CHESTERTON | For most of his life, Peter was a very active man.

After graduating from Portage High School, he served in the U.S. Army, first as an honor guard at Arlington Cemetery participating in events such as President Dwight Eisenhower's funeral and a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House before serving a year in Vietnam.

Returning home, Peter, 60, worked as an electrician at a local steel mill for 15 years, then at an area truck stop.

That was until three years ago, when he was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Now, it takes every ounce of energy for him to leave his bed and travel across his small house to the bathroom.

"It's a major accomplishment," he said, adding he's lost 90 pounds in those three years along with just about all of his strength.

"I use to be healthy. I use to work on semis. Now there's things I want that I wouldn't get out of bed for because it is too exhausting," he said, adding he's recently learned how to operate a computer to help wile away the hours.

Peter is visited by the Visiting Nurse Association three times a week to help prepare his medications and to change a dressing on a bed sore he's developed.

He spends most of his day in bed. He'd like a bedside table to help keep close things he needs during the day. He'd also like a new clothes washer and dryer. His appliances are about 30 years old, and he has hired someone to take his clothing out for washing. Being able to do it at home would be more convenient.

But, Peter says, he doesn't want to take food out of people's mouths and knows there are others with greater needs.

"He's got a heart bigger than the state of Indiana," said Jim, Peter's friend who came for a visit from Arkansas.

Peter is one of about 300 people who are helped through money from the annual Porter County Visiting Nurse Association's Christmas for the Elderly fund.

The program is sponsored jointly by The Times and the VNA of Porter County.

The Christmas for the Elderly program, now starting its 22nd year, is locally coordinated and was created to give senior citizens the financial boost they need to transform feelings of helplessness into feelings of hope during the holidays and throughout the year.

Since its inception, the program has raised more than $455,000 to aid those in need by providing food, furniture, blankets, mattresses, shower chairs and assistance for other needs. Times readers donated a record amount of money last year, giving more than $50,000 in just four weeks.

The VNA is accepting donations to help with this year's needs, which will be used to provide Peter and others with items and services.

To draw awareness to the Christmas for the Elderly program during the holiday season, The Times will publish a series of profiles of seniors such as Peter who benefit from the community's financial support. A list of contributors' names also will be published with the stories as they appear in Saturday and Monday editions.

The VNA is a nonprofit home health agency licensed by the state of Indiana. Community donations and United Way funding allow the agency to provide care at a reduced rate.

CONTRIBUTORS

Anonymous (5)

Small's Landscaping Inc.

Mrs. Kathy Abretske, in honor of Maggie and Chic Wallace

Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Atwood Sr.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Cadwell

Mr. and Mrs. Earl J. Cochran and family

Mrs. Dorothy L. Cromey

Mrs. Rosalie Cummins

Mrs. Helen Golding

Mr. Carl V. Gribschaw, in memory of Mrs. Catherine M. Gribschaw

Marcella F. Hardison and Hope, in memory of Ms. Brenda L. Hardison

Mr. and Mrs. William Henderson

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Jandura

Ms. Patricia A. Johnston

Mrs. Jerilyn Kanne

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kern

Mr. Larry L. Koebcke Sr., in memory of Mrs. Kay A. Koebcke

Mrs. M. Frances Lansdowne

Ms. Thelma B. Litke

Mr. and Mrs. John T. McGuire

Mrs. Lorraine A. Meyer, in memory of Mrs. Flora C. Manger

Ms. Nancy F. Moore

Mrs. Marlene K. Newcomb

Mrs. Marion Osterhout

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Pete III

Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Robison

Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Savage

Mr. and Mrs. G. Robert Simmons

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin E. Simpson, in memory of Ms. Tricia Marie Simpson Russell

Mr. and Mrs. W. Dean Squire

Dick and Joan Stombaugh, in memory of Brian Stombaugh

Ms. Maureen A. Stombaugh, in memory of Mr. Darwin D. Stombaugh

Ms. Janet K. Stowers

Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Sutherland

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K. Turner

Ms. Norma L. Vogel

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas B. Watkins

Mrs. Donna D. Welter

Mr. and Mrs. Willard J. Wheeland

Mr. and Mrs. Larry G. Woods

The Crossroad Church

Donald W. Peters, C.P.A.

Professional Hearing Management Inc.

Jimmy's Girls (Nancy Barone, Cathy Douglas, Sharon Douglas, Ada Hiller, Barbara Johnson, Fontelle Lemon, Phyllis Lyons, Karen Moseley, Alberta Petrone, Janet Trump, Carol Van Sensus and Barbara Woodruff)

Lonnie's TV Sales and Service

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel T. Adams

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen F. Adney

Mrs. Eunice L. Alders

Mr. and Mrs. Larry E. Atwell, in memory of Mrs. Armeta L. Barnes

Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Beckman

Ms. Barbara E. Bernardi

Mr. Franklin Beshears

Ms. Dorothy M. Bockhorn

Mr. and Mrs. John Borchertmeyer

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brayfield, in memory of Patty Brayfield

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Carlin Jr., in memory of Mrs. Debbie Nielsen Green

Ms. Gertrude E. Cobb

Mr. and Mrs. Lynn A. Colby

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Costakis

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Coulter

Ms. Marlene A. Culver

Mr. and Mrs. John Dhaemers

Mrs. Kathryn Dimitri

Mr. and Mrs. Theodore M. Dougherty

Mrs. Sandra K. Good

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Greenawald

Mr. Jeffrey Hickman

Mr. and Mrs. William A. Higbie

Mr. and Mrs. John F. Hinkey

Mr. and Mrs. William M. Jenkins

Ms. Sue P. Joys

Ms. Phyllis J. Khurts

Mr. and Mrs. David K. Kincaid

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kirleis

Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. Knauff

Mrs. Barbara E. Kuss

Ms. Terri Jean Kuss, in memory of Mr. Frederick J. Kuss Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lawson

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis R. Lindsey

Mrs. Betty J. Lippert

Ms. Alicia J. McClean, Attorney At Law, in memory of Sherman and Jean McClean

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel McKibben

Mr. and Mrs. Larry L. Miller

Mr. and Mrs. David R. Musch

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Mutka

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Oestreich Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Owens

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Peyton

Mr. and Mrs. James Racine

Mr. and Mrs. John J. Rubinate

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Samansky

Ms. Colleen M. Seguin and Mr. Alan Bloom

Mr. and Mrs. James V. Tsoutsouris

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Young

TOTAL TO DATE: $22,125.00