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7 selections of fresh vegetables
6 selections of
fresh fruits
7 varieties of
frozen meats
5 bags of
non-perishables
1 bag of paper
products and personal care items
Gifts from a Secret Pal
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The onset of many struggles come with age;
the realization that you can no longer work, the grief of coping with the
passing of friends and family, managing the suffering caused by your own
failing health, and worrying over the reality of living on a limited income,
to name just a few. Any, and certainly all, of these things can leave the
seniors in our Senior Citizen Project feeling helpless. Our seniors have
been cornered into a situation where the assistance of others is the only
way to get relief from their struggles. 67-year-old Beatrice knows all too
well the feeling of helplessness that can arise when money is scarce.
Beatrice, the sixth of 8
children, was born in Louisiana to a family of 3 sons and 5 daughters. In
1947, when she was only 7, Beatrice’s father died from head injuries he
suffered when he was dragged by a plow animal while working on his farm.
Five years later, Beatrice moved to Chicago to live with her older sister
and her family. She married in her early twenties and gave birth to one
child, but after 3 years her marriage ended. Although she never remarried,
she went on to have more children with a gentleman with whom she had a long-lasting relationship. She moved from Chicago’s
West Side back to Louisiana
to raise her children, who she said “are all good Christians.” To support
her family, she spent time working as a babysitter and with Jimmy Swaggart
Ministries. Beatrice lost her mother in 1995 and oldest sister in 1996, but
still has 5 siblings split between Louisiana and Chicago. Beatrice has a
mentally challenged daughter who lives with her and a child in Bolingbrook,
but her other children still live in Louisiana. She sees them occasionally,
but admits that travel between the two states can be difficult and expensive
for everyone. Sadly, many of her family members also struggle financially
and have been unable to provide any support to Beatrice and her daughter.
As many of our senior’s
stories illustrate, poverty can be an ongoing cycle that moves from one
generation to the next. The majority of our seniors learned the hardships of
going without food early in life and were unable to break out of that
situation. When they had children of their own, they continued to struggle,
and, sadly, their children have also had trouble breaking out of the
debilitating cycle of poverty. This is why they are often unable to support
their parents.
Beatrice’s daughter, who
is now 45, has never been able to leave home and care for herself. In the
mornings, she is picked up to go to work at a sheltered workshop where she
has been comfortably performing her work responsibilities since 1991.
Beatrice said that with her health it can be difficult to care for both
herself and her daughter, but that she would not have it any other way.
Just recently, when her
blood pressure shot up to dangerous levels, Beatrice was admitted to the
emergency room. She was treated and released in good condition, but must be
cautious about the foods that she eats. She also watches her diet because of
her diabetes and heart disease, so is very pleased with the fresh produce and
lean meats that she receives each month. Each morning she takes 13
medications and also takes one pill before bedtime to help her sleep.
After she helps her
daughter get ready for work and cleans the apartment, Beatrice uses her
afternoons to keep her mind sharp by reading and completing word puzzles.
She enjoys reading Good Housekeeping and Ladies Home Journal and is fanatic
about researching new topics on the internet. Beatrice is fascinated and
entertained by keeping current on home decorating and fashion trends. She
also spends a fair portion of her time online learning about health issues
and new medications. She also uses the computer to keep in touch with her
family members, sending e-mails to update them on her situation and to find
out how her grandchildren are doing.
Beatrice and her daughter
have a combined monthly income of only $1,035. The rent is $264 a month, and
after utilities and medical supplies are paid for, there is rarely enough to
afford the nutrition they need. Beatrice told us that without the monthly
grocery deliveries she does not know how she or her daughter would survive.
When asked what her favorite fruits and vegetables were, Beatrice named
nearly every item that she has ever received and said that now she actually
gets all of the nutritious foods that are crucial for her to remain healthy.
We are happy to have Beatrice in the HSP family and we are confident that,
together, we can help her get through these difficult times in her life!
Things to Remember about Beatrice:
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Her birthday is July 16, 1940; she turns 68 in
2008.
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Her monthly income is $1,035.
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She takes care of her mentally challenged daughter.
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Her favorite colors are purple and black.
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Her favorite flower is the sunflower.
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