On break from mission work in Central America, Julia and her husband were taking a two-week vacation in Oklahoma. While here, Julia became ill and required surgery. She spent more than two months in and out of hospitals in Oklahoma City.

While she was recovering, Julia’s husband returned to Central America taking all their belongings and leaving no forwarding information. Julia found herself completely alone in an unfamiliar place.  She needed time to heal, a place to stay, basic personal items, and a support network.

Julia was terrified when she was told by the hospital staff that they were taking her to Sunbeam Family Services Senior Emergency Shelter. She prided herself on being self-sufficient and the idea of living in a shelter was “scary.” Julia’s experience at Sunbeam was “grand”, just the opposite of her expectations. She stayed about a month while the Sunbeam staff helped her get new identification and Social Security cards, bus passes, an apartment in a retirement community, and clothing and furnishings for her new residence.

One year later, Julia is an active member of the community. She is a volunteer in Sunbeam’s Senior Companion Program where she helps other seniors as they transition out of the shelter. New friends at her church and at Sunbeam have helped her to fully furnish not only her own apartment, but several others for elderly citizens who have found themselves in dire circumstances.

The Sunbeam Senior Emergency Shelter provides temporary, emergency housing to the elderly who have been neglected, abused, or ill. One of only a handful like it in the United States, it serves as a vital place of respite for about 90 senior citizens like Julia each year.