Pasadena Citizen - News
Giveaway overwhelms family
By YVETTE OROZCO
To her co-workers, Eleta McElroy keeps her self to herself.
The Pasadena High School math aide works hard everyday, stays late, helps everyone else and keeps her own needs quite.
“I’ve know her for a couple of years and she is just a very good lady and very private,” said Kerri Kirkpatrck, a math teacher at PHS.
Having suffered a major hit after Hurricane Ike and a recent kitchen fire, McElroy’s house has been in a state of disrepair since, with extensive water damage, a dilapidated roof and damaged furniture dominating the main living room space.
McElroy and her husband, a veteran who works at the Veterans Administration, have continued to work, but the conditions of their home have created a major disruption in their lives, adding to their own health issues.
Not that anyone would have known.
“Eleta is a very private person,” said Kirkpatrick, who said she had a clue that the family was struggling, but not the extent.
Last week, the McElroys were part of Gallery Furniture’s Giveaway, which donates a set of furniture to residents facing personal issues or financial obstacles.
Eleta was in the hospital the day the Gallery Furniture delivery truck arrived at her home, but her husband, who has diabetes, was at a loss for words.
“I think he was overwhelmed by all of this,” said Georgia Ann Spears, the Gallery Furniture events coordinator who presents the designated recipients with their new furniture.
On hand were a group of students from Pasadena High School and the two teachers who nominated McElroy, Kirkpatrick and Sandra Ramirez, another teacher.
Ramirez was also overwhelmed at the condition of the home.
“I didn’t realize how much they needed help,” she said.
It was just a simple of helping out a co-worker, said Kirkpatrick, and one who always looks out for everyone else.
“She always puts everyone else first,” said Ramirez.
In the midst of the disarray at home, McElroy kept working, kept helping out everyone else and remained a strong influence in class, to both the faculty and students.
“Whenever we have a problem or whenever someone needed a quick pep talk, she was willing to help us out,” said Kirkpatrick. “She’s pretty much the mother of all of us.”
Kirkpatrick and Ramirez hope the new furniture will mark a new chapter.
“I’m glad she’s going to have this opportunity and I wish her the best,” said Kirkpatrick.
The Pasadena High School math aide works hard everyday, stays late, helps everyone else and keeps her own needs quite.
“I’ve know her for a couple of years and she is just a very good lady and very private,” said Kerri Kirkpatrck, a math teacher at PHS.
Having suffered a major hit after Hurricane Ike and a recent kitchen fire, McElroy’s house has been in a state of disrepair since, with extensive water damage, a dilapidated roof and damaged furniture dominating the main living room space.
McElroy and her husband, a veteran who works at the Veterans Administration, have continued to work, but the conditions of their home have created a major disruption in their lives, adding to their own health issues.
Not that anyone would have known.
“Eleta is a very private person,” said Kirkpatrick, who said she had a clue that the family was struggling, but not the extent.
Last week, the McElroys were part of Gallery Furniture’s Giveaway, which donates a set of furniture to residents facing personal issues or financial obstacles.
Eleta was in the hospital the day the Gallery Furniture delivery truck arrived at her home, but her husband, who has diabetes, was at a loss for words.
“I think he was overwhelmed by all of this,” said Georgia Ann Spears, the Gallery Furniture events coordinator who presents the designated recipients with their new furniture.
On hand were a group of students from Pasadena High School and the two teachers who nominated McElroy, Kirkpatrick and Sandra Ramirez, another teacher.
Ramirez was also overwhelmed at the condition of the home.
“I didn’t realize how much they needed help,” she said.
It was just a simple of helping out a co-worker, said Kirkpatrick, and one who always looks out for everyone else.
“She always puts everyone else first,” said Ramirez.
In the midst of the disarray at home, McElroy kept working, kept helping out everyone else and remained a strong influence in class, to both the faculty and students.
“Whenever we have a problem or whenever someone needed a quick pep talk, she was willing to help us out,” said Kirkpatrick. “She’s pretty much the mother of all of us.”
Kirkpatrick and Ramirez hope the new furniture will mark a new chapter.
“I’m glad she’s going to have this opportunity and I wish her the best,” said Kirkpatrick.
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