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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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It is often said that we don’t hold enough
reverence for our elderly in this society. Too many of our parents and
grandparents are leading lonely lives without the energy or ability to meet
their basic needs. We here at HSP see this very thing
far too often. Senior
citizens with no one to turn to and no one to talk to are,
unfortunately, abundant. 69-year-old
Janet is a perfect example.
Janet has not always had
a lonely and impoverished existence. As a child growing up in Chicago, she
found companionship in her sister. The two of them spent a great deal of
time having youthful adventures in their neighborhood of the city. When
Janet was married, she and her new husband moved to the suburb of Elmhurst,
which they thought would be a wonderful place to raise their four children.
Janet was very happy with her family, but eleven years ago, her husband passed
away. The house she once shared with so many close companions suddenly
seemed empty and desolate with the love of her life gone and
all of her children
living lives of their own. Janet was forced to leave the
comfort of her family home.
Janet now lives in a
senior-living complex in Downers Grove. Her physical health has deteriorated
significantly
as she has grown older. Arthritis makes it difficult for Janet
to perform many day-to-day tasks, and her recently-diagnosed diabetes forces
her to be very careful what she eats. Pain in her feet, panic attacks, and
depression only compound the problems of having to survive such illness and
despair on a meager $550-a-month income. Janet can’t even count on the
support of her children, saying that she often doesn’t hear from them for
weeks or months at a time.
Despite her depression,
those who talk to Janet say that she has a lot to offer in a friendship. She
is truly thankful for the delicious food which is delivered to her door from
HSP each month. She said, “I depend on the monthly delivery and love
everything I get!” As Janet grows older, we feel truly blessed that
we can serve as guardian angels to her, bringing food and personal care
items to her door and providing comfort for her in her winter years.
Things to remember about Janet:
• Janet was born on October 8, 1938
• Her favorite colors are jade green, turquoise, and coral
• Her monthly income is $550
• She loves Fannie Mae Turtles or Creams, and Corn Flakes
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