90-YEAR OLD FRED NEEDS HELP!

AN UPDATE: 7/31/18

Good news and bad news:

I found the resources for Fred to help move he and his wife to be relocated. The challenge is that the housing will not be ready for 2-6 months. He is on a waiting list. As it stands now, he does not have all the resources to let him move. Unfortunately, the property management company that is renting the unit to him is still evicting him and will not giving him any more time to stay. That means that by August 7th, he has to vacate the unit or until legally they throw him out, which I am being told can be anywhere from 30 days - two months. The best thing would be to see if we can raise enough money between the non-profit organization and this donation drive to get him in a temp unit until he can find subsidized housing from this non-profit.

Please share with your friends, and let's help Fred. However, as you will hear from this video below, there are many Fred's in the South Bay. He is one of hundreds. IT IS A BIG PROBLEM!

What I have found is there are the HAVES and the HAVE NOTS. The people in the middle, like Fred (Who have resources, but can't quite make it) have little options, These are the people who are left stranded.

This is what we are looking for:

1. People to buy his wife's beautiful Tiffany lamp shades (see below)

2. People to donate money for his next step (Temp housing)

3. People who can actually provide temp housing. Maybe you know someone who has an extra unit or guest house. He can pay up $900-$1000 a month, maybe even a little more with donations and help from the non-profit. (Probably 2-6 months)

4. Someone who has the time to hold his hand though this process. (What I have found is that this is time consuming. He needs help to figure out best options though this non-profit maze) It is confusing for me, and I am half of his age. So, if you know of anyone who has the time to volunteer, that would be wonderful.

5. Anyone who knows a lot about stamps. Fred has a great stamp collection and that also can be used to help him get more resources.

I am now taking this campaign to the community of the South Bay. There is so much resource here in our backyard. We need to become aware and just need to find the time to help. It starts with one person. I am not a relative of Fred's. I am a concerned citizen. I would never want this to happen to my Mom. PLEASE HELP ME HELP FRED! He is almost there. We just have to find him a temporary solution, and little more resources to live.

FRED’S WIFE’S TIFFANY LAMPS:

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The First Campaign: JUNE 2018

As many of your know, I am a busy person and would not stop my day and do something like this unless I felt it was so important and profoundly disturbing.

As I was going to VONS today, getting a basket of goodies for my very abundant life, compared to many people who need a helping hand, I saw an old man standing outside the store, asking for help. I could tell he was quite old and well put together. I decided to stop and investigate, so we got to talking. In a nutshell, he and his wife are getting evicted and he does not make enough money to get moved. He receives $1400 with social security, and has no savings. He does not make enough money to make the move to a new location.

He has tried to get a job, but no one will hire him. As I stood there talking to him, I could not help but feel a deep sense of sadness, thinking, "This man should be enjoying the last chapter of his life with dignity and grace." I could only imagine if this was my Mom or any older person, standing there, asking strangers for help. I noticed this was not the typical man or woman on the street in need. He was so gracious as I spoke to him. He and his wife have no children and not any help from the outside. I could tell as I was talking to him, he took pride in wanting to provide as his wife does not know that he was doing this as a way to get by.

As I helped him get groceries, I said to myself, " I am not going to be a person that looks the other way. I want to help Fred, and I hope you will too. Whether it is $5, $20, $50, $100, anything can help. I am raising $2000 for his move.

Let's work together and let Fred know that at 90 years old, he does not have to stand out in the front of VONS, asking for help. We are a community that helps our elders. Let's make sure he knows that help is on the way!