Thank you Silvermine!

Please forgive the lateness of this letter.  I was hoping to have some small handwritten notes from some of the recipients to send you, but they haven't come yet. The most important gift from the SCA went to an older woman who has taken her son and his entire family into her home, because he lost his job and ultimately lost his home.  They were very grateful, and the children were  excited about the card for ice cream. Several of the gift packs went to this family. We also gave  gift packs to an elderly couple where the wife is really struggling with caring for her husband with dementia. She appreciated the grocery cards as she is now having the added costs of periodic home care for him because she is not able to bathe him by herself. And a third gift went to a frail sweet lady, widowed, and fiercely independent, who was so happy to have someone think of her at the holidays. She was going to treat herself to her favorite pastries!   Our deepest appreciation to you and to the Silvermine Community Association for your generosity and caring. We hope that this will be a healthy and happy year for you all.   Thank you so much.  

Laura Epstein, Director, The Senior Umbrella Senior Services Coordinating Council 11 Allen Road Norwalk 06851

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The profits from our SCA Summer Solstice Wine Tasting in June 2009 have gone directly to the Social Services Departments in New Canaan, Wilton and Norwalk and have been distributed to seniors and families in Silvermine with the most urgent needs. Thanks to the generosity of the Village market and Stop & Shop in Wilton, Cathy Pierce and Eleanor Sasso were also able to drop-off fresh fruits and vegetables to the Wilton Social Services Food Pantry on behalf of the SCA Helping Hands Program!

SILVERMINE NEW CANAAN:

We are helping four families in the Silvermine area of New Canaan.

• a single mom raising two teenagers on a commission type salary with growing expenses such as food, utilities, and all the expenses that come with teenagers.  She was extremely grateful for your assistance with utilities last winter! This family has experienced some domestic violence issues in the past and does not receive any income assistance from the husband/father. The family desperately wants to remain in New Canaan and have the children continue in school with their friends. The Department of Youth Services has helped with partial payment of the electric bill, oil bill, and camp membership for the children

• Our second family has lived in the Silvermine area for over 10 years, have four children, and the father is currently unemployed. They are having difficulty making their mortgage payments as well as paying for utilities and food. They have had the house on the market but have been unable to sell it in this difficult economy.

• The third family lives in the house that has been in their family for over 100 years. They have been able to regularly make their mortgage payments. They have two children and need assistance with expenses such as utilities, food, and camps for the children. They love living in the Silvermine area and are doing all they can to stay in their family home.

• The fourth family consists of a husband and wife in their 80’s and a 56 year old disabled son. They have lived in New Canaan over 50 years and their deepest wish is to stay in their home. Their only income is their social security. They have raised their 8 children in New Canaan and just love the Silvermine area. They struggle to pay their energy bills and have also received assistance from the Human Services Department. They are a very proud family but  admit they could use help.

SILVERMINE AREA OF WILTON:

• There is a divorced mother of two who has been unemployed for almost a year and her unemployment has run out. She is in trouble as her child support is not enough to cover  her expenses. Her bills are piling up and she needs help badly.    She has been looking for a job for the past year 10-11 months  with no success.

SILVERMINE AREA OF NORWALK


• We have a woman at the senior center who is an 81 years old widow and has attended our program for the last 3 years. Her family has lived in Silvermine area for the last 61 years. She has had 3 heart attacks and has been suffering with Alzheimer’s disease for the past 4 years. She was able to provide for herself until the last market crash. She lost a lot of her savings and her daughter has had to chip in to help pay the bills. Her family is grateful for any financial help.

• The second Silvermine resident that we have helped is an 80 year old widow. She suffers from short term memory loss and has had 12 operations because of hardening of the arteries. In 2006 she had her left leg amputated below the knee because of the poor circulation. Her oldest son just passed away in the VA hospital and her other son is battling cancer. They both served our country in Vietnam . Her home also burned to the ground in 2007. Her daughter is trying to arrange for some state assistance but in the meantime she wants to attend our program but cannot afford to. She would be grateful for any financial assistance.

•  We are also assisting a low-income 88 year old who lives by herself, though her son and grandson have contact with her on a daily basis. The meals she receives are paid for by the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging.  Recently, she mentioned that the financial climate has affected her severely and her yard is in need of thorough clean-up and maintenance.  It is difficult for her to find help which she can afford.



• The fourth client is receiving aid to attend Waveny Day Care.
 

 

NOTE: Since the dispersal of funds, I have been receiving many urgent requests for help…it is very difficult to say we have no more funds available.. And so I am asking you, our SCA members, to help me help them by sending in contributions year round in any amount by donating online now -




Alternatively, donations can be sent by check to the address below

Eleanor Sasso
70 Musket Ridge
Wilton, 06897
762 0216


I will see that your generous donations go directly to the most needy…

For more information on how you can help NOW, contact Eleanor Sasso, 203 762 0216; easasso "at" optonline.net. To learn more about the start of Helping Hands, click here.