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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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With
so much stacked against them, many of the needy seniors in our Senior
Citizen Project often become depressed. You can surely understand that
dealing with poverty and illness could create a sense of despair in many of
them! There are some seniors, however, who just never seem to get down, no
matter what. 63 year old Mary Kathrine, for example, is almost always in a
good mood. She says that listening to good music or visiting with her
friends is what keeps her in such a great mood all the time. We are thankful
to you for your support of Mary Kathrine, and we would like to take this
opportunity to update you on her situation.
As you know, despite her
good mood, Mary Kathrine does suffer from some serious health problems.
After battling Polio, Mary must use a wheelchair to get around, which makes
going out very difficult for her. She says that she actually can no longer
get in and out of cars, so anyone who wants to visit her has to be close by,
or come to her! Her son and grandson stop by a few times each week to check
up on her. Mary also shares the responsibility of caring for her great-great
granddaughter. The mother is too young to take care of the child, so Mary
and her daughter are raising her together. Happily, her children give her
emotional support, but sadly cannot help her financially with many problems
of their own. She also says that she has been slowly recovering from her
surgery last year. Mary passes the time by sewing, but says that her hands
won't allow her to sew as much as she used to. She also busies herself by
talking to friends on the Internet, and listening to music. Mary said she
has a very large c.d. collection, and her favorite artist happens to be
Celine Dion. She is proud to say that she is a wonderful cook, and still
does all her own cooking, making everything from fried chicken to broccoli
casseroles. But with a Social Security income of only $574 a month, over
$200 of which goes to her subsidized rent and utilities, it is often very
difficult for Mary Kathrine to have enough money to purchase the necessities
of life.
That's where HSP comes
in! Mary Kathrine, who loves to cook, said it's "just perfect" receiving
fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meats, non-perishables, personal care
items and gifts for around the house each month from HSP. Given how
difficult it is for her to go out she says that it is wonderful to have all
these items delivered right to her door by friendly volunteers. Mary
Kathrine is always looking on the bright side of life, no matter how
difficult things become. We feel that, together, we can continue to give her
reasons to stay positive!
Things to Remember about Mary Kathrine:
• Mary Kathrine’s birthday is March 17, 1943.
• Her favorite color is blue.
• She loves to listen to music from the 50s and 60s.
• She enjoys sewing.
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