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Hopeless and hungry, elderly woman benefits from the caring of others

Editor's note: The Time is Now to Help was founded by a local businessman who knew extreme poverty as a child. With the help of donations from the community, The Time is Now is able to help local residents in need.

Dear W.C.,

I am a senior citizen with several health problems. I have always lived on my own and want to continue to do so. At this point, I am about to become homeless.

I receive Social Security and I am on Medicare, but could not afford any supplemental insurance. I have so many doctor and hospital bills and so much of what I need is not even covered by Medicare. How does the government expect us to even survive like this?

I am unable to purchase food, pay my utilities, pay for a ride for doctor appointments and pay rent on my Social Security. It has all become so stressful. I am unable to work, and at my age — 83 — no one would hire me anyway.

I have just signed up for Meals on Wheels and that is such a blessing for me. At least I get one warm meal most days of the week. Before that, I just went hungry or ate canned soup. Could you please help me?

— Feeling Hopeless Senior

Dear readers,

Many of our senior citizens have really been struggling in this recession. This woman was trying to live independently on her fixed income, but medical bills were making it impossible to pay for rent, utilities and food. Collection agencies were scaring her into paying her medical bills, giving them a large portion of her Social Security. I told her to take care of herself first, before paying them anything. She was behind in her rent and utilities, and her cabinets and refrigerator were barren of food.

When I visited her at her apartment, she answered my knock after several minutes. A very petite woman with a walker opened the door a crack to see who was knocking. I introduced myself and her face lit up with hope.

She invited me into her small apartment. It was cluttered with photos and mementos of days gone by. I saw pictures of family she said had all passed on. She had once been part of a large family. She said they never had much, but always shared love and companionship. This sweet elderly woman was the youngest of her siblings and only had one older brother who lived in Minnesota. Her husband had died 10 years ago and her only child had died right after that. She truly was alone in the world.

After we visited awhile, I asked her if I could take a look around and she politely agreed. I walked into her small kitchen and only saw a few cans of soup, a small carton of milk in her refrigerator she said came with her Meals on Wheels and a roll on her counter.

I saw several prescription bottles that I knew must be very expensive for her. When I took a look into the small bedroom, I could see her sagging old mattress. I asked her how long she had that bed and she replied, “My husband and I bought that bed after our son was born, that must have been 60 years ago.” I asked her how she would like a new bed and I could see tears in her eyes. She said, “I have such pain in my back from sleeping in that bed. I could never afford another mattress.”

After we talked about her financial state, I told her I would network a few volunteers to help her and connect her with other services for seniors. We helped her catch up on her rent and utilities. I also promised to come back in a few days with a new bed.

She was beside herself with joy and gave me a hug. I could feel how weak she was. I asked her if she would like to go out for dinner with me. She declined. I told her I would go out and bring some food back.

She looked at me with wide, teary eyes and said, “You will?”

I said, “Of course, I will go get some food.”

She asked, “You want to get me food after offering all this other help?”

She started to cry, saying, “I am an old woman with nothing, no one.” She was shaking with disbelief over all that was happening.

I told her, “God has given me and a lot of good, caring and sharing people the desire to do good.” After consoling her some more, I left to quickly get her some food. At the grocery store, I filled up a cart with nutritious food and toiletries. I made one more stop to pick up some hot food.

When I arrived back at her apartment, I quickly unpacked the perishable food and we sat down to eat together. We had a very pleasant visit as I explained our work with the Time Is Now to Help.

She graciously told me, “Please tell everyone thank you for helping an old widow. God bless everyone.”

She gave me a much stronger hug goodbye. When I commented on the strength of her hug, she said, “You and your caring and sharing friends gave me that strength. God bless all of you.”

Only our caring and sharing hearts will see our fellow creations through these desperate, hard times. As always, every dollar will be used to help our fellow Americans who have fallen on hard times. Thank you and God bless you.

Health and happiness, God bless everyone, W.C.

A very special thank you to: Larry and Vern Magee, Bill and Lois McEssy, McDonald’s, MLH, Jim Bozich and Lake Geneva GM Super Center, Joyce Hall, Paper Dolls, Leather Lips Watersports, Lakeland Trash Service, Peterson Drywall, Dennis and Christine Haak, Martin O’Brien, John and Karla Zils, Lake Geneva Lioness Club, Wendy Fitch, Arlene Weyrough, Emily De Baere, Vena Bodine, Mary Cox, Richard and Mary Lou Huelskamp, Michol Ann Ford, Larry and Phyllis Brick, Glen and Joan Iversen, Richard and Ann Weber, Roger Celmer, Gerald and Marilyn Wilkin, James and Karen Goodrick, F.J. Doolittle, W.C. Family Resource Center/Food Pantry volunteers, all of you who support The Time Is Now to Help donation boxes and the businesses that allow our donation boxes. Anyone who would like a Time Is Now donation box in your business, please call (262) 249-7000.