CNBNews

By Dawn Watson

NEWS Correspondent

The statistics are dismal.

New Jersey lost some 103,000 jobs last year and the unemployment rate is now at 10 percent.

But what does that mean on a local level?

Gloucester City citizens realize there is a financial crisis; revenues are down, property taxes are rising, and no one has an answer.

The remedies offered by Gloucester City are often encased in a “Catch-21” cycle.

For example, the Gloucester City Library offers free computer classes so that residents can apply for unemployment on-line.

It also offers on-line job searches and resume writing classes.

However, Librarian Erica Cathers said, “We did not see much of a response at the end of 2008. It just seemed to bottom out.

“The State of New Jersey gave us a grant for a job searching program, we had a program on resume writing courtesy of Robert Marino, and we attempted to schedule slots so that we could personalize the library’s services to residents, she said.

“But, we don’t get many people in here for the classes, now. They may not be computer-savvy and embarrassed to admit it.

“Maybe they are overwhelmed. There is no way to tell. And, we can’t really ask people too many personal questions because of confidentiality issues,” Cat-hers said.

A visit to the library January 7 revealed that no one had signed up for the two classes scheduled for that evening – “Meet the Computer,” and “Unemployment Claim Filing.”

While Ms. Cathers was forthcoming in her responses, the other librarian on duty declined to speak.

“She has nothing to add,” Cathers said. “We are here to help people, but we have to exercise discretion.”

The Gloucester City Library, a stand-alone facility without ties to any other libraries, has helpful information on its website about how to apply for food stamps on-line, how to apply for energy assistance, and it provides links to other government-sponsored programs.

The library website for those interested in learning the computer is: gcpl.us-/ComputerNewbie. The website for job hunting help, Help for Hard Times, is gloucestercitylibrary.-wordpress.com/2009/10/15/job-hunting.

Also, there are more computer classes scheduled every week to help people look for jobs or learn how to use a computer.

For those looking for work, despair has a human face.

Worry and despair were in the face of Mike Berenato, 52, a Gloucester City resident and union worker for 12 years before losing his job. A burly man, Mike had the look of years of physical labor about him.

He seemed eager to share his story.

“I moved here 18 months ago to be closer to my job,” he said. “My family and I moved from Mantua, where we had lived for 30 years. I thought it would make life easier. Then, I lost my job.

“My unemployment benefits are about to expire and I can’t re-apply,” Mike said. “My landlord is gracious, but scraping together the rent is frustrating. And Christmas was really different this year. We made small gifts for each other and had a small tree, but we’re struggling to eat, so it was stressful.

“I was a member of the Rotary Club and really enjoyed that. I dropped out without letting them know why because I am so embarrassed about being broke. I volunteer with a charity, and we can’t find investors with this economy; everyone is hurting,” Mike added.

When asked to sum up his emotions during this difficult time, he responded quickly, “Depressed.”

“I’m too depressed to even visit with friends. If they call me and say, ‘Mike, come on over,’ what am I going to bring with me? A bad attitude?”

There are a lot of people hurting from unemployment in Gloucester City, and throughout the state.

People walking down Broadway with seemingly nowhere to go are the human faces of the nation’s poor economy.

However, there is help in Gloucester City, and in the state of New Jersey.

A good place to start is the Gloucester City Library. For information call 456-4181.

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