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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
onset of many struggles come with age; The realization that you can no
longer work, the grief of coping with the passing of friends and family,
managing the suffering caused by your own failing health, and worrying over
the reality of a limited income, to name just a few. Any, and certainly all,
of these things can leave the seniors in our Senior Citizen Project feeling
helpless. Our seniors have been cornered into a situation where the
assistance of others is the only way to get relief from their struggles. 67
year old L.A. (as she has been called since childhood), who is new to our
program, has been through many hard times. But as her health continues to
deteriorate, the feeling of helplessness over her situation becomes deeper.
We are thankful and fortunate that you have come together with us to help
provide L.A. with much needed comfort and 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 their increasing
age and failing health. Despite these challenges, Most 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.
L.A. was born and raised
in Mississippi with her 5 sisters and 3 brothers. When she was in her early
twenties her family moved to Carpentersville. Her parents then moved to
Maywood, where they lived until her mother passed at 82 and her father at
the age of 103. She has 4 siblings that are still living, 3 in Illinois and
1 in St. Louis. Because they all struggle getting around, they do not see
each other often, but usually manage to get together 2 or 3 times a year for
a “reunion” and talk regularly on the phone. L.A. lived in Chicago for her
24 years of marriage, which ended in divorce. She had 6 children, but lost
2, one just this past year, to complications of inherited heart conditions.
Of her remaining children, 2 sons live in Mississippi, 1 in Kankakee, and
her daughter lives in the same complex that she does. She sees her daughter
and her 2 children most days, but very rarely sees any other family.
Even at a young age L.A.
suffered from arthritis and asthma. She was never able to work because of
her limited mobility. She said that lately her health has been down and she
has been having a great deal of difficulty getting around. Her arthritis
affects her entire body and pain killers prescribed by her doctors have
never offered much relief. L.A. is also a long time sufferer of diabetes,
which she has been able to keep under control with medication and by eating
a balanced diet as suggested by her doctors.
No matter what L.A. does
to pass the time, she always tries to keep her hands moving to keep the pain
at a minimum. She used to crochet, but has developed a shake in her hands
that she said caused her to make too many mistakes. Now, she plays cards on
her computer, does word puzzles, and finds small cleaning projects around
her apartment. L.A. also reads the Bible and visits with her friend of 14
years that lives in the apartment beneath her.
L.A.’s monthly income is
$927. She spends $203 on rent and must budget a large portion of her income
to bills and medications. Before she was referred to HSP finding a way to
purchase all the groceries and supplies that she needed each month was a big
challenge. Like many of the seniors in our program, L.A. would sometimes
have to skip meals simply because she could not afford food for the entire
month. Our monthly grocery deliveries have helped to relieve one major
burden in L.A.’s life. The 5 bags of non-perishables, 1 bag of paper
products and personal care items, 7 selections of frozen meats, 5 varieties
of fresh fruits, and 6 varieties of fresh vegetables make it possible for
L.A. to maintain the healthy diet suggested by her doctors. “I just love
everything, it couldn’t be any better! You get a 100 on everything that you
do. What more could a person ask for?!” We are happy to have L.A. in the HSP
family and we are confident that, together, we can help her get through
these difficult times in her life!
Things to Remember About L.A.:
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Born April 8,1940; she turns 67 in 2007.
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Her monthly income is $927.
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Her favorite colors are black and white.
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Her favorite flower is the rose.
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