Some Sun Citians are in need; others can help

Tom DeVries

Submitted photo/Tom DeVries

OPINION — How can more than 4,200 Sun City residents be living below the poverty level? That’s $15,960 per year for a single person and $21,640/yr for a couple.

The causes are familiar: unforeseen medical bills, retirement income that loses purchasing power to inflation (an annuity pension is halved in value in 25 years), and the sudden loss of a spouse’s pension or Social Security benefit.

One of the common scenarios we see at Sun City Community Assistance Network — Sun City CAN — is a couple who retired on two Social Security checks and a pension check. When a spouse passes away, the household often loses the pension and one Social Security payment, leaving the surviving spouse financially vulnerable without enough income to live on.

Sun City CAN directs all of its resources to helping the 4,200-plus residents in need.

Residents can support this work by volunteering a few hours a month, joining our board or by making a financial contribution at suncitycan.org or by calling our office at 623‑933‑7530.

Tom DeVries is president of Sun City CAN Board of Directors. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to azopinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.