St. Mary Development needs basic care items for seniors

Each week, Meredith Moss profiles a non-profit organization in our community in need of specific donations. Meredith and her weekly column have recently received the first “Friend of Philanthropy Award” from The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Greater Dayton.

If your group has a wish list it would like to share with our readers, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com

There are many elderly folks in the Miami Valley who find every day a struggle. They wake and immediately begin to wonder: “How will I eat today?” “Can I afford to pay my rent?” “Where can I go and how will I pay for the medical care I need?”

Since 1993, St. Mary Development Corporation has sponsored, developed or co-developed 54 housing communities comprising 3,553 units of housing in eight states for low-income seniors and working families. Locally, St. Mary’s seven senior apartment centers include: Grand Place, Hoover Place, Huffman Place, Lofts at Hoover, Lyons Place I, Twin Towers Place II and Wright Place.

The “typical” resident of a St. Mary property is 75 years old and earning less than $15,000 a year. More than 25 percent of the residents bring home under $10,000 annually. Ten percent are frail or at-risk and nine out of every 10 residents lives alone. The non-profit organization is working toward the day when all residents — especially the elderly and economically disadvantaged — have a decent, affordable place to live and become part of the community.

Over the years, St. Mary has cultivated many partnerships with local governments and public and private agencies to foster growth and advance its mission. As a result, low-income seniors in Southwest Ohio are able to reside in safe, attractive and affordable independent housing. But even though they live independently, many seniors need some assistance and the basic necessities to help ensure housing sustainability.

“More and more, people are coming to St. Mary directly from homeless shelters looking for a new lease on life,” says Tim Bete, president of St. Mary Development Corporation. “Most show up possessing only the clothes on their backs. It is extremely difficult for these seniors to afford basic necessities.”

When we’ve written about this organization in the past, our readers hearts have been touched. It was the folks at St. Mary’s that first told us that some seniors are even reduced to washing out and reusing disposable briefs because they can’t afford to purchase fresh ones.

“The Dayton Daily News’ Make A Difference column truly does make a huge difference in the lives of our seniors, with donations coming in for just about everything they need,” Bete said. “What an incredible outpouring of support!”

Here are their immediate needs:

Donations can be delivered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday to St. Mary Development Corp., 2160 E. Fifth St., Dayton.

For more information, contact Lynn Coleman, Director of Resident Services, at (937) 277-8149, ext. 213, or lcoleman@smdcd.org.