|
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
|
|
Many senior citizens lead lives that most of us wouldn’t consider too
exciting. Many lived life to its fullest in their youth, but as they grow
older they become less and less concerned with action and adventure and more
and more interested in quiet reflection. Here at HSP, many of the seniors in
our Senior Citizen Project tell us that very little excitement happens in
their lives. Every once and a while, however, one of our seniors has a truly
remarkable story to tell. You might not know it, but you may have seen your
sponsored senior Rosetta on television recently! 68 year old Rosetta had
quite a harrowing experience. We hope that you will take this opportunity to
help in empowering us to aid Rosetta in her tough times. We would like share
some of this woman’s wonderful stories with you, including her recent brush
with danger.
Rosetta was born and
raised in Chicago. She worked at a baby furniture company when she was
younger. She was an office clerk, and she soon found herself spending more
and more time with one of the factory workers there named Russ. The two fell
in love and were soon married, and had one child. Rosetta was very happy
with Russ, but tragedy struck just 10 days shy of their 31 anniversary when
Russ suffered a silent heart attack and passed away. Rosetta still misses
the love of her life dearly.
Since then, Rosetta
has lived a quiet life, volunteering at the desk in her building and working
on her arts and crafts. Recently, though, she was riding her trusty
motorized scooter down the sidewalk when one of her wheels became stuck in
some train tracks. Legally blind, Rosetta had no idea that a train was
speeding directly towards her. She says that she could hear the bells going
off all around her but had no idea what was going on. Just in the nick of
time a passerby ran onto the tracks and pulled Rosetta off. The train
whizzed by and demolished her scooter. The story of Rosetta’s near death
experience and her rescuer’s heroism was all over the news. Her son said
“it’s just so wonderful that someone would save my mother’s life.” Some good
even came out of it all. A local company donated a new scooter to Rosetta
and she has become friends with the man who saved her life!
Despite this
heartwarming story, Rosetta still has a great deal to contend with. She has
many health problems including ulcers, systemic saradocis, inflamation of
the glands in her lungs, acid reflux and heart problems. Her doctors put her
on steroids for a while, but they caused her to develop diabetes, and now
she says the diabetes is wreaking havoc on her health. Each day Rosetta has
to take an unbelievable 36 pills! On a meager income of only $749 a month
you can imagine how little is left over for her after her medical bills and
her subsidized rent of $215.
Just as that heroic
man made sure that Rosetta would not be harmed by an oncoming train, we feel
it is our privilege to make sure that Rosetta won’t be harmed by the effects
of poverty. Each month she receives 80-90 lbs. of sorely needed groceries
delivered to her door, along with gifts from her secret pal which she says
she is truly thankful for. Rosetta is a wonderful and sweet woman and we are
happy to be given the opportunity to come together with you to continue to
let her know that people out there care for her well being!
Things to Remember about Rosetta:
• Rosetta’s birthday is October 18, 1938.
• Her income is $749 a month.
• She likes working on crafts.
|
