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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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Beginning
a new life in a brand-new country is a very difficult undertaking. It may
involve a change in career, a change in family,
and a major change in
location. Each of these disruptions in life can bring about an enormous
amount of stress, but taken all
together, they can be almost unbearable. One senior in our
program, 75-year-old Midhad,
faces all of these challenges and more. Originally
from Bosnia, this man has had to overcome a wealth of
obstacles simply to find himself in the dismal position in which he lives
today.
Fortunately, several years ago, with the help of World Relief, he was able
to find the Humanitarian Service Project. Now, Midhad
receives a monthly grocery delivery containing five selections of fresh
fruit, six selections of fresh vegetables, seven varieties of frozen meat,
fresh bread, paper products, and gifts
from his Secret Pal. We would like to take
this opportunity to share with you some information on his life.
Midhad moved to the
United States in 1994 after spending the majority of his life in Sarajevo,
Bosnia. He knew he would not be alone in his new country, as his brother was
already living in downtown Chicago. He also quickly befriended another
senior, Husein, who lived in his building. However, the decision to move
was not entirely easy either. Although his 35-year marriage
had recently ended
in divorce, he still had to leave behind his small, but loving, family. His
only son still resides in Sarajevo, and, due to the high cost of travel, he
has not seen him for about eight years. Adding to this unfortunate situation
is the fact that Midhad has never had the joy of seeing his youngest granddaughter,
and has not seen his older granddaughter for more than
nine years.
Midhad’s health is
relatively fair. He does suffer high blood pressure, leg pain, and arthritis
that causes him pain in his everyday activities. To relieve the discomfort,
he actively practices yoga regularly, and is always searching for ways to
improve in this relaxation technique. Unfortunately, Midhad cannot improve
his financial situation as easily. With an income of a mere $450
a month, and
rent of $137 a month, he can barely afford the necessities of life. Survival
has become an everyday challenge for this individual who bravely ventured
to “the land of opportunity.”
Thankfully, Midhad is
able to hold tightly to the bright points in his life. He enjoys reading, in
his native language of Serbian, about a variety of subjects, including yoga,
cooking, science, and Abraham Lincoln. He also enjoys taking and collecting
pictures when he can save a few pennies here and there. Although he does not
get to see his son nearly as often as he would like, he remains in contact
with him over the telephone, for which his son pays. Now, Midhad can focus
even more on the good in life as he can count on his monthly delivery from
HSP.
Things to Remember about Midhad:
• Midhad’s birthday is April 7, 1933.
• He enjoys yoga.
• He enjoys reading about cooking, science, and Abraham Lincoln.
• His income is $450/month.
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