When 1st Lt. Karen Hutchins found herself in a financial crisis in October 2006, she turned to VFW’s Unmet Needs program.

Based in St. Louis, Mo., with the Army Reserve’s 6025th Garrison Support Unit, Hutchins requested a transfer to Columbus, Ohio, for the school year.

Her husband, Michael Sr., stayed behind to maintain their Missouri home, while Hutchins moved to an apartment near Columbus with her two sons, Michael Jr., 17, and Joseph, 9.

The family had only recently moved from Ohio to Missouri, and young Michael had an opportunity for a scholarship if he finished his high school career at Harvest Prep in Canal Winchester, Ohio. Hutchins said she was not going to let her son down, especially since he has a 4.1 grade point average and is a high jump star on the Harvest Prep track team.

But from the time the trio moved back, things did not go well. The civilian job she had been promised fell through, and her military pay was not being forwarded because the person responsible for payroll back in St. Louis was on vacation.

The $620 rent on the apartment came due, and Hutchins had spent all of her savings. She ran up her credit card bills paying the utilities and buying her children food and necessities.

“I didn’t know what to do, so I went to the Franklin County Veterans Commission,” said Hutchins, who has been in the Army Reserve for eight years. “They told me since I had not been at war they could not help me. But they did give me the number for Unmet Needs.”

In a short time, Hutchins’ rent, including late penalties, was paid in the amount of $769. “This program truly assisted me in a time of need,” Hutchins said. “I am so blessed.”

The family’s sacrifice for Michael paid off, as did his fine academic standing. Hutchins got news that her eldest son had been accepted to West Point and would be part of the elite school’s track team after he graduates from high school.

“He’s such a great guy,” said Hutchins of her son. “You hear about families in hard times because they have to get their kids out of trouble, but I’m in the complete opposite situation, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Since the financial problems hit near the holidays, the Unmet Needs program also provided Hutchins with a $300 Wal-Mart gift card, which she says she used to buy food and gifts for the kids.

“This gift changed everything,” Hutchins said. “It came at a very crucial time."

The family was reunited in Missouri earlier this month.

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As of March 23, 2007, Unmet Needs had helped 1,022 families. Nearly $1.5 million has been disbursed.

This article first appeared in VFW Magazine, June 2007.