Some people think of air conditioning as a luxury, but for fragile seniors in the Houston heat, it is an essential prescription for health and safety.
In the extreme heat of Greater Houston’s late summer – with “feels like” temps climbing to 107 – seniors living in poverty are at high risk.
Many seniors who rely solely on Social Security for their income can’t handle unexpected costs. This means a broken A/C unit might have to be left unfixed for months until they are able to save enough for repairs.
Sitting in her apartment in Southeast Houston, 80-year-old Ruth Brown is sweltering. Her power was turned off yesterday because she couldn’t pay her electricity bill. She closes her curtains to keep out the sun, but that blocks any slight breeze. Her head hurts and she feels weak, but she no longer drives and she has no transportation to seek a cooler place.
Some people think of air conditioning as a luxury, but for fragile seniors in the Houston heat, it is an essential prescription for health and safety. If they are not able to cool down, they can face serious health complications – even death.
Thankfully, we are blessed to have such compassionate hearts in our community like you.
The Mamie George Community Center received a generous donation to buy A/C units for seniors in need. When Martha, a senior case manager at Mamie George, bought the unit, she used the remaining funds to buy four box fans for seniors who wouldn’t be getting their A/C replaced. By the grace of God, a fellow Home Depot shopper asked who Martha was and what she was doing and offered to buy those fans for her! He later got in touch again and purchased even more fans for seniors who need them.
Please join Catholic Charities in ensuring no elderly man or woman in our region has to face this heat without power in their home and without cool air. Give today to fund our ability to pay the utility bills for fragile seniors to protect them from the blazing heat that threatens their lives.
Your generous gift could save the life of an isolated senior like Ruth – and thousands of others like her.
Thank you for your mercy and compassion!
Learn more about the Catholic Charities Senior Services programs here.