Cona Elder Law helps Riverhead senior beat the heat with new fridge
Cona Elder Law and its charitable foundation Senior Dreams recently granted the wish of Louise Kurkowski, a 70-year-old Riverhead resident and longtime community volunteer, providing her with a new refrigerator after her previous appliance stopped working and left her without a way to safely store food for several months.
“The new refrigerator has been a life saver. It’s been very difficult to cook every day,” she said. “And I look forward to having meat again.”
When her refrigerator stopped working at the end of April, Kurkowski lost all of the food inside, including frozen meals she had prepared in advance. Because of physical limitations that make it difficult for her to stand for long periods of time, Kurkowski typically cooked several days’ worth of meals at once and froze them, so she only had to cook one day a week. Without a working refrigerator, that routine was no longer possible.
Kurkowski, who relies on the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food and heating support, has spent much of her life working in service to others. Her career included roles in a nursing home and assisted living facility; as an assistant teacher and bus driver at a head start center; as a kitchen manager at a senior center; as director of the chore and minor home repair program through Action Council EOC; and as an overnight supervisor at an intermediate care facility for adults with developmental disabilities.
Despite her own financial challenges, Kurkowski said helping others keeps her grounded and grateful. But after a difficult stretch marked by grief, loss and a series of unexpected expenses, including car repairs, new tires, a broken kitchen faucet and then the loss of her refrigerator, she found herself overwhelmed.
“For seniors living on a fixed income, the loss of something as essential as a refrigerator can quickly become a crisis,” said Jennifer Cona, founder and managing partner at Cona Elder Law. “Louise has spent her life helping others, and she continues to give back even while facing her own challenges. Senior Dreams was honored to step in and make sure she had this basic necessity restored.”
If you know an older adult who might qualify or benefit from the program, please visit conaelderlaw.com/about/senior-dreams/ to submit a wish or to donate. Wishes are granted on a revolving basis throughout the year.
