draw attention to the fact that the elderly are being forgotten. “They are in assistance apartments and only get a minimum amount of money from their Social Security check to be able to buy the food and other stuff that we all need,” she said. “I try to take them bars of soap and toilet paper and whatever I am able to! At times I’m out in my truck passing out fresh fruit and vegetables to them and many people who have lost their homes. I wonder if our politicians realize that out seniors are only being approved for under $20 monthly in food stamp assistance. These people worked all of their lives and they are in need of a helping hand and no one seems to ever notice that they are basically being overlooked. They are old, alone and hungry.” Arndt encourages anyone who is interested in helping her cause or growing a garden of their own to reach out to her at ourgivinghandsgarden2009@ yahoo.com. Photos provided O’Fallon’s Debbra Arndt and her Our Giving Hands Garden has grown and given away vegetables for the low income elderly and the homeless veterans in the area for over 25 years.
JUNE 2020 | CROSSROADS | 11
