MRS. D NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN WINTERIZING HER HOME

When Mrs. D's husband died earlier this year, she was devastated and wasn't sure where to turn.

Opting for a change in her life, Mrs. D moved from her small country home to a mobile home in town. Now, Mrs. D thinks maybe she made a mistake.

The mobile home, it turns out, was something of a lemon. It is poorly insulated, drafty and generally in disrepair.

Utility bills are much higher than her previous home. The mobile home is in desperate need of winterization -- some plastic over the windows, weather stripping or caulking.

Mrs. D has diabetes, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia and a thyroid problem. Her medical bills are very high, nearly a quarter of her monthly Social Security income.

Because of the diabetes, Mrs. D's vision is failing. She needs new eye glasses but doesn't know if she can scrape up the money for an exam and eye glasses.

Actually, a feeling of desperation is sweeping through Mrs. D as the holidays approach. How will she be able to maintain her new, unsatisfactory home? How can she pay her utility bills and prescription drug bills? How will she make it through the next year?

Some assistance this Christmas would help Mrs. D through this rough time and perhaps make her life a little more cheerful.

Monetary donations to help with the utility bill would be appreciated. But she really needs a donation to pay for repairs and winterization of the trailer to cut down those bills.

A gift certificate for groceries and an assortment of canned goods and non-perishable foods would help Mrs. D feel a little more comfortable.

Mrs. D says she doesn't need any new clothes; she buys remnants of fabric at yard sales to make her own clothes. But she would like a pair of snow boots with a zipper closure, size 8, and new panties, size 10.

Christmas for the Elderly is a joint project of the Southeast Missourian newspaper and the Cape Girardeau County Health Department.

Gifts may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, or the Health Department, 1121 Linden.

Gifts or monetary donations may be mailed to Christmas for the Elderly, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699.

For more information, call Kim McDowell at 335-6611.