After setting a target goal to reach 100 seniors on their Christmas Wish List, the Phenomenal Women’s Association will launch an ‘Adopt-A-Senior Campaign’ to run throughout the year.Organiser Kristy Burgess, also known as ‘Miss Thang’ said the first campaign for seniors marked an experience the group will never forget.After hearing firsthand accounts of desperate situations faced by the elderly she said the needs expressed were so extensive the group has decided to focus solely on the needs of senior citizens this year.“We have been privy to conditions and situations that are simply heart wrenching, everyone has their individual story and so many are so desperately lonely, the average person really doesn’t have a clue how bad it is.“We reached close to 70 seniors in residential and private homes and most asked for vouchers to help buy groceries, or money to pay utility bills or to buy medication. Only a handful requested hampers or small care packages,” she said.Despite the current economic climate donations were also “quite generous”. “There were several donations for as little as $10, which we saw as a true testament that every little bit helps.“We still have many seniors requesting vouchers for medication and fortunately with the donations still coming in we were able to deliver a few more gift cards for medication last week.“One lady was so excited because $300 out of her monthly pension cheque for $700 goes on medication every month. That leaves her with a bare minimum of $400 to live on for the rest of the month,” said Ms Burgess.“One senior in a residential home in Southampton told how grateful she was for the group’s support over the past six years.“We also visited seniors who live with family members who are also unemployed or on drastically reduced work schedules who are struggling with constant choices between buying groceries to feed the family or medication for their mom or dad.“Our new awareness prompted us to decide to implement the new programme because of the desperate need.”Another resident who lives in the Dr Cann Park Development for Seniors said the assistance she received for the first time came “right on time”.Veronica Crippen, 69, has worked in the hospitality division for the past nine years, has been on a lay-off schedule since October.Like many others she said “working three or four days a week barely covers her insurance premiums and leaves nothing but a few dollars to spare after that”.“I gave away my turkey and ham to others in need last Christmas, so I figured the blessing was being returned to me this year.“I just finished buying medication that cost $800 when my doctor changed my prescription. It’s not like I can take the pills back for a refund, so the voucher they gave me for medication helped me out quite a bit.“I know for a fact there’s a lot of seniors living in this development who are struggling like crazy with the cost of living just to make ends meet,” said Ms Crippen.“I know seniors who are skipping doctor’s appointments because they cannot afford to pay after they pay rent and buy food to eat and I think it’s just shameful .“Our seniors are the ones who sacrificed for people to have what they have today. I just went shopping the other day and I had to price every item because I could not afford to go over a set budget.“And to eat healthy costs even more money, she said. “I never thought I would see the day when a loaf of bread would cost nearly $6, it breaks my heart to see what food costs these days.”She also called on the new Government to implement price fixing orders on staple foods like bread, eggs, butter and milk.Said Ms Crippen: “That would be a great blessing because everybody needs to eat whether or not they go to work.“Your money doesn’t’ go anywhere these days, the cost of living is just too hight. If anything it goes into your account to breathe for a minute and in the next minute, it’s gone.“I’m praying things get better but I think this year will be worse than the last with so many people out of work. But I want to thank the Phenomenal Women’s Association for helping me at a time when I needed it most.”Meanwhile, donations are still being made to the group’s HSBC charity account to assist seniors.Cheques and vouchers for specific goods may also be mailed to PO Box HM 2061, Hamilton HM HX.Ms Burgess extended a warm thank you all the businesses and individuals who donated to their cause at Christmas and to the new campaign being launched this year.“Circling around the island to assist our seniors proved to be a real eye-opening experience,” she said.“We will be making the last Christmas deliveries up to the end of January and then focus on providing help to our seniors for the rest of the year.For more information e-mail phenomenal-lady@hotmail.com.