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Helen is a spirited 77-year-old Arvada
senior known as “Tootsie” to her five grown children, 12 grandchildren
and eight great-grandchildren. Raised on a sugar beet farm outside of
Sterling, she married a man in the oil business and lived in Nebraska,
Wyoming and North Dakota before settling in the Denver area.
Once her kids were grown, she worked in numerous jobs – sewing,
administrative, waitressing and cashiering. She severely injured her
back, then underwent knee surgery, and eventually had to go on
disability and retire.
Living alone on a fixed income, she struggles to keep up with increasing
medical bills. She was grateful to get energy assistance through Energy
Outreach Colorado to stay current on her home energy bill. “I just got
behind on bills with all my health care costs and couldn’t come out of
it,” she said. “I’m set pretty well now.”
Other Coloradans who received some relief from energy assistance
include:
Bill, a self-employed carpentry, electrical and plumbing contractor in
El Paso County, who suffered two heart attacks and complications from
infections in the past year. “Every time I turn around I keep getting in
more trouble with my bills,” said the 50-year-old, who can only work a
couple hours a day due to his health problems.
Crystal, whose self-employed husband has seen a drastic decline in his
southeast Colorado auto repair business, was further impacted by helping
care for a family member who was hit by a car as a pedestrian in
Colorado Springs. “When you are barely squeaking by and something
happens, it can leave you short,” said the mother of three. “I am so
thankful for the help and I think that what Energy Outreach does is
wonderful.”
Gabie is a 54-year-old Del Norte resident who suffers from severe
emphysema. Her only source of income is social security. She sought help
paying her overdue energy bill after undergoing emergency surgery for a
ruptured bleeding ulcer. “I pay whatever I can but by the end of the
month it’s all gone,” she said. “I’m really grateful for the help.”
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