Time is now: Helping out those most in need

I have been trying to find assistance for a recently homeless elderly woman. She was homeless due to a tax lien foreclosure on her home. She had not been able to pay her property taxes for four years while caring for her now deceased husband while he was in the final stages of dementia and then had been forced to put him in a nursing home. This widow had nowhere to go and lost all her belongings except for her beloved dog when she was removed from the home. She lived in her car for six months while saving her social security and looking for a place to live. Out of desperation she purchased a 50 year old small mobile home when she could not find anything else she could afford. She has some repairs that need to be done to the trailer that she says she can do herself. She just does not have the funds to do them. This woman has always worked hard her whole life and used up every penny of her savings caring for her husband and paying his living expenses. She recently told me that if she had known then what she knows now about tax lien foreclosure and the pains of becoming homeless as a senior citizen she would have gone without food and her own medical care to have paid the property taxes on her home. She has given me permission to share her contact information so you may speak to her and hear her moving story.

Dear Readers,

Reaching out to this elderly widow was one of the best things we did last month. The trials she had endured over the past few years were more than most could bear, yet she still tried to retain her hope and deep faith. Our assistance would not only help her physical needs but also help to restore her hope for the future.

When I told the elderly woman that we had received a letter from someone she knew requesting our assistance, she was surprised. Then after a few minutes she knew exactly who had written the letter as she told me she had been recently talking to a woman at her church that was on a human concerns committee. I confirmed that was who had contacted us.

I listened as the elderly woman told me about her husband’s long struggle with dementia and how she had cared for him until he had fallen, and she could no longer care for him. She told me how it had broke her heart to put him in a nursing home but due to her own health problems she had been forced to put him there. She had used all of their savings for the year of skilled care he had needed before he passed. She admitted she had forgotten to pay her property taxes for one year and then the amount just became too much for her to pay while paying for her husband’s care.

After her husband passed, she soon found herself living in her car when they foreclosed. She told me how her dog had been her only comfort during this terrible time. They had slept together in the car for months as she saved every penny she could to find a place to rent. She never found a place she could afford to rent, or they did not allow dogs. She would not even consider giving up her best friend with his unconditional love, to go into a shelter or a place that did not allow her pet.

When she found a trailer for sale, she used everything she had saved to purchase it and found a lot she could afford to rent each month. She thought she had found a way out of her suffering. Unfortunately, the trailer is very old and in need of many repairs. The elderly woman assured me she could do many of these repairs herself as she and her husband had run a handy man service together for years and she had helped with most jobs.

We went over her budget together and I was impressed with how frugal this senior woman was. She reminded me she had lived homeless for six months and in that time had learned how to do without most basic needs. She said this in jest, yet I could hear the pain behind the statement. This experience, in addition to the many difficulties over the past few years, had not been easy for her. I felt her pain in my heart knowing no fellow creation should have to live how she had been living.

Together we would make the future easier for her. We would provide lot rent for several months and pay her utility bill with some for the future. When I learned she was sleeping on a cot I told her we would provide a new bed. She cried over this gift as she admitted she had not slept in an actual bed for almost a year. We also would provide gift cards for a home improvement store to allow her to purchase the faucets, weather strip, paint, caulk, and other items she needed to repair her trailer. Gift cards for household items and toiletries would allow her to replace the items she lost along with her house. This brought even more tears as she shared her gratitude for the gifts we would provide.

A week later I contacted the elderly woman to see how she was progressing with her home repairs. I was happy to hear the new friend she had met at church had brought her husband and children over and they had spent a day together doing repairs. They had even made plans for future days spent together.

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, The Chuck and Barb Taylor Charitable Fund, Lake Geneva Area Realty, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schuberth, Martin Group, John Stensland and family, Joyce Popera, Timothy and Margaret Kumbier, Carol Feist, Mary Jane Feist, Church of Jesus Christ LDS, Aileen Hodges, David and Linda Michels, Stanley Roelker, Barbara Hill, Steven and Garbrielle Thomas, Patricia Erickson, Bob and Millie McCormick, Nancy Ferguson, Denise Hubbard, John and Rita Race, 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) 249-70000.

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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