CARING (INDIVIDUAL CASES)


WHEN WE WROTE OF THE PLIGHT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS THE PICTURE WAS A TRUE BUT SAD ONE.

OUR DREAM WAS TO GET AS MANY OF THESE POOR PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE PLACED IN HOMES. MOST ONCE HAD A ROOM BUT LOST IT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEIR MEAGRE PENSIONS DID NOT MEET THE COST OF KEEPING THAT ROOM.

NOW, IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE PARISH OF ST. THERESE, WE
ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE REALITY OF THE STRUGGLE TO
SURVIVE OF SO MANY ELDERLY POOR PEOPLE.

HAVING RECEIVED STATISTICS REGARDING THE PROBLEM, WE SET OUT TO VISIT THE SIX WORST CASES OF POVERTY - NOT ON THE STREET BUT LIVING IN A ONE-ROOM APARTMENT. SURELY AN APARTMENT SHOULD MEAN COMFORT!

ALAS!

THERE WAS ROSE-MARIE, 73 YEARS OLD. SHE HAD BEEN KNOCKED
DOWN BY A CAR AND STILL SUFFERED REPERCUSSIONS. IT WAS
DIFFICULT TO FIND HER ROOM UP ON THAT 4th FLOOR - NO
LIGHTING ON CORRIDOR. INSIDE HER ROOM ONLY A TINY BULB
GAVE LIGHT AND THE ROOM FELT COLD. 40 PER MONTH WAS HER PENSION BUT WOOD FOR THE STOVE FOR WINTER COST AROUND £80, THEN WATER = £4, ELECTRICITY = £6 AND THE NECESSARY PHONE = £4.

MARGARETA WAS A GRANDMOTHER WHO LOVED AND CARED FOR A 10 YEAR OLD GRANDCHILD WHO HAD BEEN ABUSED BY HIS PARENTS. SO BADLY TREATED WAS HE THAT THE LAW FORBADE ALL ACCESS BY HIS PARENTS.
GRANMA'S PENSION = £30 PER MONTH
ELECTRICITY = £6 PER MONTH
HEATING = £16 PER MONTH
WATER = £6 PER MONTH

SHE CURRENTLY HAD A DEBT OF £140. THEN THE LITTLE BOY HAD TO BE DRESSED AND EQUIPPED FOR SCHOOL. HER TELEPHONE HAD BEEN CUT OFF. THEY LIVED IN ONE ROOM.

OUR THIRD VISIT BROUGHT US TO A VERY CRIPPLED LADY WHO SUFFERED MUCH PAIN FROM A VERY SWOLLEN LEG. SHE COULD NOT AFFORD TO BUY AN ASPIRIN! TO SWEEP HER FLOOR SHE WENT AROUND ON HER KNEES. SHE CRIED WITH JOY JUST TO HAVE A VISITOR AND A CHAT.

THESE FIRST THREE VISITS CONVINCED US WE MUST PLAN PROPER CONSISTENT AID FOR SUCH CASES. TWO VERY NECESSARY COMPONENTS OF THAT AID MUST SURELY BE FOOD AND FRIENDSHIP!

SO - THE PLAN WAS DRAWN UP. WE WOULD HAVE A HOT MEAL SENT DAILY TO EACH ONE AND, ONCE WEEKLY, WE WOULD HAVE TWO OF THE PARISH YOUTH VISIT THEM. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD THEN REPORT ANY NEEDS TO US.
IF WE CAN MAKE LIFE HAPPIER FOR EVEN THIS SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEN “OUR LIVING IS NOT IN VAIN”.

ANOTHER THREE POOR PEOPLE WILL BE VISITED ON DECEMBER
26th AND THE SAME AID WILL BE OFFERED.