Deep Well Project helps couple handle health emergency

John and Jennifer, a middle-aged couple from Wisconsin, moved to the area last year after John was promised a job.

The job, however, didn't work out, and the couple decided to move back to Wisconsin.

But as they readied for their trip, Jennifer became ill and was diagnosed with shingles. She was too sick to travel, and the couple did not have the money for prescriptions or for a place to stay.

The Deep Well Project paid for the medicine and put the couple up at a local hotel until Jennifer was well enough to travel. The nonprofit agency, which provides assistance to people in emergency situations, also bought them food and gave them a gas card to help them get home.

John worked a few days for a temp agency to get the remainder of the gas money.

Deep Well provides a broad range of social services for the working poor, disabled and sick on Hilton Head and the surrounding area. It funds half of its services through the annual Empty Well campaign, which began Thanksgiving and runs through the first of the year.