Meet George

George, who is now 83, underwent a life-changing event recently, Hurricane Katrina. He was evacuated by helicopter from his flooding apartment in Louisiana and taken to the Astrodome in Houston, TX.  There he waited for hours in the masses with only his one sack of belongings.  He shared with a volunteer, “I just want to live a little longer.”
            Living is what George has always done, helping those around him, giving up his own bed so another would not go without, and refusing to stay in a Nursing Home, stating, “everyone is too old.”  
            In another life-changing move, George moved into the Red Bird Mission Elderly Apartments.  Now he is active in the Red Bird community, has a safe home, good friends, assistance with transportation for shopping and doctors appointments, and services from the De Wall Senior Center for cleaning and meals.  He even participated this year in Regional Senior Olympics!  
            He stays active 6 days a week as he attends a local United Methodist Church on Sundays.  He also walks about ½ mile several days a week from the apartments to the Mission campus to visit friends and shop at the Red Bird Mission Community Store for clothing and household items. 
            George says, “For the first time since Katrina, things are going good.  I am standing up now on my own.