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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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We have the privilege
of meeting many different
people through our Senior Citizen
Project. We share in their stories and learn from their wisdom. Some of our
seniors are shy and quiet, while others are boisterous and outgoing. We see
something wonderful in all of them, and each of them touch our lives. One
senior comes to mind, however, as being particularly witty and outrageous.
79-year-old Vivian (who
always claims her age is “somewhere between 35 and death”)
is always saying something which makes us chuckle or smile, making her a
real joy to talk to. Her wonderful sense of humor, though, obscures the fact
that she has many health and financial problems to contend with. We are
thankful to you for helping us to provide support for her in tough times. We
wanted to share some of this droll woman’s stories with you.
Vivian’s family have
lived in DuPage County for several generations. Her grandmother was the head
of their local YMCA. Vivian carried on this tradition, volunteering at her
town’s library, as well as working with several charitable clubs in her
younger days. She lived in California for a while, working at Hills
Brothers’ Coffee, and putting herself through college. While in school, she
studied theater and business, and now jokes that sometimes she can’t even
remember what she majored in, it was so long ago!
When asked about her
health problems, Vivian quips, “Try and get me a new body, if you can!” She
suffers from chronic pain, osteoporosis of the spine, and neuropathy. She
also has cataracts on her eyes, which make it increasingly difficult
for her to read, much to her
dismay. She maintains a positive outlook, despite her health problems,
saying, “As you age, you start getting all these goofy things, but I’ve just
learned to get up and go!” Unfortunately, her monthly income of only $590 a
month makes it difficult for her positive outlook to translate into material
change. After her subsidized rent payment, her utility bills, and the cost of
prescription painkillers, there’s not much left over for her to save.
One thing Vivian will
never have to worry about is where her next meal will be coming from. She
says that HSP gets a “100%” from her, adding, “I don’t know what I’d do
without it!” She loves the volunteers who deliver her food each month, and
enjoys getting the chance to visit with them whenever they come. Now, Vivian
spends much of her time playing with her cat, Tommy, who she loves very
much. Her current goal is to write a book about life from a cat’s
perspective, she says. With her wit and creativity, we don’t doubt that she
could write a wonderful book!
Things to Remember about Vivian:
• Vivian’s birthday is May 20, 1928.
• Her monthly income is $590.
• She calls her cat “stinkpot,” because he’s always getting into trouble.
• She never married, and has no children.
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