Serving Our Seniors Magazine: April - June 2024

Fresh Hope is a Christian, peer-to-peer support group for people who are grappling with unhealthy feelings and have a diagnosis. It’s also for their loved-ones. Barry Gill and his wife Karen, facilitate the new group. Barry is no longer ashamed that he is living with a condition that causes him to feel low and then have days when he is feeling energetic to frantic. He accepted his condition and the treatment to feel healthy, again. Karen knew, since her childhood, she was experiencing feelings that “weren’t right,” but didn’t know what to do about it. A year after her husband was successfully treated, she sought help. Like Barry, she is unashamed. That is how it should be. Facilitating Fresh Hope is one of the things Barry and Karen do to stay well, using their lived experience to help others. It is also a place where a kinship has developed among members. Barry said, “It’s not where you find your support – whether it is faith-based or secular – just find support. This group happens to be based on Christian principles. That is what led us to the Fresh Hope program.” I asked, “What happens that makes going to Fresh Hope (or any other group) helpful?” They said, “It’s community, it’s fellowship. What is discussed is not just about mental health. Sometimes we talk about things that may not Fresh Hope for The Way You Are Feeling The Erie County Health Department has HEALTHY HOMES grant funds to remediate housing- related health and safety hazards in privately owned, low income rental and/or owner occupied housing in which older adults 62 years and older reside in Erie County. Serving Our Seniors is assisting the Erie County Health Department with supplemental funding from the Ohio Department on Aging for identified projects that exceed $10,000.00. Call Jeff Hayes, Healthy Homes Supervisor for more information about how the HEALTHY HOMES Program work 419-626-5623 ext 5162. Or, call Serving Our Seniors to assist you in reaching Jeff Hayes via a 3-way phone call. have anything to do with mental health. Some people come and just listen.” Deb and Karen #2 are both widowed and attend Fresh Hope. Deb explained, “After a while, people kind of drift away. I was feeling isolated.” Karen reached out to Deb and they are both active participants in Fresh Hope. It is helpful for coping with their grief, sadness and loss. “We help each other.” Barry wants readers to know that the Fresh Hope program emphasizes the difference between just surviving and thriving. “By accepting who you are, taking the support of those around you and using your gifts/ abilities, you can learn how to thrive.” Pastor Erin Porter said, “Some older people can feel like life is over, because of a lack of purpose. We have to choose, ‘Am I just going to accept feeling this way or say, there can be hope for me, too. I can live well.’ ” Fresh Hope wants to be one of the places to help move people from feeling isolated/unsettled to discovering the steps to take to live and thrive. Fresh Hope meets at Christ Community Church, 2401 Columbus Ave. – Sandusky. 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, 6:30pm – 8pm. For more information call 419-625-7663 or go to www.freshhope.us. L-R Deb, Karen, Barry Gill, Paster Erin, Karen Gill Money To Fix Your Home 15