Low-income seniors receiving Angel Funds have an existing relationship with one of our social workers, who know them and understands their needs. Once a client need is identified, a search of community resources, such as township assistance, is conducted by our social worker. If no other funds are available, our social worker makes a written request for Angel Funds to North Shore Senior Center’s Director of Senior & Family Services.  

This request includes a brief description of the senior’s situation, the financial need, the community resources investigated, and the long-term plan for the client. A decision is made based on availability of funds and the Social Services, payment is issued directly to the vendor. Funds are available one time per year per client. Exceptions to this rule require approval by North Shore Senior Center’s executive director.  

A Sampling of Angel Fund Recipients:

To maintain client confidentiality, only first names are used. All of these awards were made in FY2014 (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014). All clients are seniors and rank as low-income by federal government standards.

Peter - received $300 to assist with water bill payment

Peter’s outstanding water bill was $611. He had been paying $50 per month to the village in which he lives, but could not catch up because of continued water use.  Attempts by our social worker to find a solution with his village of residence were unsuccessful. Peter is confined to a wheel chair and suffers from depression. He lived in a rental house, which had been sold, leaving him two weeks to vacate the premises and pay the water bill.

Zhenya – received $300 to assist with dental bill

Zhenya lived with her spouse in subsidized senior housing. They had $88.22 in assets.  Her income from Social Security was $541 per month.  Zhenya’s upper dentures were fractured and the repair was not covered by Medicaid. The township in which she lived was unable to help financially.

Joseph – received $116.55 to assist with prescription medication

Joseph had no prescription coverage after being denied Medicaid by the Department of Human Resources. While awaiting his appeal hearing, he ran out of prescription medicine.  Community resources paid $113.45 toward the $230 cost. Angel Funds covered the remaining $116.55.

Kristina – received $153 to pay for prescription eye glasses

Neither Kristina nor her daughter could afford to pay for her new prescription eye glasses. She and her husband rented their home and Social Security was their only means of support. Walmart generously agreed to accept a check from our Angel Fund to pay for the glasses.