Proud to be Latino
Help us to help our fellow brothers and Sisters that may need a little help to regroup
Fundraiser for HPLA
2024 is flying by and for us old folks that holds true, more so, than for the younger generations. As a kid in elementary I could not wait for summer to come. It seemed the days would drag along. Down side was that summer was over in a heartbeat. I have that feeling most every day as a senior.
As folks age the need for assistance to survive increases and what was a quick jump in the shower now requires grab bars, shower chairs and hand rails. Recently I realized that standing in the shower was not as easy as in years past. To fix that I acquired a couple of Grab Bars that hold on to the surface with suction. They are not like the arrows you licked the end on to stick to the wall, but rather an ingénues suction cup system that creates a tight vacuum seal. Each time I use the shower I make sure the grab bar works without failing and after several months they seem to be working just fine. I smooth surface is a must and permanently attached grab bars is best.
As the founder of HPLA I was involved in hundreds of projects where older folks did not have the resources to secure a safe entry and exit out of the bath. In a recent stay at a hotel the handicap shower was not only zero entry but was equipped with hand rails shower chairs and portable shower wands. Thank You to the construction industry as well as all other hospitality and public facilities that have made every effort to get us in and out of a bathroom or building safety.
However in our client base we are called upon to retrofit ones home to accommodate those safety features. Organizations are working diligently to add wheel chair ramps and grab bars, but the need by individuals far outruns the large nonprofit organizations capability. Secondly getting the attention of those groups can be nearly impossible. One organization demands a down payment to come preview the project. Granted the money was refundable or goes against the cost of the project, but as in many times in my past $100. was unattainable or a luxury. People in need don’t have money under the mattress. They live pay check to paycheck and a disability ruins there life. This is not news. It has been going on forever. The good news is we are making progress. The federal and state governments have established & funded programs to help. The folks that are left behind are the folks we look to find. We ask friends and families “do you know someone that is hurting through no fault of their own”? Almost everyone does, but very few want to get involved to help even if it’s just to refer them. So what can you do?
I a recent conversation I mentioned there was an organization that was helping low income homeowners with home repair for free. Really?
Yes I said “ if you know anyone that needs help just have them look up HPLA Charities. Sometimes that is all it takes, bringing us up to your circle of friends. The grass roots organizations like ours get to folks the big non-profits will never see or even care to see. At HPLA we care about everyone and make every effort to help. If the project is to big than we help reach someone who can help. We become your case manager.
We aren’t paid by grants or donations. We work for free. We ask for donations to buy the grab bars and the hand rails. Yes, the building supplies and materials to help those that are in need through no fault of their own..
HPLA Charities.org 