GARY -- Gary city officials turned to the Employee Assistance Program sponsored by The Methodist Hospitals this week to aid 1,300 stressed employees whose work hours and pay had been cut.

On Tuesday and Thursday, the Methodist EAP sponsored an Empowerment Fair at Genesis Convention Center that brought together various Northwest Indiana agencies that deal with crises of all kinds, said Sue Heaton, social worker and EAP director at Methodist Hospitals.

"The city called us, I think, because of the mood that was moving through the city," Heaton said. "We have three counselors right now. It will soon be five, but we can't handle 1,300 employees. This was a way to reach employees.

"This has been an opportunity for the agencies to connect. That's not happened before."

Among the groups that presented materials during the two days were Crisis Center, Inc.; WorkOne; The Gary Community Health Foundation's smoking cessation program; Credit Counseling; 2-1-1 emergency assistance program; and Angel Food Ministries.

The program to help smokers quit is part of the program, Heaton said, because the cost of cigarettes is great both in terms of money spent and health issues. In addition, she said, stress over a job can lead to increased smoking.

On Thursday, some of the agencies were unable to send staff members because of the flooding in Gary's Glen Park neighborhoods, Heaton said.

"City employees just received their first paychecks last Friday (since the pay cuts," Heaton said. "They really haven't lived this yet."

The employees were handed 32-hour work weeks and a 20 percent pay cut that will last through the end of 2008.

Some families already were in crisis with financial problems before Gary made this move to save money, said Pat Johnson, a social worker with the EAP.

"People face mortgage payments and energy bills," Johnson said. "Everyone was in a bad financial crunch before this happened."

Gary Fire Department employees Robert Freeman and Kevin Bradley visited the fair. Freeman, a battalion chief, serves as an EAP liaison for the fire department and helps direct fellow firefighters to seek help through the program. He talked with those attending the fair, including Bradley.

Connie Nichols, an employee in Gary's environmental affairs department, checked out all the tables set up with information and spoke with several representatives from various agencies.

"I wanted to see what the city was offering," Nichols said. "It's great that the city is doing this. There are people who are really in trouble."