Helping Hands and County Employees Pay It Forward

“I used to walk, even though I did have a total knee replacement on both knees, I would use my cane or walker to get around and throw my trash out and get my mail, you know, just little things, clean the house and vacuum,” said Rachel Rubio, as county employees volunteering for Helping Hands worked around her to clean and repair her house. “One day I went out to get my mail, and part of my knee came out of the bone, I fell, I went down, and that was pretty much it. I had one more surgery, and the doctor said I couldn’t walk anymore. I also hurt my back and tailbone [during] the fall, and that’s been almost six years ago.”

County employees from Judge Steve Floyd’s office, the elections office, the library, the county clerk’s office, and the sheriff’s office all pitched in on Saturday to help repair and install appliances into Rubio’s home. Helping Hands had house repair projects going on all over town Saturday. Helping Hands is committed to helping those with disabilities causing handicap, and Saturday repairing homes was priority.

Above: Rachel Rubio gets a Helping Hand from county employees Apr. 11. (LIVE! Photo/Amanda Henson)

“I was a professional cook who worked for the SAISD for almost 10 years,” Rubio recalled about her younger years, when she worked to support her family. “During the summers I worked at Baptist Memorial, or Community Hospital until school started up again,” she said.  “Then I worked for Meadowcreek Nursing Home for about twelve years or so, cooking, I loved it,” she said. “Now I have had four or five surgeries on my legs, and I have rheumatoid arthritis, I can’t straighten out my right arm or my legs, so I have to stay in this chair,” she said as she patted the arm of her wheelchair.

 Rubio has been living in the 1200 block of E. 24 ½ for the past 39 years. According to Rubio, a the location has changed over the years, it’s not the same quiet neighborhood it was in 1976.  

“It’s totally different now, because back then we were really safe we didn’t worry. Now there is a lot of break-ins,” said Rubio. “Me and the other people around here, we watch out for each other. My neighbors, Mr. Carter and Mrs. Montez and their families have always been close and take care of each other, we check on each other.”

Mrs. Rubio pointed to a double pane sliding glass door off of the kitchen where a hutch filled with figurines used to rest against it. “I have that there so no one can come in, but they have reinforced it with a lock now,” she said.

Damaged sheetrock on a living room wall behind Rubio had been removed, and volunteers installed a heating/cooling window unit into a back room. The house has no central air and heat. This past winter, Rubio was using the highest setting on her gas stove as a form of heat to keep temperatures in the realm of bearable.

“If there were a fire she would’ve been stuck,” said Sandi Kenney, Administrative Assistant to County Judge Steve Floyd. “We are also moving some things around and organizing inside so that she can access everything in her wheelchair, and get out quickly if need be.”

Volunteers also trimmed overgrown trees in the backyard, installed a washer and dryer, new light fixtures, and even did some painting. A trailer parked across the street was full of tree limbs, lawn clippings, and undesirables from inside the house.

“I still cook, I do my little bit of dishes, a nurse comes by once a week to check on me, and another provider comes by and cleans and helps me with my laundry,” said Rubio of the things she can still do. “I will keep doing as much for myself as I can; I am not ready to leave my house and life to go to a nursing home, I haven’t given up,” she said. “I don’t have insurance on my house anymore, it is too expensive. I get a disability check every month, but I don’t get very much so I have to live on a [small] budget to pay my bills, get groceries. I also have to think about my medications, I take six medications a day. I do have Medicare part D, and just got Medicare since I am going to turn 65.”

During the holidays, she says she usually gets a visit from her kids and grandkids; some of whom live as far away as New York City. None live in San Angelo. “I have three granddaughters and two grandsons,” said Rubio. “I don’t see them all of the time, but they are busy and live far away, I am happy to see them when I can.”

 When asked what she thought of all of the support she was being shown by volunteers of Helping Hands, she said, “I appreciate it. I’m glad they are helping me; I wouldn’t know what to do. My neighbor Mrs. Montez pointed me in the right direction to Helping Hands. If you are in a situation like mine, get in contact with Helping Hands, all of these people are great, I appreciate what they are doing, and they might be able to help you too.”