Thread by @HarvestHillsYYC

We have a serious emergency.

Late this afternoon we were contacted by a senior named “Helen”. She only had one meal left in her kitchen.

She called us for help and we are helping.

We will be using the last of our available funds to get her some much needed groceries. #YYC #YEG

We will hopefully be giving her enough groceries for an entire month so she doesn’t have to worry about having to choose between medications/food, food/electricity, food/rent.

Too many #Calgarians are being ignored and forgotten. Too many #Calgarians are afraid to ask for #help.

We need help. If anyone can help with a donation towards her food hamper, we will be here for about 2 more hours because we are shopping for four seniors tonight.

You can help by donating by any of the options ⬇️ #Donate #community #donations #DisabilityTwitter #BeKind #Alberta

Etransfer:

[e-mail]

PayPal:

HarvestHillsCaresCalgary.Ca

Thank you for helping #Calgary #Seniors #CalgarySeniors #Hope #Help #activism #AcademicTwitter #Canada #CareIsEssential #Charity #CharityIsOurResponsibility #Emergency #HelpingHands #Alberta #YYC

@BretHart @jannarden @bifnaked @TheBreakdownAB @emmadeady @paul_yyc @burnaby1953 @LoisRobb1 @JDfromCJAY @ReapersPlace @GrannyGTArp @EveryAlbertan @CarrieTait @PrestonPixie @CityTara @Jodie11649884 @AnnaliseAK @VancityReynolds @von_elizabeth @FromAlberta @ABdoc4patients #help #YYC

Part one.

Part two.

Other things that were said to us were:

Lots of us stretch our meds from 1 month to 2 months, you make sure if you have a dr appointment tomorrow, you take your blood pressure pills today & tomorrow morning. It’ll register normal & your doctor thinks you are doing a great job!

Did you know many seniors 1/2 their insulin to make it last?

They half it and then keep sugar water near by to help keep their blood sugar in check.

Many seniors can’t afford to take it as prescribed because then it would cost too much. Especially with the $25 blue cross cost.

One senior were helping uses depression meds. She half’s it when she stays home cause if there’s no one to see…why bother to take the whole dose?

If you go out you take your normal meds for 3 days and no ones the wiser.

#Calgary #Seniors #Monday #morning #Isolation #Alone #YYC

Another senior said #yyc

The foodbank gives you enough food for a week to a week & a half, many of us learned as a single senior to make that last a month.

If we have family that comes & checks up on us we keep empty food boxes in the cupboard to make it seem like we have food.

…a lot of us stay hidden because we don’t want people to know how bad things really are. We don’t show we’re struggling because we don’t want people to know how bad it has gotten.

#badsituation #cryforhelp #shocked #calgary #alberta #canada #COVID19

…Last year, for 3mths I ate cat food, I was struggling so bad. My doctor had started me on some new meds & I had to pay out of pocket cause the medication was so new. #Calgary

No one new the difference. It looks like tuna & ppl thought I just got a deal on tuna at the store!

…A friend of mine takes methotrexate, that helps her with pain. She will take it every 2nd week just 2 make it last longer.

Yes we have blue cross but once you have used up coverage for the year, as she says you’re hooped. This way she has some for when she gets really bad #yeg

“Jen, honey, I know seniors who can’t afford their cpap machines or even hearing aids and the programs that cover them or give them out for free have such a wait list it’s sad”

“Another friend goes hungry for 3-4 days before her cpp comes in”
#SpeakingFromTheHeart #Alberta #yyc

“Another friend of mine begs her pharmacy to give out expired or close to expiry test strips just to make them last.

So many people are hurting it’s truly frightening. I and lots of my friends are struggling so much but we don’t let it show because we don’t want to be a burden”

We told the seniors we talked to that they aren’t a burden. That were here to help in any way we can.

That is why we ask for donations, why we share these stories, we may be small but we’re growing and trying to help as many #Calgarians as we can here in #YYC @71CROW @Crackmacs

If everyone could either share or retweet this very long thread, we would appreciate & be very grateful.

If anyone can would like to help out, please DM us.

If any business or restaurant would like to donate food or meals, please DM or call us at 403-608-7224 #CalgaryBusiness

@ABdoc4patients @GrannyGTArp @VancityReynolds @paul_yyc @PaulSoniaSmith1 @PauwlinaD @NatePike @bifnaked @ArleneDickinson @FromAlberta @kevinwittak @burnaby1953 @Jodie11649884 @WBrettWilson @DallasFlexhaug @jordanwitzel @CommonGoodYYC @ParachutesP @JillianRatti @EveryAlbertan #YYC