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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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Solitude is not always a bad thing. Some people
prefer to live the life of the “lone wolf” or the mysterious, but friendly,
stranger. These people hold no ill will against humanity, but simply prefer
to live life very independently and free of constraints. Others, however,
thrive on companionship and are, in a sense, nourished through the presence
of close friends and family members. Unfortunately, not all people are
afforded a choice in the lifestyle they’re given. Some who desire company
have isolation thrust upon them, layering their days with an icy frost that they
are unable to melt. Such is the story of one of our seniors, Donna. At age
75, Donna helps manage a boarding house filled with other people, and yet
still felt alone in the world until recently.
Donna has spent almost
all of her life in West Chicago. The only lapse in this span found her in
nearby St. Charles during one of her marriages. Sadly, neither of her two
unions lasted very long due to her husbands’ deaths. The pain of these
losses still plagues Donna as she chooses to reveal very little about either
marriage. With Donna searching for companionship, the fortune of having four
sisters is actually a mixed blessing. The only sister living in Illinois
works two jobs to help support her three children. The combination of
distance and lack of time has prevented Donna from any connection with her
sisters over the past
five years, the last meeting being at the sad occasion of their mother’s
funeral. With no husband, no children, and no close family members, Donna
acts as a mother figure to the 16 men living in the boarding house by
cooking them meals whenever she can. Although this keeps her occupied and
even happy at times, it does not fill the void that widens in her heart.
Donna is feeling the
effects of aging. Although there is no extreme fault in her health, she does
take seven medications every day, suffering from both bronchitis and
arthritis. These conditions, which may subside in fair environments, are
only irritated by the unpredictable and insufficient climate control in
Donna’s residence. With the heat rarely working properly and no air
conditioning at all, she often escapes to the library to take advantage of the
more
comfortable temperature there. More severely, she was recently released from the
hospital with a swollen leg for which the doctors had no solid explanation.
Donna is not the type to
succumb to the mounting pressures of her life. Even with a very limited
income of $540 per month, she retains her bright outlook on life. She uses her
fire escape as a church for her daily morning prayer, and finds pleasure in
the simple activities of reading, playing solitaire, and cooking for herself
and anyone in need. Thanks to her monthly grocery delivery, she no
longer has to “dread the mail and the bills” that would cause her to sit and
cry. She does not miss a chance to say “thank you” for that gift. We pass
this “thank you” on to you.
Things to Remember about Donna:
• Donna’s birthday is March 8, 1933.
• Her income is $540/month.
• She loves to read, especially good medical stories.
• She is interested in anything to do with the armed forces.
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