Disabled Merced artist gets helping hand

Elizabeth Brown is grateful for the Salvation Army this year.

The 55-year-old Merced woman received help from the Salvation Army’s “A Helping Hand at Christmas” program to pay an overdue PG&E bill.

For a time, the disabled artist’s care provider did not pay her bills in timely fashion, prompting her call for help after she received a 15-day notice from the utility.

Elaine Gale, coordinator of the Helping Hand program now in its 28th year, said $11,000 in donations have been collected so far this holiday season. The Helping Hand program, co-sponsored by the Merced Sun-Star, has a $55,000 fundraising goal. More than $1.2 million has been collected since the program began.

Gale said she will be interviewing people through Dec. 19 for the Helping Hand program, which provides financial assistance with rental and utility payments, car repairs and other critical needs.

“People are just struggling,” Gale said. “Some have lost jobs and can’t find anything else. There are accidents, sickness, people get laid off or got their hours cut, all sorts of sad situations.”

Brown said the Salvation Army’s help with her PG&E bill was a beautiful blessing.

“I couldn’t believe it; it was so wonderful,” Brown said. “I panicked at the end of the month. Now I know it was nobody but God.”

Brown said she is dyslexic, has attention deficit disorder, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. She also has had three surgeries on her feet, two of them this year, and uses a powered wheelchair.

A native of West Memphis, Ark., Brown moved to Oakland in 1979 and to Merced 10 years ago. She said California and Merced were a world of unknowns at first but now represent a land of opportunity.

Brown has taken a number of classes at Merritt and Laney colleges in Oakland and Merced College, concentrating on art and drama. She lacks only a few credits to graduate from college.

Lorraine Nelson of Merced, a quilting enthusiast and instructor, taught quilting arts at Merced College four years ago and became acquainted with Brown.

Nelson said Brown is very creative and has a free color sense and experimental nature exemplified by bright colors in her quilt tops.

Brown’s interests include quilting, pottery-making, embroidery, drawing, writing short stories and poetry – and continuing to learn. Other college classes may be in her future.

She has crafted about a dozen quilt tops, many of which became gifts for her nine brothers and sisters. Her home has a number of pottery pieces, including plates with unique designs and large pots that can be used for cooking.

Brown also is enthusiastic about her involvement with the House of Refuge Church and Pastor James Myrtue. She has started Bible study classes at the church.

If you would like to support this holiday assistance program, donations may be made payable to “A Helping Hand at Christmas” at 23 W. Alexander Ave., PMB 68, Merced, CA 95348.

Donors have the option of having a message of up to 10 words printed in the Merced Sun-Star or they can remain anonymous.

The Merced Salvation Army administers all funds received.

This story was originally published December 14, 2014 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Disabled Merced artist gets helping hand."