Houston senior service organizations said more senior citizens are beginning to ask for help in the lagging economy, but even the groups set up to assist them are in dire need of more resources.
At 90 years old, Napoleon Arrington still feels young at heart.
"I don't consider myself fully handicap because I can get around on my own," Arrington said.
Arrington's legs were amputated due to a medical condition several years ago. Since then, he has been on a fixed income. Making ends meet is getting harder, he said.
More elderly residents like Arrington are reaching out for help.
"This is definitely a faster spike than we have seen before," said Andrea Fineman with Interfaith Ministries.
Fineman said the organization is having to do more fundraising. Their Meals on Wheels program was feeding about 3,900 seniors a day in January.
"Now, we're seeing about 4,300 seniors a day," Fineman said.
A non-profit program called Hearts and Hammers is getting more calls than before. Their volunteers helped to clear out some brush in Arrington's backyard that would have cost hundreds of dollars.
"People are on fixed incomes. They don't have the money to maintain the property and do what needs to be done," said Pastor Derrell Pollard, one of many who helped establish the Hearts and Hammers program.
Pollard said they need more volunteers and resources to help the elderly community.
"We're just thankful that we've been able to do what we've done. [It] doesn't seem like much, but some people think that it is," Pastor Osric Ledet, a volunteer, said.
Hearts and Hammers is hoping to team up with other organizatios to help the growing number of elderly Houstonians in need.
To donate funds or your time to Interfaith Ministries or Hearts and Hammers, use the contact information below:
Interfaith Ministries: http://www.imgh.org/ Hearts and Hammers: (713) 478-9397
At 90 years old, Napoleon Arrington still feels young at heart.
"I don't consider myself fully handicap because I can get around on my own," Arrington said.
Arrington's legs were amputated due to a medical condition several years ago. Since then, he has been on a fixed income. Making ends meet is getting harder, he said.
More elderly residents like Arrington are reaching out for help.
"This is definitely a faster spike than we have seen before," said Andrea Fineman with Interfaith Ministries.
Fineman said the organization is having to do more fundraising. Their Meals on Wheels program was feeding about 3,900 seniors a day in January.
"Now, we're seeing about 4,300 seniors a day," Fineman said.
A non-profit program called Hearts and Hammers is getting more calls than before. Their volunteers helped to clear out some brush in Arrington's backyard that would have cost hundreds of dollars.
"People are on fixed incomes. They don't have the money to maintain the property and do what needs to be done," said Pastor Derrell Pollard, one of many who helped establish the Hearts and Hammers program.
Pollard said they need more volunteers and resources to help the elderly community.
"We're just thankful that we've been able to do what we've done. [It] doesn't seem like much, but some people think that it is," Pastor Osric Ledet, a volunteer, said.
Hearts and Hammers is hoping to team up with other organizatios to help the growing number of elderly Houstonians in need.
To donate funds or your time to Interfaith Ministries or Hearts and Hammers, use the contact information below:
Interfaith Ministries: http://www.imgh.org/ Hearts and Hammers: (713) 478-9397
