“I was eating peanut butter and jelly three times a day.”
That’s what Larry told us.
At 77 years old, after a lifetime of hard work, that was all he could manage. After spending decades taking care of others, Larry never imagined he would one day need help himself.
But Larry’s life wasn’t always like this.
When his father became ill, Larry left school after the eighth grade to help support his family. What could have been a setback became the beginning of an extraordinary career. For 46 years, Larry worked as a nuclear welder, traveling to all 50 states.
“I was a sharp cookie,” Larry says with a grin.
Along the way, he met Mary Barbara at his best friend’s wedding.
“My jaw hit the floor when I first saw her,” he remembers. “She was my soulmate.”
They were married for 54 years, raised two daughters, and built a good life together through hard work and perseverance.
Then everything changed.
After losing Mary Barbara, Larry’s health steadily declined. Standing long enough to cook became painful and difficult. Before long, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches became nearly every meal.
“I was losing so much weight,” Larry says.
Larry’s story is more common than most people realize.
Every day, older adults across southern Maine find themselves struggling with everyday tasks they once took for granted. Preparing a meal. Grocery shopping. Asking for help.
That’s when you stepped in.
Because of your generosity, Larry began receiving Meals on Wheels. For the first time in months, he had nutritious meals he didn’t have to struggle to prepare.
“It’s unbelievable to have meals delivered to my home,” Larry says. “The meals are so much better and more nutritious than what I was eating before. I now have seven different meals a week.”
But the meals weren’t the only thing Larry received.
Each visit meant someone checking on him. Someone noticing if something had changed. Someone making sure he wasn’t facing every challenge alone.
Those regular visits also connected Larry to other support he needed. Because of you, Southern Maine Agency on Aging helped him apply for benefits, access mobility equipment, and navigate the search for affordable housing so he can continue living in the community he calls home.
“I walked in and asked if someone could help me,” Larry remembers. “It was unbelievable how they started right in on assisting me.”
That is what your generosity makes possible.
Not just a meal. Not just a benefit application. Not just a housing referral. But someone walking beside an older adult through one of life’s most difficult chapters.
Today, Larry knows he isn’t facing those challenges alone.
“I can’t believe all that Southern Maine Agency on Aging is doing for me,” he says. “Melissa has helped me tremendously. I feel like I know when I need help, they’ll be there for me.”
Right now, more older adults across southern Maine are facing challenges much like Larry’s. Some are skipping meals because cooking has become too difficult. Some are struggling to remain independent in the homes and communities they love. Some simply don’t know where to turn.
Your gift delivers care that keeps older adults safe, supported, and connected in the homes and communities they love.
With your support, we can reach the next older adult before a simple struggle becomes a crisis – and replace hunger with nourishment, uncertainty with stability, and isolation with connection.
P.S. Larry spent 46 years taking care of others. Today, thanks to caring supporters like you, someone is looking out for him. Your gift ensures another older adult receives the nourishment, support, and connection they need to remain safe and independent at home. Give today at smaaa.org.
