PICAYUNE — Living Independence for Everyone of Mississippi (LIFE) has successfully completed project Pearl River Independence through a $34,110.32 grant from Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation (LPRVF) and $8,823.25 from LIFE through in kind donations. Pearl River Independence was a project where five Pearl River County residents received home modifications to make them handicap accessible. LIFE, a 501C3 nonprofit, which operates from Title 7 part C funds, has helped over 35,000 individuals with disabilities statewide. It is the only entity of its kind in the state. LPRVF CEO, Ted Alexander, said, “We were happy to approve the grant to LIFE. Their proposal met with our mission statement which reads, ‘Our commitment as a philanthropic entity serving this region is to improve the physical, mental, spiritual, and social health of the people we serve.’ Their proposal encompassed all of theses things. Part of what we do is act as catalyst to this community; we see a need and partner with a group to take it on. We feel our responsibility, as a private foundation, is to assist in improving the quality of life for the people we serve through various grants approved by our board.” LIFE Representative, Josh Friedel, said, “With the help of this grant from the LPRVF, we basically stepped in to stop the process of five individuals going into the next level of care which could have meant them leaving their homes for care in skilled nursing facilities. LIFE Executive Director, Christy Dunaway, said, “The purpose of our organization is to empower people with disabilities to be as fully involved in their communities as they can and want to be. Anytime that a person is placed in a nursing home in the state of Miss. according to Miss. division of Medicaid, the avg. cost of a one year stay is $62,000. We have basically saved the state $300,000 by spending a little bit of money to make these homes more accessible.” “Our whole point is that people with disabilities have a lot to contribute through volunteerism and community activism. The leading cause of entering a nursing home is a lack of mobility. Look at all that the community would lose if someone like Mrs. Jackson were not able to stay in her home,” she continued, referring to this week’s Picayune Item Super Senior. Mollie Jackson had her bathroom renovated and tub replaced with a walk-in shower through the project. She said, “Before the modifications, I couldn’t lift my leg to get over the tub and I was losing my balance. Now, I can walk right in and I am so pleased. All of my life I have tried to help other people and I am thankful to say that this has helped me tremendously. God always comes through. He may not come when you want but when he does it is right on time.” Another applicant who received a home modification is Geraldine Kelly. She received two ramps which are wheelchair accessible so she can come and go from her home without assistance. Applicants are chosen from applications received through field offices. Friedel, who works in the Jackson office, said, “LIFE has 6 offices throughout the state geographically located from Tupelo to Biloxi. Pearl River County is served by the Biloxi office. All offices are directed by people with severe disabilities through consumer boards and staff and is focused on noninstitutional settings. “Eighty percent of the staff in my office, has some sort of disability. The level of disabilities vary and range from blindness to amputees. We are here to serve and we serve all disabilities.” For more information on LIFE of Miss. see www.lifeofms.org. For more information on Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation email LPRVF@ bellsouth.net.
Lifestyles
Related Photos
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Shutterbug Geraldine Kelly enjoys her new ramps which allows her the freedom her disability once prevented. She can now leave and enter her house without assistance. Submitted photo
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