This project for the QCAMELS was formed to keep the people of our community living a healthy lifestyle. To accomplish this, we raise funds to be able to pay for the help they need to keep cool in the summer, pay bills to prevent them from becoming homeless, and help transport them to and from medical visits. Educate people on what aid is available to help them.
One example is Tomi who had COVID in December 2020 and was in the hospital for two months. A few months after she had a COVID-related heart attack and then fell and broke her arm and shoulder. Tomi was only 59 and had been still working. With all these medical issues she was not able to work and had not received disability yet. Her rent and electricity were past due. We stepped in to help, paying some bills and getting her set up DES to pay rent and electric in the future. Tomi has always been a volunteer with the local nonprofits. Now that she has more time, she has been helping us with other people who have had medical problems and were getting behind on their bills.
Another example is Josie who found she had breast cancer. She is retired and never had financial problems till now. She has to pay co-pay on her medical and the bills were piling up. I found out she was sleeping in her car in Phoenix because she could not afford to drive back and forth for her daily treatments. We stepped in to help pay some of the bills, and mileage and found a nice very inexpensive hotel. Josie, a regular volunteer, will be helping us when she is better also.
We have also helped fix people's air conditioners or swamp coolers to keep them cool and healthy in the summer heat.
We do not advertise our service but work through the manager of the low-cost apartments, RV parks, doctors, aid workers, and other people who come into contact with local people who found they need help. We started out slow with one or two people a month but are now receiving requests for three to four people a month. Many of the people we helped have been volunteers in town and now it is time to help them.
Our population in Quartzsite is mainly over 55 and living under or close to the poverty level. We were finding people becoming homeless because of medical problems and needed to do something to prevent it. With your help, we have been able to do just that.
