“Being part of a nonprofit like BACA just feels like a natural extension of our mission statement at Ard Law Firm.”
Sandy Ard, founding attorney, puts in the long hours and hard work because of our clients, their families, and the unique lives they’ve all lead. She is moved by people’s stories and is always looking to do more to support those around her. These qualities and more are why Bay Area Community Assistance (BACA) has named Sandy Ard their president for 2024.
Our office is so proud of Sandy’s work that she does inside and outside the office. We sat down to hear more about what this work means to Sandy and our community.
Explain in your own words what BACA does and what your work means to the community?
Bay Area Community Assistance (BACA) is a nonprofit organization, providing financial assistance to those experiencing a medical crisis; our mission is to quickly respond to our community’s needs with requests often getting approved and paid the same day they’re received. We’re able to cut through the delay of red tape that normally keeps people from getting necessary grants in a timely manner. BACA members understand that sometimes just getting a prescription paid for allows a person to leave the hospital and go home with medication—ultimately saving the grant recipient from an extra day on their hospital bill.
BACA has been able to touch many people's lives by helping them during a short-term medical crisis. We have helped families with prescription payment, medical equipment needs, rent and utility bills that are past due. Single moms who need help paying for groceries after an expensive doctor’s appointment. I think with the increase of inflation, food costs, rent costs and then one sickness could lead a family into financial distress, but a $300 grant can help fill that financial need or give peace of mind to that recipient.
How did you get involved with BACA?
Before BACA, we were involved with CAP (Community Assistance Provider) of Clear Lake which provided similar community support and assistance. Both organizations are run by our amazing friends and colleagues in and around the medical field who see firsthand the necessity and impact of micro-grants. We were cutting back on our involvement with CAP to be present with our children graduating high school and starting law school, then COVID hit and where CAP left off is where BACA began. We were honored to be part of that seminal group and continue serving our community in this way.
What’s it been like founding BACA and now being president and watching this organization grow over the years?
Being part of a nonprofit like BACA just feels like a natural extension of our mission statement at Ard Law Firm. Many seniors are on a fixed budget and just one sickness with additional medication or insurance copay could mean having to decide between paying for groceries or the electricity bill. It’s easy to hear a client’s story and want to do even more to help them. Darin and I are so honored to have been approached by Deena with Spectrum Health to get BACA off the ground and be here every step of the way. Being able to have a direct impact on individuals and families in our community is so important to us. Knowing that folks can get assistance quickly after a stressful hospital visit or medical crisis is reward in and of itself. We’re so thankful for everyone who has made these micro-grants possible and kept BACA’s community involvement going strong.
What’s the most unique/special/or biggest impact you’ve seen BACA have on the community?
We recently delivered a wheelchair to a family whose grandmother moved in with them after her husband passed away, but her original wheelchair didn't make the move for some reason. Medicare would not purchase another wheelchair for a couple of years, but they needed one to take her to dialysis. The look on the son-in-law's face when we delivered that wheelchair was of true appreciation and relief. Everyone involved in BACA does it for people in the community, they know the importance of their impact; it is our members' donation and membership dues that allow us to fill the community's needs in a time of crisis. Each grant has a ripple effect of good in the community that could be life-changing and we all take that responsibility very seriously.
How can others help and get involved and support the amazing work BACA does?
The more, the merrier!! We would love to get more people and companies involved with BACA. Join us at our monthly luncheons on the first Thursday of each month. It’s a great way to meet like-minded/like-hearted people in your community and learn more about what we do as charitable organization. Stay in touch by following us on Facebook and become a member on our website.
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