WIDOWS MITE

Provide assistance to clients needing help/guidance with activities in their home, vehicles or other such properties; provide facilities, tools, equipment and knowledge to complete tasks requested by the clients; provide opportunities for clients to maintain their homes, vehicles and other such properties in working order. Sponsor, host and/or participate in events and activities that allow freedom for clients that they would not normally be able to participate or complete due to physical or financial limitations.

When in 8th grade, I had an English teacher who had us listen to contemporary songs of the day and write essays. The 1 song I remember was “One is the Loneliest Number” by Three Dog Night. I do not remember exactly what I wrote but the gist of it was about my grandmother living alone in New Orleans with no one around to help.

Fast forward 4 years to my senior year of high school. The 8th grade assignment long forgotten. Not knowing where I wanted to go to college but knowing I wanted to get out of NJ and go to an affordable school, I decided on LSU in New Orleans. The opportunity to live with my grandmother, establish residency in LA would accomplish both goals, leaving NJ and affording college. Sadly, my thoughts were of myself, not how I might help my grandmother.

4.5 years I lived with my grandmother, going to school, cutting grass, moving furniture, cutting down trees, traveling with her to weddings, funerals, family visits, washing her car, taking the car for service and helping her with all kinds of tasks. Please do not think I was some kind of angel doing all of this. She took care of me more than I did her. She was an AMAZING woman, she may not have been able to do the tasks but I guarantee she would have attempted them. Not knowing then but what I had done left an indelible mark on me that laid dormant for years.

Once school was over and I started my career I’d go back as often as I could to take care of things around the house. Soon I was transferred away from NO and my grandmother was alone again.

More than 40 years after moving out of my grandmothers home I catch myself thinking while performing a task around my home, “This is how Grandmom would have wanted it done.” Today in retirement I see the needs of senior citizens, widows, single moms and wounded veterans, are much the same as my grandmothers, my desire is to help them in the same way I helped years ago. At no charge except for parts, my way of saying, "Thank you Grandmom!"
In the last few years I've been able to replace steps, fix gas heaters, install faucets, dishwasher pumps, toilets, garbage disposals, ceiling fans and much more. It is such a joy to tell them "no charge".