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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 seniors in our Senior Citizen Project
all face obstacles on a daily basis which many of us are fortunate enough to
never have to deal with. It’s sometimes difficult for us here at HSP to
imagine what life is like for them. They face so many challenges and have so
much to contend with that we often marvel at their will to soldier on. Some
of our seniors, in the face of their troubles, sink into despair and become
depressed at the prospects of their future. Others, miraculously, are able
to maintain a positive attitude no matter what hardships befall them. One
senior who comes to mind is your sponsored senior, Esther. At 83 years old,
Esther has never had a life free of responsibility. Even well into her old
age she is still the sturdy backbone of her family. Despite this, Esther’s
health and financial woes are so great that when we met her we knew we had
to intervene. We are thankful to you, Joyce and Lew, for making this
possible. We want to share some of this positive woman’s history with you.
Esther grew up in
Chicago, one of 11 children. Miraculously, Esther is the only one of her
siblings left. All of them died young from health problems which run in the
family ranging from cancer, to diabetes to heart trouble. This fact is not
lost on Esther who considers herself very lucky to be alive, even as she
misses her large family. Esther was married in 1944 when she was 21 years
old. Her husband worked several jobs, including making coils for pianos and
working in the stock room of a manufacturing company. Esther and her husband
were very happy and had two children together, but tragedy struck when heart
trouble claimed yet another person who was close to her. Esther’s husband
died on June 1, 1971 leaving Esther to take care of their two children by
herself.
Now, Esther’s daughter
and son, as well as her granddaughter, still live with her all these years
later. Esther’s son is blind and mentally challenged and she takes care of
him. All four of them are squeezed into a cramped two bedroom apartment.
Esther’s income of only $690 a month and her son’s disability payments of
$540 are barely enough to cover their costs, especially considering Esther’s
high medical bills. The burden of paying for the necessities of life falls
on Esther’s daughter, who has a great deal of trouble taking care of all
four of them on her limited income. Esther has survived cancer three times
in her life, and also has heart trouble. She worries that her families
history of health problems will eventually catch up with her. With
everything else on her plate, that’s an extra bit of stress she doesn’t
need!
Fortunately, Esther never
has to worry about where her next meal will be coming from. She loves
receiving non-perishables, fresh produce, hygiene products and personal
items delivered to her each month, saying “I love everything you give,
you’re doing beautiful!” Considering everything Esther has to contend with
she remains incredibly positive and upbeat. She enjoys taking walks with her
son, and tries to keep abreast of current events by watching the news each
day. We are so thankful that we have been able to help give Esther a reason
to keep being positive. With your support, Joyce and Lew, we can make sure
she can always look on the bright side of life!
Things to Remember about Esther:
• Esther’s birthday is April 20, 1923
• Her favorite desserts are jell-o and rainbow sherbet
• She enjoys listening to Spanish and Salsa music
• She has a monthly income of $690
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