- N
- T
I write to touch in with Diane's friends to let you know how she's doing now, about 11 months into the Covid pandemic. As many of you know, this campaign was initiated in 2017, and was revived in March 2020, as the pandemic spread. Your generosity over the years -- both campaigns hit their target figures -- has been instrumental in getting Diane through some tough times.
Now, it's January 2021. Still living alone at Sharon Green, Diane has been healthy and safe and taken care of during the Covid era. With your financial support, we have reinstated and upgraded her telephone service; reinstated her TV/cable service; fixed a variety of plumbing problems in her apartment; purchased clothes for her including winter boots, a winter coat and sneakers; driven her up to the ATM in Sharon Center so she can get cash (she doesn't like to use her ATM card to purchase things); delivered her a few Christmas gifts so she would feel a part of the holiday; kept her well-stocked with food, toiletries, vitamins, masks and an occasional Boston Globe; ironed out some banking issues she was having; filed forms to verify her pension benefits; driven her around Sharon so she can see her old house on Mansfield Street and other places on Diane's Memory Lane; and the like.
We see Diane 2-3 times a month in person, and call her weekly (which is made a good deal easier by her having a working phone!). Diane misses going to church on Sundays (the First Congo is having virtual services, and Diane doesn't have a computer), and she misses the social events at Hixson Farms and Council on Aging.
Diane is still very resistant to having people in her apartment. For that reason we haven't been able to measure for a new oven (her stove top and microwave work). As you know, Diane zealously guards her privacy -- for example, at the bank, she shields the ATM screen with her hand (even though I stand 6' away with my back turned) so I don't see her PIN, despite our knowing her for 25 years! Anyway, because of that, we haven't been able to sign Diane up for Mass. Health or even Medicare because she won't give up her SS number or any other supporting documentation. That, as you might imagine, is VERY frustrating. We will continue to fight that battle, please be assured.
If you are in a position to contribute additional funds to Diane's account, we can all continue to financially support her. In any case, Heidi and I will continue our safety check-ins with Diane, and let her know how many friends she has in the Sharon area. Thank you all! Be safe, and here's to a better year ahead.
Now, it's January 2021. Still living alone at Sharon Green, Diane has been healthy and safe and taken care of during the Covid era. With your financial support, we have reinstated and upgraded her telephone service; reinstated her TV/cable service; fixed a variety of plumbing problems in her apartment; purchased clothes for her including winter boots, a winter coat and sneakers; driven her up to the ATM in Sharon Center so she can get cash (she doesn't like to use her ATM card to purchase things); delivered her a few Christmas gifts so she would feel a part of the holiday; kept her well-stocked with food, toiletries, vitamins, masks and an occasional Boston Globe; ironed out some banking issues she was having; filed forms to verify her pension benefits; driven her around Sharon so she can see her old house on Mansfield Street and other places on Diane's Memory Lane; and the like.
We see Diane 2-3 times a month in person, and call her weekly (which is made a good deal easier by her having a working phone!). Diane misses going to church on Sundays (the First Congo is having virtual services, and Diane doesn't have a computer), and she misses the social events at Hixson Farms and Council on Aging.
Diane is still very resistant to having people in her apartment. For that reason we haven't been able to measure for a new oven (her stove top and microwave work). As you know, Diane zealously guards her privacy -- for example, at the bank, she shields the ATM screen with her hand (even though I stand 6' away with my back turned) so I don't see her PIN, despite our knowing her for 25 years! Anyway, because of that, we haven't been able to sign Diane up for Mass. Health or even Medicare because she won't give up her SS number or any other supporting documentation. That, as you might imagine, is VERY frustrating. We will continue to fight that battle, please be assured.
If you are in a position to contribute additional funds to Diane's account, we can all continue to financially support her. In any case, Heidi and I will continue our safety check-ins with Diane, and let her know how many friends she has in the Sharon area. Thank you all! Be safe, and here's to a better year ahead.