WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES FEBRUARY 23, 2017 3 Elderly Midville woman without home seeks support “I never have felt sorry for myself,” Gromwaldt said. “If I had enough for bills and food, I was grateful. If I didn’t have enough, I didn’t complain, I just kept going.” Several members of the church have allowed Gromwaldt to stay with them in their homes and the CUMC allowed her to stay in hostels and even at the church some nights. There were times when she wasn’t so lucky. Gromwaldt spent nearly six months riding subway trains while she didn’t have a home. She would ride the trains during the day to keep warm and return to her comforter and bedding near the church at night to sleep. “I felt like I was safe and closer to God when I slept near the church,” Gromwaldt said. “I always tried to be ‘home’ by 6 p.m. I saw what I was doing as camping out. I knew that God would protect me.” As part of their main ministry for 2017, CUMC wants to do more to help the homeless population of the city. To do this, the church has partnered up with Crystal Wolfe, founder of the nonprofi t organization Catering for the Homeless, which delivers left over food from catered events across the city to homeless shelters and churches. Aft er Wolfe delivered a sermon at the church earlier this year, she met with Gromwaldt, who told Wolfe of her story. Since that time Wolfe, and the church, have been doing everything to help Gromwaldt fi nd permanent housing. “Community Board 5 where I have been speaking up and out for the homeless since October of 2016, has been incredibly wonderful in regards to their support. They emailed me some information about crowdfunding fundraising and something clicked in my mind,” Wolfe said. “The church and I are determined to do whatever we can to help get Geri’s life back.” Through her Catering for the Homeless organization Wolfe has set up a YouCaring.com page to help raise funds to get Gromwaldt back on her feet. As of the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 22, 52 donors have raised $2,867 of the $7,000 goal. According to the donation page, with the money, they want to get Gromwaldt a s tudio or one-bedroom apartment in her home of Middle Village, be able to pay fi rst month’s rent and a deposit — preferably three to six months’ rent so she can bolster her savings — and furniture for her new apartment. “I have the utmost love and compassion When interest rates go up, feel free to sit back and relax. 3-Year Variable Rate CD 1.49% Currently Follows the 3-Year US Treasury Bill and updates every month BY ANTHONY GIUDICE AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM @A_GIUDICEREPORT When someone from their neighborhood falls on hard times, Middle Villagers come together to lift them up, and one homeless resident is benefi ting from the kindness of her neighbors. Geraldine Gromwaldt is a 63-yearold woman from Middle Village who has been homeless for two and a half years. She previously lived with her partner George, but he died very suddenly — only four days after being diagnosed with cancer — leaving Gromwaldt without the money necessary to pay the bills on her own, even though she has several cleaning jobs and receives limited social security funds. Seven months aft er her partner died, she was evicted from her apartment. Gromwaldt then reached out to the Community United Methodist Church (CUMC) of Middle Village for assistance. The church members immediately found her a shelter in Brooklyn. But due to fear of the intense screening process and testing, Gromwaldt did not complete the process and could not stay at the shelter. Cannot go below APY* *Annual Percentage Yield. Minimum deposit is $500. APY is subject to change and cannot go below 1.02% or exceed 2.31% over the term of the CD. The rate varies based on the 3-year Treasury Bill (via www.treasury.gov). Fees charged on some accounts may reduce your earnings. Early withdrawal penalties apply on CD accounts. Terms are subject to change without notice. Rates and APYs displayed are as of February 1, 2017. No additional deposits may occur during the term of the CD. 10-day grace period at maturity. CD renews into a 3-year variable CD at the then current rate; if product is discontinued it will renew into a 3-year fixed rate CD. 1.02% APY* Can go as high as 2.31% APY* Yielding Visit us online at ridgewoodbank.com, in our branch or call (877) 417-6547 for further details. for the homeless and I know it is not their fault and I believe that everyone deserves a safe and stable home; men, women, children, addicts, veterans, the poor, the elderly, everyone,” Wolfe said. If you want to make a donation to help Gromwaldt, visit her YouCaring page at www.youcaring.com/ geraldinegromwaldt-758260. Geraldine Gromwaldt Photo courtesy of Crystal Wolfe
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