Help Helaine Heal: A Beloved Friend Needs Our Community

If you know Helaine, you already love her. She's the kind of person who lights up a room the moment she walks in — unapologetically eccentric, vivacious, and forever young at heart. She has touched so many lives in our community that it's hard to imagine our circle without her spark in it.

But for several months now, Helaine has been caught in a brutal cycle she can't break on her own.

A severely compromised immune system and debilitating anemia have left her vulnerable to one illness after another. She desperately needs ongoing infusions treatments to stabilize her health, but they are far beyond what she can afford — and without them, she keeps getting sick. She has battled shingles multiple times. She has been hospitalized again and again for vertigo so severe she couldn't stand. When her senior living building had a bed bug infestation, it triggered a scabies outbreak that her body simply cannot fight off, and the infestation keeps returning. She has already had to throw out and replace bedding, clothing, and household essentials once, and now she is facing having to do it all over again.

On top of the physical toll, this long stretch of illness has kept Helaine isolated. Many of us know her through a community built on connection and mutual support — a community that helps her stay grounded and well. Being too sick to attend in-person gatherings has cut her off from one of the most important sources of strength in her life, right when she needs it most.

Helaine's only income is Social Security, which barely covers her rent. Her boyfriend helps where he can, but he has his own health to protect and cannot carry this alone. She cannot drive, so even getting to a doctor's appointment is a challenge.

Your donation will go directly toward:

Helaine has spent her life showing up for the people around her with humor, color, and an open heart. Now it's our turn to show up for her.

Any amount helps — and if you can't give, please share this page with anyone who knows and loves her.

Thank you for being part of her village.

With love and gratitude,

Kathy R.