She’s raising money to fix her roof.
A senior on a fixed income and her ailing husband are asking for support to help pay for a new roof.
Marie Hallam, 76, has lived in Willow River with her husband, Rick, 78, since 1968. When their roof began leaking, she did the right thing — she reached out for help.
The Prince George Council of Seniors has a Seniors Emergency Pilot Program fund, held in trust by the Prince George Community Foundation.
The emergency fund was made possible thanks to the herculean fundraising efforts of Ted Price and Anne Laughlin of Miracle Theatre, who ended their triumphant spring campaign with $209,000 raised for an endowment.
Funding is available to seniors in need, with a ceiling of $3,000 — but the Hallams’ roof will cost about $5,500, leaving a gap Marie is hoping the community can help fill.
“The roof needed replacing a few years ago, and if we don’t do something now, the inside of our house is going to be in peril,” said Marie, who is especially concerned about mould.
The Hallams bought their home — which sits on an acre of land — in 1968 for $1,800.
“That was back in the day,” Marie laughed.
Rick worked for a metalworks company until he became ill. He was eventually diagnosed with a hereditary kidney disease that had gone undetected until his kidneys began to fail. He had to stop working in his 40s. He received a kidney transplant 34 years ago and did well, Marie said, but the anti-rejection medication damaged his pancreas, resulting in a diabetes diagnosis and ongoing health complications.
Marie worked for years on the Perry farm caring for cattle.
“I was always an active person,” she said.
She later started her own cleaning business, which she ran for 12 years. During that time, she frequently gave back to her community.
“I would do a lot of housecleaning for free. I’d take people to their appointments, make them meals, and pick up groceries and medications,” she said.
Looking to expand her volunteer work, Marie recently visited the Seniors Resource Centre — run by the Prince George Council of Seniors — to offer her help.
It was there that she shared her concerns about the roof and was quickly informed of the emergency funding available to seniors in need.
“Up until now, Rick and I have been living here in Willow River and we’re quite comfortable. We love the area, and we would love to live in our home for the next 15 to 20 years,” Marie said.
So far, Marie and Rick have raised about $1,200 through donations from friends and family, but they still need more to pay for the roof and to cover any unseen damage once the old tin is removed.
“I’m worried about the roof around the chimney,” Marie said. “I think we’ll find some damage there.”
Asking for help has not come easily for the couple.
“For Rick, especially, it’s hard. We’re used to being the ones giving — not getting,” said Marie. “This is something I’ve never had to do, and it’s just heartbreaking that I have to put my hand out now and ask people for help.”
“You don’t know how much this means to us. We’d like to thank the Council of Seniors, and a special thanks to everyone who has donated so far — and to those who will. It means the world to us. I would love to meet each and every one of them and shake their hand. I know that’s not possible, but if I ever get beyond this, I would love to help somebody else.”
Marie was encouraged by Council of Seniors staff to start a GoFundMe page in hopes of reaching her goal.
“I’m not very good at doing the GoFundMe page,” she admitted. “I know I should be sharing it more, but I don’t know where to start.”
But The Citizen does.
To make a donation, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/seniors-in-desperate-of-new-roof
