According to the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, nearly 10% of adults aged 65 years and older live in households at or below 100 percent of the poverty threshold.
I would like to put a face on that number:
Even though Vira faced unimaginable challenges, born into abject poverty in 1929 New York City, becoming deaf from spinal meningitis at age 7, abandoned by her father, abandoned by her hearing serviceman husband – leaving her to raise 4 children alone without any financial support, she PERSISTED.
Though Vira did attend Gallaudet on scholarship, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in 1950, her decades-long career with the Federal government, including her stint as an Entomologist at the Smithsonian of Natural History in D.C., Vira never rose above the grade-pay scale of 9, ensuring a lifetime of eking out a month – to – month survival. After 25 years of government service, her retirement and social security are below $1300/month, barely above the annual poverty rate of $12,060; always, always, just enough to disqualify her from receiving any safety nets she may otherwise benefit from. This overt misogyny of our past politics has put Vira, and dare say millions of other women of that generation, into an assured spiral of living their last years, months, and days in dire poverty.
And still, she PERSISTS.
But not for much longer.
Vira Zuk Milbank has recently been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. A devastating diagnosis for anyone; for Vira, and for countless other women like her, it is the indignity of the daily struggle to financially thrive that consumes her last months.
Dying with dignity certainly has a nice ring to it; who doesn’t hope that their last months and/or days will be a time devoid of stress, devoid of monetary worry? Who doesn’t hope to be comforted knowing you will not be evicted from your home…from the home you so desperately want to die in…while your body is actively wasting away? Who doesn’t hope that in the process of dying that the world around them is one of security and compassion? For Vira, and for the millions of invisible women who live, and die, in poverty every day, this hope eludes them in death as it certainly did in life.
In her entire life, Vira has never received any governmental or other supports. She has lived within her means, has perfected the art of living in poverty, and has done the best she could with what life (and crappy policies) have dealt her. Her diagnosis has come with additional out-of-pocket costs that leaves no available money for basic living needs. As of today, May 26, 2017, Vira is one week from possible eviction. Having exhausted all governmental and NGO possibilities, having spent all savings, having sold everything of any bit of value, and having run out of options, I am humbling asking you, dear reader, for any donation to help Vira remain in her home.
From every fiber of my being: thank you.
www.gofundme.com/…
For more information, please see my other diary: www.dailykos.com/...
**Update: I am simply overwhelmed with warm-fuzzies; I so appreciate the support.
In response to inquiries for anyone who may not use credit cards but would like to contribute, here is an address that mail can be sent to:
Vira Milbank 19690 SW Jaylee St. Aloha, OR 97078
Two words, small in content, ginormous in intent...wrapped in deep appreciation: thank you.