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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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Aging often brings with it declining health.
That declining health not only affects the seniors in our Senior Citizens
Program physically, but it can also affect them mentally and of course,
financially. When medical issues caused 65 year old Geraldine N. to stop
working, she found herself struggling to adjust to a situation she never
imagined she would find herself in.
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.
Geraldine is a diabetic, but
her health troubles do not end there. Due to her weakness and her thin,
frail body, she has suffered some falls in the past few years that have
complicated her health. Three years ago she received medical attention for a
broken collarbone that resulted from a fall. And just this year she suffered
an even more serious fall where she hit her head, causing an aneurysm. As a
result of that most recent accident, Geraldine has been dealing with leg and
foot problems that make it painful to move and stand for more than a few
minutes. She thinks that the cause may be a pinched nerve, but regardless of
why, she says that it has made her life much more difficult. The pain and
burden of the walker she is now forced to use have taken away from her the
joy and freedom of walking outside. And now twice a week she needs
assistance, provided by County Services, with household cleaning, laundry,
and shopping.
Geraldine enjoys visiting
with her friends and watching television. She has an affinity for drama and
action, reading mystery novels, or watching an action movie or TV
crime-scene drama like CSI. And although she says her fingers are “out of
touch” she would like to take up crocheting again.
Growing up in
northwest Chicago, Geraldine was one of only two children. When she was in
high school, her father passed away. Her mother had retired to Wisconsin
where Geraldine used to make regular visits, until she passed in 2001. Her
older brother lives in Huntley but only one of his four children are still
in the area. The two talk once a month, as Geraldine admits that she is not
a telephone person, and they rarely see each other. In Geraldine’s words,
they “are not very close.” She does manage occasional meetings with her
nephew, but family interaction is very minimal. Geraldine was never married
and has no children. She still has a few friends from her previous residence
and says that the people where she lives now are “nice.”
After graduating from
high school, Geraldine started working. She often worked for temp agencies,
getting employment where it was available. Most recently she served as an
Appraisal Coordinator for Washington Mutual. After holding that position for
three years, Geraldine was struck with a bout of pneumonia that sadly made
her have to leave her job. The illness hit Geraldine hard financially. Her
main source of income was now gone and without any additional help she could
no longer pay for her rent.
Geraldine’s monthly
income is $1,082. That amount makes it difficult for her to cover medical
expenses, car payments, rent, and groceries. Access Care has eased some of
the burden of medical bills, but the worry of finances remains.
HSP is grateful for your
sponsorship that enables us to provide some stability for Geraldine. Every
month HSP delivers 90 pounds of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, frozen
meats, bread, non-perishables, paper products, and Secret Pal gifts to her
door. She loves the fresh fruits and vegetables, especially the oranges,
grapefruits, bananas, cauliflower, broccoli, and potatoes. Her favorite
meats are the chicken and seafood, but she says, “If its food, I like it.”
We are happy to have Geraldine 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 Geraldine:
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Born November 26, 1944; she will turn 63.
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Monthly income is $1,082.
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Likes to read mystery novels.
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Favorite colors are purple and green.
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Favorite flower is a gardenia.
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