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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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Many of the
seniors in our Senior Citizen Project have made it a priority in their lives
to help provide for their friends and families. At times they have done so
by sacrificing some of the things that were most important to their own
well-being. Now, those same seniors, like 68 year old Dolores, who is new to
our program, are in need of help. We are thankful and blessed that you have
made the decision to help us provide Dolores with much needed support.
As you are well aware,
our mission is to help seniors in poverty throughout DuPage and Kane
counties. Here at HSP we see the first hand effects of crushing poverty
every day. Whenever we talk to one of our 115 seniors, many of them share
what’s been going on in their lives. Some being good and some being very
sad. Our hearts always go out to them. Many times we wonder just how they
can get by with so many illnesses and financial troubles creating
frustration and worry which always takes a high toll on them. For too many,
sharing their stress of not being able to purchase the things they need is
compounded their increasing age and failing health. Despite these
challenges, most of our seniors always seem to find something cheery to talk
about in their lives. Many are very strong and courageous. They face each
day with a smile, feeling grateful and counting the few blessings they have.
It is an inspiration for us to see their warm spirits remain positive in the
face of difficult adversities.
Dolores was born
and raised in Grand Rapids, MI; she was one of four children, 3 girls and
one boy. Her mother passed from heart problems at the age of 56, but her
father lived into his early 90’s. Her brother has passed and both of her
sisters live in Michigan. The three stay in contact mainly by phone, but do
manage occasional visits. Dolores had 6 children as a result of her 26 year
marriage. Her now ex-husband worked for NASA’s ballistic missile early
warning systems, a job that required many moves, including a 16-month stay
in Greenland. They finally settled their family in Illinois in 1968, but
divorced 12 years later. Dolores’ 4 daughters live out of state and her 2
sons live in Illinois. While she remains in contact with them all and sees
them often, they have been financially unable to provide her with any
assistance. Dolores’ case worker has emphatically told us that that her
children do not provide her with any financial support otherwise we would
have passed her over.
In fact, it has been
Dolores who has had to make sacrifices to help her children. 10 years ago
she adopted her now 13 year old special needs grandson, as his mother was
unable to care for him. His conditions require special attention that he now
receives at a residential school. Dolores sees him on the weekends and is
constantly monitoring his care and condition. She has had to make some
recent hospital trips with him and in the past few months his doctors have
placed him on anti-psychotics.
But Dolores doesn’t
just find time to help her family; she also makes it a priority to help her
friends in need. She has a group of friends and neighbors that she said
“look after each other.” As she is still mobile and owns a car, Dolores
takes her neighbors to doctors’ appointments and to run errands. But her
desire to help others puts an enormous strain on her finances. The rising
costs of gas have forced Dolores to sacrifice her own well-being for that of
others; she has often had to skip meals as money becomes short. Between
caring for her grandson and her friends, Dolores must find time to attend to
her own needs.
A few years ago
Dolores went through hip-replacement surgery and the subsequent therapy. For
a few months, it was not only difficult to move but it was also extremely
painful. A homemaker was provided by the county to help Dolores care for
herself, her home, and her grandson. Dolores also suffers from asthma and
high blood pressure and just recently got dentures to remedy multiple dental
issues. Recently, a pinched nerve in her other hip has begun to bother her,
so she now sees a chiropractor in the hopes that surgery will not be
necessary. Dolores takes 3 daily medications, one to reduce the buildup of
uric acid caused by gout, and pain killers when necessary.
When her time is not
occupied by the demands of caring for herself and others, Dolores finds
peace in caring for her potted flowers. She reads the paper daily and
watches sports on TV. She especially enjoys football and is eagerly awaiting
the start of the new season.
Dolores has a monthly
income of $720. Of that amount, $319 is needed to pay rent and nearly $500
is needed to cover car payments and insurance. She receives an additional
amount for her grandson, but it is barely enough to cover the costs of
schooling, medical expenses, and the typical expenses of a teenage child.
Like many of the seniors in our Senior Citizen Project, Dolores has been
stretched thin for too many years and needs assistance to make sure that she
is receiving the nutrition that she needs. Dolores said, “I feel really
blessed and I am so very thankful. I don’t know how your service could be
any better unless you put me on a pedestal that they carry queens on.” We
are happy to have Dolores 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 Dolores:
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Her birthday is September 8, 1938; she turns 69
in 2007
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Her monthly income is $720
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Her favorite color is blue
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Her favorite flower is the bird of paradise
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