Dear Friends,

Grace & Peace to you.

I come to you once again as many of you were so generous to Mary back in December 2024.

I come to you to share Mary’s story again with you who remember her and for anyone new meeting Mary for the first time.

I also share below new pictures I shared with many of you by email - a picture of the funds you all gave and Mary receiving your gifts on Christmas Eve 2024! How beautiful.

I will never forget that night when I gave her gift from all of you - and to see how deeply touched she was to receive this incredible gift from people she didn’t even know, but who showed love toward her - that night Mary said, “Tell each one, You saved my life.” Thank you.

I would like you to meet my friend Mary. I pray her story will touch your heart and inspire you to pray for her needs. And, if you are able and feel called by Our Lord to contribute money and/or other forms of support, we would be so incredibly grateful. No amount is too small - every bit of your generous heart matters! As we give thanks to God and place her needs in his hands, he has a way to multiply it!

Mary has a beautiful spirit, she has a wonderful sense of humor and she is one determined and hard working woman who is always helping others and her beloved animals.  Ever since she was a teenager, she goes out every night to different areas in White Plains to feed the stray cats.  

Mary has lived in White Plains her whole life. She was an only child, and both of her parents have long passed away.  Mary has no family to rely on for comfort, for companionship or for help in her time of need.  Mary’s parents were wonderfully loving, and raised her to know she is kind, strong, smart, beautiful and courageous!  

Mary was born with cerebral palsy and her dad and mom took all the great care that they could for her. They fit her legs with braces and brought her to Rye beach when she was little so she could practice walking in the sand to strengthen her legs.

Now at age 73, Mary doesn’t have good balance and she often falls sustaining injury to her head and body. Mary has been in and out of hospital with many health issues over the last few years and the medical bills are pilling up. Mary has struggled especially this winter with the severe weather, it hindered Her from working as she cannot walk in snow and ice; therefore, she lost what little bit of weekly income for food and bills. 

Mary lived in my apartment building for about seven years and was evicted because her rent went up so high, she could no longer afford to pay rent since she is living on a small amount of social security and working a side job running errands, caring for cats, shopping and laundry for a local resident in white plains. She earns very little a week and if she is sick, or if it rains or it is too windy, she cannot walk and so she is not paid.

After Mary was evicted, she came to live with me for about an year and slept on my couch! This was such a blessed experience for both of us to see how God puts all the love in our hearts when we help those in need. A room finally opened up at the YMCA where she lived for three years.  The YMCA has since been torn down and Mary found herself displaced again. She finally found an apartment which has been a blessing, but it also has been difficult for her. The management doesn’t keep the building well and the elevator constantly breaks down. She lives on the fifth floor so she can’t walk up five flights of stairs, and when the elevator goes down, she could be trapped in her apartment for days. There was a taxi driver that helped her for a few years but he has since passed away. We pray for someone to be available to give her rides when she needs - especially in the wind and rain to help her get to work which is just about 1 mile from home but with her disability it is impossible without help. 

The  greatest gift you can give is your prayers for Mary that she would have hope again as things are getting very desperate for her.  The rent continues to go up and she is living on meager means - barely surviving. Her Social Security is minimal and barely covers rent.   Pray that God would open up a living situation for her as she grows older that would be safe and secure for her and where she can have her beloved cats.  Praise & pray she would remember and know even more fully of God’s great love and faithfulness to her in every season.

Mary can’t hear well and her verbal communication is difficult. I have been trying to connect her to resources but the system is extremely difficult to navigate and we have had road blocks everywhere:

Mary desperately needs financial help for medical needs and especially for rent and food- Her rent is $1,500 a month and her Social Security is just about that much - she experiences a great deficit, month after month, year after year.

Mary has been very depressed and she is extremely worried and stressed that she won’t make her rent or be able to survive the days ahead.

Mary does need money to help her in this next year and so my prayer is that we would be able to raise a substantial amount to help alleviate this heavy burden she is carrying and so that she can rest easy at night and especially that she would know that many people love her and care for her and have a heart to help her. Even though you don’t know her personally, our hearts are moved with compassion for the least of these. 

As Jesus said, It is more Blessed to give then to receive. And true religion is to care for the widow and the orphan. 

May you be blessed abundantly as you give to her needs whether in prayer or in monetary help. 

Blessings of God’s peace & love be with you all. 

With gratitude,

Liz