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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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In this imperfect world sometimes those
who have spent their lives doing so much for others wind up with no one to
tend to their needs as they grow older. It would be wonderful if we could
say that being a good person in life meant you would be surrounded by
comfort in your old age, but this is not always the case. Through our Senior
Citizen Project we have come to know many low-income seniors whose warm
hearts and kind dispositions make the dire circumstances in which they live
seem all the more unfair. This is why we feel privileged to be able to bring
solace and comfort into their lives through our services. One senior who
comes to mind is your sponsored senior, Shirley. At 75 years old, Shirley
says that she is barely scraping by. We are so thankful to you for your help
in bringing Shirley the nourishment she needs. We would like to take this
opportunity to share some information on Shirley with you, so you may get to
know her better.
A native of the western
suburbs, Shirley felt a calling early on in life and became a nun at 18
years old. Working with the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters she devoted her life
to religion and service. After 8 years with the Sisters, both of Shirley’s
parents fell ill. She left the life of the cloth to take care of them as
best she could. After her father passed away from cancer, her mother went to
a nursing home. Shirley continued to look after her during this time. She
visited her mother every single day from when she went into the nursing home
until she passed away. After the deaths of her parents, Shirley found work
at a factory. It was hard work, but she was able to make ends meet. The
low-pay meant she was never able to save up too much money, however, and
after retiring at 62, money became more and more tight.
Shirley has had her share
of health problems. She is still recovering from the triple bypass surgery
she had a year ago, and her foot has yet to regain its feeling since she had
the pinched vein in her leg. Diabetes is also a concern, having already
taken one of her eyes. She says that she gets tired very easily and finds it
difficult to go out, these days. Even if she wanted to, she can barely drive
her car now, because gas prices have gotten so high she can no longer afford
to. As it is, there’s hardly enough of her limited income of $758 a month to
live off of after she pays her subsidized rent of $128 and her utility and
medical bills which run her over $100 each month.
Fortunately, Shirley will
never have to worry about where her next meal will be coming from! She loves
receiving a delivery of food each month from HSP. Given her limited income
and mobility, having nutritious food arrive right at her door is a real help
to her. We are so glad that we are able to help this person who dedicated so
much of her time to caring for those who needed it. Just as Shirley was able
to provide support for her parents in their old age, we’re happy to join
together with you to bring comfort to her when she needs it the most!
Things to Remember about Shirley:
• Shirley’s birthday is June 2, 1931.
• Her income is $758 a month.
• She enjoys listening to country music.
• She likes to watch baseball on TV.
• She plays bingo with her friends on Friday nights.
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