Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/548313
18 OUR YUCAIPA | AUGUST 2015 In 2005 Calimesa senior citizen Joyce Serianni was diagnosed with stage three inoperable cancer. Her co pays for radiation cost her $182 twice a month, putting a huge strain on her modest but carefully managed budget. Then her roof caved in, and the transmission on her car died. Her daughter Cathy Serianni and her husband Andrew Woravka rallied. But they needed help. Cathy Serianni began calling every senior assistance agency in the book, and then she realized — there's really no help out there. "I told my husband right then and there that someday I was going to do something to help other seniors in need," said Serianni. And just a few years later, with her mother now healthy and happy, Serianni did just that. Smiles For Seniors gained its non profit status in 2007, and immediately set out to help seniors in San Bernardino and Riverside counties with basic necessities they desperately needed. Word quickly spread, and now seniors who call the Salvation Army, their local office for adult services and aging, and even, incredibly, the United Way, are routinely referred to Smiles For Seniors. "It's amazing," said Serianni. "The United Way's funding was $52 billion last year, and still our little organization is called upon to help seniors keep their electric on at 5 pm the same day. We are the only organization who can get things done within minutes." "We get a least 30 calls a day from seniors who need food, medication, or help with their rent or utility payments," said Serianni. "We are a small but mighty organization without a lot of red tape." Serianni said needy senior's stories tug at her heart strings, and she or Woravka have been known to jump in the car and drive all the way to Palm Springs within hours to feed a hungry senior. "Our senior citizens are the ones that built this country. People think that they are okay because they have social security, but it's not even close to enough for low income seniors," said Serianni. "The cost of rent, bills, food and especially medication leaves them with nothing for life's emergencies that frequently happen." Smiles For Seniors aims to help local