Share the Season: Health, money issues create stress for retired couple
Share the Season is an annual campaign that offers one-time aid to people affected by unforeseen hardships. The people are not identified to protect their privacy.
While raising a family, this couple never had to ask for help.
But now they are retired and have heart problems. Both have spent time in the hospital within the last year.
“We have had a very hard time getting back on our feet (due) to this,” the 65-year-old husband wrote in an application to Share the Season.
The organization recently responded by paying three bills, which allowed the couple to get caught up.
“It was a godsend,” the wife said. “Everyone was so nice down there (at Share the Season).”
Before receiving the assistance, the husband said, “The stress of our situation has been hard on our health and mental well being. We have never been in this situation in our life and it has been really hard.”
His health forced him to retire earlier this year as a maintenance worker.
They also have needed help in obtaining enough food, he said.
There is another bright light in their lives, though.
“We have three wonderful grandchildren that give us love and hope,” he said.
Share the Season is a joint project of The Eagle, the Wichita Community Foundation and the Salvation Army.
So far this season, it has raised $97,541.
Send contributions to Share the Season at the Wichita Community Foundation, 301 N. Main, Suite 100, Wichita, KS 67202. To donate online, go to www.sharetheseason.org. If you have questions about donating, call 316-264-4880.
Donors will be listed in The Eagle; please note if you prefer to remain anonymous.
To apply for help, fill out an application at www.sharetheseason.org or pick one up at the Salvation Army, 350 N. Market. The application deadline is Dec. 20. For more information, call 316-263-2769.
Among recent donors:
Ruby Anderson; William and Mary Arnold; William and Marlene Bayer, in memory of Thomas Edmund Bayer; Garret and Kris Burkhardt; Kurt and Jean Carter; Gary and Nancy Conover; Diane Coplen; Jim and Cheryl Donecker, in memory of Dale Donecker; Marlene Edgington; Jerome and Elvera Ewald; Anna Flynn, in honor of Wylie and Margo; James and Esther Franklin, in memory of A.W. Pannell;
Chris Greiving, in memory of Kim Verble and Shelli Williams Baker; Robert and Susan Grelinger, in memory of Dave and Elaine Huscher; Peter and Kathryn Hanas; Brian and Shawna Harmon, in honor of Barbara Criswell and Nadine Harmon; Sandra Hutchins; Jim Franklin Insurance Agency; James and Marilyn John; Irene Kersey, in memory of Earl Kersey; Gary and Julie Langton, in memory of our mothers; Laureate Lambda Chapter of Wichita Beta Sigma Phi; Robert and Barbara Loop, in memory of Mary Lou Stuever Heise;
Daniel and Deborah McClure; Donna Mills; Shirley Overstreet, in memory of Larry Overstreet; Curtis and Mary Peck; Kenneth and Carol Pitetti, in memory of James K. Pitetti; Donald and Karen Prockish; Roy and Delores Sailor; Paul and Cecile Seward, in memory of Celine Seward; Norbert Shroyer; James and Alice Sumner; John and Barbara Swain; John and Roberta Swinehart; Timothy and JoAnn Turner;
Bruce and Judy Wells; anonymous in honor of Jama’s granddaughters; anonymous in memory of Jack B. Davis and Marie Smith; anonymous in memory of Donna D. Ediger; anonymous in memory of Zoe Svoboda; and 23 other anonymous donors.
This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Share the Season: Health, money issues create stress for retired couple."