Christ Church launches program to help local seniors
VERNON — Vernon resident Fran Rugulo faces challenges on many levels.
Health problems have disabled her, leaving her with a limited income. She owns her own home, but lately she has had to rely on assistance from her family to make ends meet. Her split-level house is home to three rabbits, three dogs, two adult sons and herself. Rabbit cages line the living room where she cares for her 3-year-old granddaughter while the child’s mother is at work. The rabbits and one of the dogs are recent additions to the household, having moved in when Fran’s other adult daughter was hospitalized with a rare brain disorder.
On this day, her son Lou, is assisting a brigade of volunteers from Christ Church Newton, who have descended on the house after a referral from Sussex County Senior Services.
Rugulo recently broke down and called the social service agency to ask for help. The first floor of her home had become uninhabitable due to the hoarding practices of her other son, Richard, who packed the available space with refuse. Piles of belongings had reached the ceiling in many places. Fran’s car had recently been stolen and she was becoming desperate.
“I had become a recluse," she said. "I was afraid to invite people in to see how I lived."
Christ Church Newton offers the Helping Hands program to income-eligible senior citizens in Sussex County who need assistance with household projects. Seniors must be referred to the church by the Sussex County Division of Senior Services. Once identified, a group of teens and adults from the parish visit the home and assist with lawn work, rubbish removal, light repairs, painting, landscaping and other maintenance tasks.
Watching the volunteers work around her house was transformative for Rugulo.
“I feel like a person again,” she said.
After watching the mounds of rubbish pile up over the years, she had gradually lost hope.
“I was ready to give up," Rugulo said. "I couldn’t get myself to say the words, ‘I need.’ Now I can’t help thinking that there really is a God. This is really happening. I sit here totally humiliated and in tears, but I can’t get past the fact that I am blessed.”
“With our Helping Hands program we have the privilege to live out our mission of being Christ’s presence in our community,” said the Rev. Robert Griner, rector of Christ Church. “These seniors want to stay in their own homes, but somehow they have encountered a rough patch and they need a little help. This program gives teens and adults in our parish the opportunity to work together to help our elderly neighbors. It’s just as rewarding for us as it is for our new friends.”
While a team of church members labor around the home, additional parishioners visit with the senior citizen, offering referrals to parish organizations and local agencies which can offer more long-term assistance. Christ Church has recently joined the Faith Community Health Partnership developed by Newton Medical Center. A parish nurse offers follow-up visits and referrals to community resources to those seniors who have received assistance by the Helping Hands program.
“I would recommend this to everybody,” Rugulo said, as she watched over her granddaughter. “These people are angels.”
Those who are interested in accessing the services provided by the Helping Hands program at Christ Church are encouraged to contact the Sussex County Division of Senior Services at 973-579-0555 or seniorservices@sussex.nj.us. Information about Christ Church Newton can be found at www.christchurchnewton.org.