Organization helps caretaker tend to day-to-day details

When GeriAnn Roberts' dad had a heart attack last year, Roberts was unable to visit him in Denver. But it wasn't for lack of transportation. Roberts had an automobile, she just didn't have automobile insurance. And she refused to drive illegally.

"My insurance agent told me just a few days before that my insurance was going to be canceled," Roberts said. "I was having trouble making the payments."

That's when Roberts turned to Julie Wilson and Northern Churches Care. Wilson is executive director of the organization, one of 12 local agencies benefiting from The Gazette/El Pomar Foundation's Empty Stocking Fund.

"Julie was swamped, but she took time out to work with me," Roberts said. "She reached out to me and helped me get my insurance taken care of so I could get to my dad."

"Insurance is often overlooked," Wilson said. "But (GeriAnn) thought it was important, even in a crisis situation."

Since then, Northern Churches Care has provided the single mother with dental certificates, food and commodities and enrolled the family in holiday programs that offer gifts and meals to needy families.

"What's goofy is I didn't even think about Thanksgiving last year because I had so much else on my mind," Roberts said. "Julie put her arm around me and said they have a meal for me and I just cried."

Day-to-day survival has "been rough," Roberts said. "I can't get out and work because I take care of two disabled people."

Roberts' 13-year-old son has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. "He has a mentality like a 7-year-old's," she said.

Roberts' disabled mother has lived with Roberts and her son since 1996.

"There's a lot of challenges with us having groceries or paying bills or just going out and buying stuff a mom likes to buy her kid," Roberts said.

Roberts hasn't needed "big things like housing," Wilson said. "It's the little things that have thrown her occasionally."

Helping Roberts with those "little things" is more than part of the job for Wilson.

"For me, it's personal as well," she said. "I have a special needs child and I know how hard that can be."

Such compassion is typical of Northern Churches Care, Roberts said: "They're very comforting and very warm. They know how to reach out to people. They understand."

Wilson has been especially understanding, Roberts said. "She's my inspiration for life. She's like our angel."

TO OUR READERS

Throughout the holiday season, The Gazette will feature stories about the 12 agencies that receive money through The Gazette/El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund, and about the people they serve.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Empty Stocking Fund, make a check payable to Gazette Charities-Empty Stocking Fund and mail it to P.O. Box 400, Colorado Springs, CO, 80901. Or donate online at www.gazette.com or www.ColoradoSprings.com. Credit card donations also can be made by phone, 476-1673.

Copyright 2003
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