The “$72.80 Project” is an advocacy campaign conceived and produced by Noah Daube-Valois, a 20 year old Vassar College student who lives in Northampton, MA.
He has spent this summer working with residents at Rockridge Retirement Home, many of whom he says, “now feel like family”. Only a month ago did he realize that most of these residents live on $72.80 a month.
He has shared some of his experiences:
“Some of the activities I facilitate are trips to Big Y and Walmart. One resident asked on the last trip if I could add a third stop: Dollar Yard. He said he could no longer justify spending a few extra dollars at Walmart when living on a minuscule budget.
“Recently, I recorded an interview with one of the residents I’ve gotten to know. He eloquently and emotionally called for Massachusetts legislators and community members to support raising the Personal Needs Allowance so he can afford to ‘take [his] grandson out for ice cream like [his] own grandfather did’.
“I am ashamed by this inequality and am creating a podcast to raise awareness. I admire the Dignity Alliance’s commitment to senior rights. I’m wondering if I could conduct a brief phone interview with somebody in the organization. Furthermore, I would be honored to collaborate on a multi-generational fight for change.”
The podcast is now available online: The “$72.80 Project”
This is written introduction to the podcast:
Massachusetts seniors need our help.
In the second costliest state in the U.S., nursing and rest homes residents are forced to survive on $72.80 a month. That’s often not enough to afford toiletries, clothing, and over-the-counter medications — never-mind birthday gifts for grandchildren. That’s why seniors receive $200 in Alaska, $163 in Nevada, $160 in Florida, and so forth.
This is the story of our elderly neighbors who live on $72.80 in one of the richest states, in the richest country in the world.