What follows is a real life example of how Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging's Guardian Angel Fund assists frail, low-income seniors in their time of desperate need. 

Poverty is not pretty.  It is especially ugly when suffered by our frail, indigent elderly who have worked hard all their lives only to discover they have outlived their savings and there is no program available to cover their desperate needs.  It is the reason JAAA established the Guardian Angel Fund.

Guardian Angel Fund recently helped John and Mary (names have been changed) whose incomes are severely limited. Both have diabetes and Mary fell last summer and broke her hip and pelvis; John required amputation of several toes. They qualified for commodities, but the food was not always diabetic-friendly so they exsisted primarily on peanut butter sandwiches and were fortunate to occasionally have fruit, butter and milk. 

John and Mary were being evicted from their rental house which was in extremely poor condition (infested with bugs, water damage and mold).  All items in the house were in similar condition and not suitable to move to the rent -subsidized housing JAAA was able to obtain for them.  Even though their living conditions were deplorable, the house was home to them and the eviction was stressful. 

Guardian Angel purchased beds, mattresses and box springs for them and JAAA staff were so overcome by the needs of the impoverished couple that they adopted them for Christmas buying items they required for the move and a fresh start.  

You may be surpised that such dire need exists.  JAAA staff members are not. They see it every day and are glad that Guardian Angel Fund is there to help.  

Will you please become a Guardian Angel to seniors like John and Mary?