelyn Smith shared “The number one thing I learned from this program was how to be a better grocery shopper. Pam added a hands on real life experience purchasing groceries to the session “Smart Shopping” and it really helped me!”

Toby Gardner, a counselor from a program called “Multi Service to Single Parents Program,” came to support the class. She stated “she loved how participants learn that starting small starts the foundation to big things. For example, giving people an envelope to put their money and to grow it. Most of the people she works with do not have a savings for emergencies, and this program showed how to get started and gives them the tools (envelopes) to do it. Some of the people she works with do not trusts banks, and so having a special place to put this envelope in their home where no one else knows is an awesome experience. She said this plan is basic enough for everyone to grasp and to put into motion. She shared Peoria, Illinois has many challenges and she feels that watching Pam learn, grow, and teach others (especially younger women) is going to lead to big things for their community!”

Pierre Paul, a volunteer and student completing his master’s degree in Nonprofit Business Leadership, shared “I had been volunteering at the “Wrap Around Center” and was ready to help Pam in whatever way she needed. I helped with technology and coordinated the Zoom meetings.” He said “the timing of this program was perfect as many people were receiving their stimulus checks and they were able to create a plan to use them wisely. Many participants began feeling better and saw hope when they realized they were not the only ones who had made bad financial decisions in the past. It was a very supportive environment for participants to learn, share, heal, and grow from each other’s experiences.”

As the creator of Money & ME, I feel excited, humbled, and honestly a little scared when I see how the content of the program is changing lives. I get goosebumps when I hear how people are responding to the curriculum and how it is giving them hope for the future. We all need support and encouragement on a regular basis throughout our lives. As I hear from others it is encouraging me too, especially in this unprecedented time. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to share your story or you would like more information My number is (505) 400-1626. Sara