“Thank you so much for all your help”, says Elaine in a text message. That is after I visited her to get a better understanding of the job that needed to be done: helping her move between units in the complex she lives in. “We haven’t done anything yet!”, I reply. “You have, believe me. The biggest help is knowing that there is someone there to help. It makes such a difference”, Elaine sends back.
Elaine has had her fair share of health issues in the past years with major heart surgery and a lung disease on top. This causes shortness of breath and limitations in how far she can walk. Her current unit is up a sloping pathway which becomes increasingly harder for her to walk, especially when she’s carrying heavy grocery bags. When a unit became available with a garage, she applied and she is moving in later this month. “I can just drive my car into the garage and be on flat ground. No more steep paths! I am delighted”.
Now came the daunting task of having to move all her belongings. Elaine: “Moving is a stressful time. So much to organise and it’s even more difficult when I have to make all the decisions myself.” Someone in the community reached out to Serve the City to ask if we could assist with volunteers. “The possibility of volunteer support when the time comes, is such a relief.”, Elaine says. One of the things that caused Elaine major stress, was her windows. They needed to be cleaned before she can move out. Serve the City organised an affordable cleaner for her who took care of that job. “Getting the windows cleaned was a weight off my shoulders because I couldn’t do them. I am pretty active and agile, but windows are way beyond me!”
While Elaine is heading towards 80 years old, she still radiates energy and positivity. She tells me all about her past work in IT, her volunteering background and her current study. “I am studying an Undergraduate Certificate in Professional Writing and Publishing. Because of my health issues, it’s taking longer than it should, but I don’t mind. I am enjoying it! It’s all about the experience, not the outcome. I try not to make age my identity but to be honest, I can’t believe I’m nearly 80!”
Elaine decided to hire a moving company to help her move the heavy things in her house. Her neighbors and a volunteer from Serve the City will assist on the day with carrying her smaller and more fragile belongings across the complex into her new unit. It is a true reflection of what Serve the City is all about: when a community comes together to do small things, we can make a big difference!”
By Matilde Newman - 10/05/2025
