Tuesday, December 14, 1999
Stairs, dryer would ease mother's load
Esther Schirmer of Bethel hopes to replace these basement steps.
(Glenn Hartong photo)
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Seventy-year-old Esther Schirmer is the caregiver for two of her grown offspring: her 38-year-old daughter, Lorra, who is legally blind; and a 46-year-old Terry, who is mentally handicapped.
The Clermont County woman also volunteers in the choir at Bethel Friendship Center. Her volunteer efforts include going to nursing homes and singing to residents.
“Well, I think it's important to help anybody,” said Ms. Schirmer of Bethel. “I don't care who it is. If you can help, help them.”
Now, Ms. Schirmer needs someone to help her.
Her house of 28 years is in need of new basement steps and a dryer. It's difficult for her and her daughter to go to the basement and do laundry because the steps are pulling away from the wall, there are no hand rails and no rubber safety treads on the wooden stairs.
She also is in dire need of a dryer. It would make doing laundry a lot easier and faster for Mrs. Schirmer and her daughter.
A dryer and new steps would cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Her small Social Security check doesn't allow for major repairs or purchases.
“(To have) the steps, it would be wonderful. I need them worse than I do anything. You have to watch every step,” said Ms. Schirmer, who suffers from allergies and epileptic seizures. “Of course, I'd like to have a dryer. (But) The steps have to be fixed. It's a safety hazard. It's hard to get up and get down.”
— Earnest Winston
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