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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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For
the needy seniors in our Senior Citizen Project, each day is an uphill
battle. They face financial woes, the deterioration of their body, and
crushing loneliness almost constantly. Despite this, many of them manage to
remain optimistic in the face of problems which many of us would find too
great to handle. One senior who comes to mind is
Kathryn. Turning 65 this year, Kathryn is one of the youngest
people in our program, but
she has had her share of hardships in her lifetime. Despite this, she
remains a sweet woman who treasures what little she has.
A lifelong native of the
Chicagoland area, Kathryn’s father provided for her family as a security
guard at the Sears Tower. She remembers her parents and her youth fondly and
hoped to be able to have a happy family of her own someday. This wasn’t in
her future, however. Kathryn did have one son, but the family didn’t stay
together. She said her son’s father “drank and mistreated” her and their son,
so they left him. Kathryn worked hard to make ends meet for her and her son.
Now, she says, her son is just barely scraping by on his own. Much as she
would love to see him more often, between their problems they can
barely find time.
Kathryn also has many
health problems to contend with. She suffers from cirrhosis of the liver,
arthritis, and acid reflux disease. She also regularly undergoes treatment for her
hepatitis. She has a great deal of trouble walking due to swollen feet, and
must use a cane or walker to get around. On top of this, she has a meager
monthly income of only $564. When we first met her, she had just lost her
food stamps because her rent went down, which meant
that she was no longer
eligible. Sadly, the money she saves on her new, lower rent is actually less
than she used to save with food stamps. Her total payments for rent and
utilities are $170 or more each month, so money is always tight!
Fortunately, as Kathryn said,
we came at just the right time! Now, Kathryn no longer has to worry about
losing her food stamps because she receives our wonderful monthly delivery
of groceries. She said, “I was so satisfied and surprised at how much there
was! Everything was so good!” Despite her many problems, Kathryn maintains
an incredibly positive attitude about her life. She enjoys keeping up on
current events, and also says she likes to “play cards with the girls,”
referring to her group of friends in her building. We feel truly privileged
we were able to rescue Kathryn just when she needed us.
Things to Remember About Kathryn:
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Kathryn’s birthday is November 16, 1943.
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She likes to read biographies.
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Her favorite foods include fresh fruit and chicken breast.
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Her income is only $564 a month.
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