In a heartwarming act of community support and collaboration, Cona Elder Law and its charitable foundation Senior Dreams Come True™, in partnership with United Way of Long Island and Family Service League (FSL), recently partnered to finance the replacement of a broken boiler for two Long Island seniors in dire need.
Carol and Robert Reinhardt, aged 81 and 86 respectively, faced the harsh winter months without heat or hot water in their Riverhead mobile home when their boiler stopped working. Despite their outreach to the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, their request for assistance was denied. Mr. Reinhardt, a proud veteran of the armed forces, and his wife were left with no working boiler and no financial means to resolve the situation through the winter.
After seeking help through Family Service League, an estimate close to $7,000 was provided by a local Plumbing and Heating company, J & V Plumbing & Heating. With United Way and Family Service League pledging to cover some of the cost, a $2,400 gap remained—one the Reinhardts could not cover.
That’s where Senior Dreams Come True™ stepped in, paying the remaining cost to get the heat restored to the Reinhardt’s home.
“Helping our community’s older adults age with dignity is at the heart of everything we do,” said Jennifer B. Cona, Esq., Founder and Managing Partner at Cona Elder Law. “When we learned of the Reinhardts’ circumstances, we wanted to collaborate with our follow community-based organizations to get this project over the finish line. Our non-profit exists for moments like these.”
Founded in 2007 by Cona Elder Law, Senior Dreams Come True™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to fulfilling life-enhancing wishes for low-income seniors on Long Island. From essential home repairs to family reunions, the charitable organization has granted dozens of wishes across Nassau and Suffolk counties, including airfare to reunite long-separated families, home repairs and accessibility modifications, hearing aids and medical care, prescription drug coverage and more. Eligibility for the program requires a recipient be age 65 or older with a monthly household income of $1,800 or less (individual) or $2,500 or less (couple).
Last year, Cona Elder Law and FSL also launched the “Adopt a Senior” initiative, delivering a new refrigerator to a senior on the East End.
“There are thousands of seniors on Long Island who’ve spent their lives giving to others. Now it’s our turn to give back,” said Jennifer B. Cona, Esq.
If you know an older adult who might qualify or benefit from the program, please visit https://conaelderlaw.com/about/senior-dreams/ to submit a wish or donate.
About Cona Elder Law
Cona Elder Law concentrates in the areas of elder law, estate planning, estate administration and litigation, and health care law. Cona Elder Law takes a holistic approach to elder law, providing support and resources for older adults and caregivers, and maintains long-term, partnering relationships with clients to provide the best solutions for multiple generations.
Cona Elder Law’s annual Caregiver Conference, coming up on May 7, serves as its primary fundraising event for Senior Dreams, helping sustain its mission of serving seniors in need. This year’s theme is “Rewiring & Retiring Well on Long Island: The Secret Ingredients No One Talks About.”