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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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When you have
lived through 8 different
decades, you have no doubt experienced a lot. The world that we all call
home has changed dramatically since the 1930s, and so have the lives of
those who have aged through all of the world’s major events. For Jeanne,
72,
and Ester, 79, the passing
of time has brought on changes that they had not hoped for. The two had sunk
into an environment where skipping meals was the norm and using their car
was dependent upon whether they could afford gas that month.
Jeanne met Ester, whom
she calls "Dan", 32 years ago. Ester was living in Clinton,
Louisiana, where he was
born, and where he lived during his first marriage of 16 years, but had
stopped on a trip in Illinois to visit friends. During his stay, he decided
that he liked the area, found employment, and settled in. Jeanne, born in
Aurora, had been single for 10 years, and was raising her three children all
alone. One Sunday, at a church in Wheaton, Ester’s gaze fell on Jeanne, and
they began a new chapter in their lives. Between them, they have 7 children,
17 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, some who live in the Chicagoland area, and some who are scattered about the
Southern U.S. Sadly,
even with a family of that size, Jeanne and Ester are very much alone,
receiving no financial help, and being in limited contact with family
members. Jeanne said,
sadly, “They all forget about their parents when they get
older.”
Jeanne began working a
part-time position in Chicago in 1986. At age 62, she retired with
disability. Ester spent most of his working years as a general employee
earning minimum wage. Shortly after retirement in the late 1990s, the couple
found that they could not keep up with the financial and physical costs of
keeping a home. Jeanne’s disability had been cut off, and they moved to Glen
Ellyn. Yet, once again, the couple had
to face the harsh reality of living on a fixed income. Jeanne and
Ester recently returned to Wheaton,
where they qualified for subsidized senior housing.
It has not just been the finances that have changed with time. Like most
people their age, both Jeanne and Ester have health concerns that have
required medications and surgeries. Ester had his hip replaced
about 6 years ago,
and continues to take Tylenol for the pain that it and his arthritis
sometimes cause. He also suffers from poor ambulation, headaches, and has
poor hearing, but cannot afford hearing aids. Jeanne has been plagued by
heart problems, poor ambulation, arthritis, high blood pressure, hernias, bad
knees (has had one surgery), and epileptic seizures. She is currently taking
7 medications, and has been advised to have surgery on her other knee, but
said the first one “took the wind out of her.” Her seizures started in 1963
after she started taking birth control
pills. Now, she
says that the seizures are
unpredictable and can come in waves.
The couple enjoy their
time with each other, going out for coffee in the mornings, or, when they can
afford gas and a few extra dollars, sandwiches at lunch time. They said that
they do not get out much, but do manage weekly visits with a close friend in
Wheaton. Ester prefers being at home, where he watches TV or reads the
Bible. Jeanne is, in her own words, “a crossword puzzle fanatic” and watches
quiz shows like Jeopardy!
Before being enrolled in
the Senior Citizen Project, Jeanne and Ester often had to skip meals because
most of their income was immediately spent on rent and medical expenses. The
couple has a monthly income of $1,336. Rent is $750, medications are $133,
and car insurance is $160, leaving very little to cover gas, groceries, and
other living expenses. Now Jeanne and Ester
can rest knowing that they will always have a monthly delivery of healthy
food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, frozen meats, and
non-perishables. In addition, the couple knows that they will receive paper
products and other personal care items. We are happy to have Jeanne and
Ester in the HSP family and we are confident that, together, we can help
them get through these difficult times in their life!
Things to Remember about Jeanne and Ester:
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Jeanne's
birthday is October 9, 1935
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Ester's
birthday is March 29, 1929
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Their monthly income is $1336.
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Jeanne loves crossword puzzles.
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Jeanne's
favorite color is blue, and her favorite
flower is the pink rose.
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Ester enjoys reading the Bible.
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