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Volunteer Delivery Drivers |
The Humanitarian Service Project Senior Citizen Project Addie X. |
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Receiving Groceries Since 2007 |
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Monthly deliveries include: |
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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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Senior citizens often have many challenges to contend with on a daily basis. Often the state of their health problems becomes more severe with each passing day. As they face health issues, money troubles also present themselves as seniors have a limited income. The task then is trying to balance what is most important at the time. Thankfully, with the help of HSP, seniors are able to relieve some of that anxiety as they know they will be provided with food. Addie, who is 67, is a very kind lady. She currently lives in senior housing in Naperville, which has been a blessing for her, thanks to the lower, subsidized rent cost. Addie worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, but after 17 years she had to quit as her health became a problem and she could no longer work in the food services department. Growing up in Chicago she learned the value of hard work, and wishes she could have continued at her job. Addie and her husband are no longer together after many differences and, two of her sons have since passed away, which was very difficult for her. Her father also passed away recently. He was 91 years old. (Addie’s mother passed away at 65 from cancer.) Addie tries to stay in touch with the rest of her family. Her daughter has 4 children of her own and still tries to visit Addie once a week. She is able to provide emotional support but, unfortunately, she cannot provide any financial support as she struggles financially to make ends meet. Since Addie has lived in senior housing, she has not been as active. Unfortunately, the building does not have any recreation facilities and Addie has not met very many of her new neighbors. Addie does have one neighbor that lives close and offers to drive her to the doctor when needed. She and her neighbor rely on each other to keep themselves going and enjoy each other’s company. Addie has had numerous health problems. She now has diabetes as well as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arthritis, and sleep apnea. Her eyesight is failing as well, and she had triple bypass surgery in the past. Addie takes 10 pills in the morning and 4 more at night which become quite costly. For her sleep apnea, she is connected to a machine that monitors her breathing during the night. Because of this, she is up most of the night and does not get a good night’s rest. In addition, she has constant pain in her right knee. For hobbies, Addie is limited. She can no longer bowl (something she used to love doing.) She now watches TV, especially cooking shows and morning talk shows. She also reads religious books and magazines. When she sees something on one of the cooking shows that she likes, she will go into the kitchen and try to make it. On nice days, Addie will go outside and sit in the sunshine for a bit just to get some fresh air. Addie repeatedly tells us how much she loves our deliveries to her. "I am extremely grateful for everything that I receive from your project. Everything you send is so wonderful. I know that it would be much more difficult to make ends meet without our assistance," Addie commented. Addie also enjoys the visits with Marty, her volunteer delivery driver, after all of the groceries are safely stored. Addie’s life has changed because of our nutritious food package and along with wish list items and secret pal gifts in the deliveries. We are grateful to be making a difference in the life of a most deserving senior. We hope that this update has revealed more of how our partnership has such an impact in the life of Addie. Things to Remember About Addie:
2009 Update: Recently, Addie has had more to deal with than just financial problems. It seems that her calendar is quickly filling up with doctor appointments for check-ups and follow-ups. You may remember that Addie had open-heart surgery nearly six years ago. Her doctors are worried that her arteries have expanded which is extremely harmful to her health. Since breast cancer runs in her family, Addie is also scheduled to have a mammogram. She is optimistic about the results, but nonetheless is worried about what the doctors could find. Soon, she will be having a colonoscopy to ensure that she is healthy. Addie suffers from sleep apnea and finds it difficult to sleep through the night. She also has diabetes and arthritis in her shoulders and knee. Her medical treatment includes taking seven pills in the morning and four pills in the evening. As you can see, Addie’s medical bills and medication are an overwhelming burden on her finances. Despite these health issues, Addie “hopes that each day I wake up I can feel good and won’t need help from others to assist me. I’m grateful that I can take pretty good care of myself.” Addie makes sure that she has time to watch the morning talk shows like “Oprah” and “The View.” She says she is fortunate enough to leave her house three to four times a week. A neighbor calls Addie when she is going to be running errands and asks if she would like to join her. Addie usually goes to get out of the house, exercise, and window shop. She is counting her blessings in another way too. Addie is able to see her daughter, Hope, on a regular basis. She enjoys the visit from her daughter and especially loves when her grandchildren come to see her! Addie also has two sons who live in Chicago. She does not see them often because of scheduling conflicts. Although her children provide her with emotional support, none are able to afford helping Addie financially. They all live on very limited budgets and have their own families to support. Before receiving the monthly grocery delivery, Addie often times had to skip a meal because she could not afford it. Now, she has a colorful array of fruits, vegetables, meats, and non-perishables delivered right to her door. Her favorites include the grapes, string beans, and chicken. “Whatever I get is appreciated,” she says. “I am extremely appreciative of all that you do for me.” The paper products also have been a huge help to Addie. “Those are expensive but I need them,” she says. Our project has helped improve the life of Addie. The generosity we have been able to show her has helped Addie’s financial burdens, thus allowing her to spend more money on the medication she needs. From the bottom of our hearts and Addie’s, thank you for helping us have such a positive impact on Addie’s life. |
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