Time is now: Checking in on your elderly parents while away
SAL DIMICELI
Dear W.C.,
I live out of state and am unable to travel to Wisconsin to check on my elderly mother. I have a disability that makes it difficult for me to travel and I live below the poverty level. Today when I spoke to my mother, she told me she was having some trouble paying her rent. When I asked what the problem was, as she has always been good with her budget and never gone through an eviction, she said she got a high utility bill over the winter and then her car broke down. I am worried she may be hiding even more problems from me as she knows I will be worrying about her. My wish is for her to move here and live with me. We could take care of each other but neither one of us has the money for a move. I remembered reading about your charity when I visited my mother years ago and how you help people. I am hoping you can help my mother, even if it is just to check in on her.
Dear Readers,
As living expenses continue to climb for so many people living on fixed incomes, it has become more and more difficult to live within budgets that were made just two years ago. For our handicapped and elderly neighbors living on social security, the result has been skipping meals and things that are perceived as luxuries like dental care and car maintenance.
I called the elderly mother to find out if there was more to the story as the worried daughter had suspected. After a long conversation I had all the details needed to know this elderly mother was indeed desperately in need of our assistance and both women would benefit from the mothers move.
When the elderly mother answered her phone, I heard the questioning tone of her voice when I explained who I was and why I was calling. I told her how her daughter had contacted The Time is Now to Help as she did not know how else she could help her from so far away and without any resources. The elderly mother was surprised her daughter had remembered our charity from so many years ago. She said, "My daughter's health has been declining for years and she hasn't been here to see me for four years. I am amazed she remembered you."
We spoke about many things, and I did find more to her story. Her car repair had taken most of her rent budget for one month. Her high utility bill had taken most of her food budget for another. Bill after bill was putting her deeper in debt and unable to ever catch up, all while skipping meals and driving a car that needed additional work to make it safe and dependable.
When we talked about her daughter, I learned more about the daughters' condition and also the mothers desire to move there. The daughter lived in a warmer climate, close to medical care and resources so she did not need to own a car. She also had room for the mother and with their combined income they would have room in their budget for proper food, and other daily necessities.
I added the daughter to our phone call and many happy tears were shed when I told the women that I would love to help them live together. With our assistance with volunteers, gas gift cards and the necessary car repair to ensure safe travel, this elderly woman was ready to make the move.
Now that it has been several months of their new living arrangement, I called to check in. Both women cried happy tears again as they shared the wonderful change in their life that was made possible by "You". No longer does the elderly mother struggle to pay bills or skip meals. No longer does the disabled daughter worry about her mother, live in loneliness and struggle with certain tasks on her own, thanks to The Time is Now to Help listening to a daughters concerns and making her wish come true.
Thank "You" and God Bless "You" for making this and all our poverty relief efforts a success. We appreciate your support every day that allows us to change lives throughout our communities.
Health & Happiness, Love & GOD Bless Everyone, Sal
Please Help: There are many coming to us in desperation. Our good fellow creations need our compassion. Together we make a big difference. Make checks payable to: The Time Is Now to Help, P.O. Box 1, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. The Time Is Now to Help is a federally recognized 501©3 charitable organization. You will receive a tax deductible, itemized thank you receipt showing how 100% of your donation was used for providing poverty relief. Please visit our website to read more of our past and current columns and/or to make a donation: www.timeisnowtohelp.org Please go to the home page, follow the yellow highlighted link that says WC Letters to see current and past columns.
A Very Special Thank You: Family Foundation, Ziegler Charitable Foundation, Paul Ziegler, Kune's Family Foundation, Kunes Country Auto Group, Albert and Ellen Burnell, Paper Dolls, The Chuck and Barb Taylor Charitable Fund, Lake Geneva Area Realty, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schuberth, Martin Group, John Stensland and family, Jim Prater and Vicki Volbrecht, Vision Garden Fund—Renaissance Charitable Foundation, James and Shari Loback, Phillip and Deborah Tichy, Angelika Betz, George and Lauretta Clettenberg, Beth and Jody Rendall, J.N. Hackman, Karin Collamore, Greg Johns, Phil Allen, Jeanne Allen, Kathleen Culhane, Sarah Wootton, David Greenawalt, Gregory Swanson, Kelly Tomaske, Karin Slayton, Melissa Gehrke, William Davit, Gene and Linda Krauklis, all of our anonymous donors and ALL of you who support The Time Is Now to Help donation boxes. Anyone who would like a Time Is Now donation box in your business, please call (262) 24970000.
Memorials: Richard and Trae Torhorst and Family in memory of Bill Myers. Beth Pizzo in memory of Joseph A. Pizzo. Ron and Carolyn Bloch in memory of Don Bloch.
Prayer Chain: The power of prayer and positive thoughts comes from the true healer, our Lord answering our prayers. Please pray for healing for the following people: Brian, Mike, Sylvia, Megan, Kayla, Maria C., Judy, Scott, Annie, Marilyn, Brandon, Helen, Dennis, Mary, Joseph, Jordan, Jean, Tom L., Dr. Peter, Matthew, Pam E., Jenene B., John S., Patricia H., Ron K., Marian K., Judy, Wendy, Eric, Anthony, Mary, Charlie, Tom P., Christina, Billy, Mike, Cheryl, Bryan E., Ellie and Cornelia.
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