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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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Poverty is not a simple phenomenon. It often
stretches through generations, claiming several victims at a time. It also
generates unseen effects, which go hidden to all but those closest to the
victim. We encounter all of these tragedies on a daily basis here at HSP. It
can be difficult for us to understand how some people can be so unlucky, and
suffer so needlessly, but it only strengthens our resolve to continue to
provide them with the best service we possibly can. One senior whose
suffering moved us to action was your sponsored senior, Helen. When we met
95 year old Helen in 2002 we knew we could make a difference in her troubled
life. We are so thankful to you for helping to make that goal a reality. We
wanted to share some of this wonderful woman’s stories with you.
Tragedy entered Helen’s
life at age 3 when her mother passed away. Helen’s father eventually
remarried, but Helen has always carried the pain of losing her mother at
such a young age with her. When she was old enough to work she got a job in
a supply warehouse for servicemen. She enjoyed her job very much and got
along very well with her boss. Eventually, when WWII broke out, her boss’
skills were tapped by the U.S. Military where he rose to the rank of
Colonel. Helen continued to work at the supply warehouse, but found herself
missing him dearly. After the war was over, Helen and her former boss were
married, and ran the family sausage manufacturing business together. They
were never rich, but they were happy. When he passed away at age 53, Helen
continued to run their business for a while, but found it just wasn’t the
same without him by her side.
Today, Helen’s health and
financial problems have only increased since the time of her husband’s
passing. Helen suffers from macular degeneration which has rendered her
completely blind. She also has poor hearing, two artificial knees which
force her to use a walker, and a heart murmur. She lives with her adopted
daughter who is unable to work because of an injured back. Despite this, she
has not yet been able to qualify for disability, putting a large monetary
strain on her and Helen. They both survive off of Helen’s Social Security
income of $780 which is actually less than their monthly rent of $890. This
means that each month they have to dip into their meager savings just to
avoid being evicted. The dire circumstances of her existence have taken a
heavy mental toll on Helen. Many days she is so depressed that she can’t
even bring herself to get out of bed.
Situations like this call
for outside intervention, and that’s why we feel privileged to be able to
bring Helen and her daughter all the food they could need each month. They
love receiving deliveries of non-perishables, fresh produce, hygiene
products and fun gifts each month. Helen’s daughter also tells us that she
tries to keep Helen active to keep her spirits up. Helen is still a member
of the “Great Decisions Club,” a group which gets together every other
Sunday evening to discuss current events. Helen loves politics and still
listens to the news each night to stay abreast of the goings on in the
world. We hope that Helen’s interests will make her depression a temporary
situation, and we are confident we can play a part in keeping Helen and her
daughter on their feet. With your help we can continue to show Helen that
someone is thinking of her in her time of need!
Things to Remember about Helen:
• Helen’s birthday is March 5, 1910
• Her monthly income is $780
• She enjoys theater and the arts
• She loves fresh fruits and vegetables
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