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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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71
year old Dora, a new addition to our Senior Citizens Program, never thought
that she would struggle to afford groceries. But after enduring 2 surgeries
and fighting a number of other ailments and conditions, money has become
scarce. And her shaky relationships with her family have made her situation
even more difficult to overcome. Dora is very proud and determined, but
knows that she is now at a place in her life where she needs assistance. We
are thankful and fortunate that you have joined with us to provide Dora 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 simply by being old. Despite these challenges, some 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.
Born and raised in Topeka
Kansas, Dora was the third of 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. Her mother
passed at the young age of 44 from liver cancer and her father passed when
he was in his early sixties. Just this past year, she lost 2 of her brothers
within a 3 month period leaving her with only her youngest brother and 2
sisters still living. Of those surviving siblings, Dora has had contact with
her youngest sister in Kansas, but she has not had direct contact with her
brother and the whereabouts of the remaining sister have been unknown for
many years.
Not only does she have
strained relationships with her siblings, but her marriage is also a sore
subject for Dora, one she does not care to revisit very often. During her
marriage, she gave birth to 10 children. A number of her children live in
the Chicago area and a few live in Kansas, but she does not know the
whereabouts of all of them, especially her eldest son. She stays in contact
with those that she is on good terms with mostly in writing. But earlier
this year her children in Kansas drove to Chicago to take her back and stay
with them for a vacation. Dora’s case worker has emphatically told us that
that her children do not provide her with any financial support otherwise we
may not have considered her for our support. Even though some of her family
relationships are poor, Dora is still full of love for her family. She said,
“My only wish is for good health for all the members of my family and that
they can better themselves everyday and find happiness.”
Dora, who is diabetic,
has struggled immensely over the past few years with her declining health.
In 2002 she had quadruple bypass surgery and almost 2 years ago she
underwent an operation to remove gall stones. She has a cataract condition
in her eyes that continues to worsen and has been one of the causes of a
number of bad falls. She can no longer see the steps to get on and off of
the bus, but is fortunate enough to have become acquainted with the bus
driver who helps make sure that she does not have an accident. She has been
gradually losing her hearing and her rheumatoid arthritis has spread to
every inch of her body. Despite all of that, she said that she has been
doing well and making an effort to take care of herself by staying active.
Dora said that the proper nutrition plays an enormous role in her health and
that she is thankful for all of the fresh produce, frozen meat, bread, and
non-perishables that she receives each month.
Dora lives alone and
tries her best to remain independent. She finds inspiration in watching the
determination of other seniors in her building as they struggle through
their own conditions. Dora likes to walk and will take the train or bus to
different places to go window shopping. At home, she will watch a little TV
but has to sit very close because she does not have the correct eyeglass
prescription.
Dora has a monthly income
of $623. Her rent is $123 and she must also pay for utilities and some of
her medical expenses. In a few short years Dora has had to stop purchasing
the foods that she loves to eat and that she needs in order to stay healthy.
She loves fresh produce and until she began receiving deliveries could
afford very little of it. Now she enjoys a consistent supply of nutrition,
receiving a 90 pound grocery delivery each month, including 5 varieties of
fresh fruits, 6 varieties of fresh vegetables, 7 selections of frozen meat,
5 bags of non-perishable goods, and one bag of paper products and personal
care items. We are happy to have Dora in the HSP family and we are confident
that, together, we can help her get through the difficult times in her life!
Things to Remember about Dora:
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Her birthday is January 30, 1936; she turns 72
in 2008
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Her monthly income is $623
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Her favorite flower is the yellow rose
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Her favorite color is brown
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