FORT WORTH - Not far from downtown Fort Worth in a crumbling old house shrouded in overgrowth, misfortune grows like a vine around a mother and daughter trapped by circumstance.
Louree, 76, is confined to a wheelchair. Her daughter Melinda struggles against mental and physical limits. WFAA agreed not to use their last names.
Melinda says she takes care of both herself and her mother. She apologized for the state of their home, and admitted she has little contact with other people. So, when their window air conditioner broke this week, no one knew of their suffering except for a volunteer with Meals on Wheels.
Many days, it's the only person they see.
"You know that old song 'You and me against the world?'" she said. "That's how we feel sometimes."
Fortunately, Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County also delivers new air conditioners sometimes along with food. In this case, the mother and daughter were given a brand new window unit. Fort Worth fire fighter Craig MacDonald gave up his day off to install it.
Melinda stood in the tiny, cluttered living room sweating as he gave a hand.
"I can't believe that someone would actually do this," she said. "Why would somebody on their day off do this? Oh, this is awesome."
The women are afraid to open the windows because of crime. The world stays out, but misery stays in.
"This is really the forgotten part of the community," said Denise Harris, with Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County. "You're not going to see them out there picketing or advocating for themselves that they need assistance. They're the ones who sit quietly in their homes and don't bother anyone. They're often forgotten."
Harris said relentless heat has caused Meals on Wheels to use up all its donated funds for air conditioners. Louree and Melinda got the relief they need to survive the summer, but the helpers hope they get some help, too.
Meals on Wheels can be contacted at www.mealsonwheels.org or by phone at 817-336-0912.
