If Oxford resident Jim Tichenor hadn’t made an effort to ask questions and get involved in someone else’s life, then a local senior citizen would still be living without electricity or heat.
‘I think the thing that is really missing in relationships with seniors is that we don’t reach out and find out what they’re all about,? he said. ‘We don’t talk to them and ask how are things going? We have to ask questions.?
It was Tichenor’s compassion, inquisitiveness and persistence that led him to connect with a 73-year-old gentleman living in one of Oxford’s mobile home parks.
‘Now, I think I’ve made a friend out of the guy,? he said. ‘He’s got somebody he can go to ? a phone number he can call.?
On the second Wednesday of each month, Tichenor volunteers with the Northeast Oakland Advisory Committee of Focus: HOPE, which runs a food distribution location inside Lake Orion’s Community Education Resource Center (CERC) building.
Approximately 34,000 senior citizens (age 60 or older) in 42 metro Detroit communities receive boxes of supplemental food from Focus: HOPE each month because their income is at or below federal poverty guidelines. For many, these boxes are their main source of nutritional food.
Last fall, Tichenor, a member of the Rotary Club of Oxford, found out this elderly gentleman, who was a monthly food customer, didn’t have any electricity or heat and had been living without either for nearly five years.
‘When you don’t have those th+ings ? things we take for granted ? its got to be tough,? he said. ‘His life’s very complicated compared to those of us who have it pretty easy.?
The gentleman showed Tichenor a crumpled up electric bill he carried around in his pocket. It was for in excess of $1,000. Apparently, someone somehow used $900 worth of electricity in one month and charged it to his bill.
‘When someone takes your power, you can’t prove where it went,? Tichenor explained.
Since the elderly gentleman could neither afford to pay the bill nor prove somebody stole electricity from him, DTE Energy shut off his power.
For many seniors, dealing with utility companies can be an intimidating and bewildering experience, according to Tichenor.
‘If you’ve ever called up Detroit Edison or Consumers Power, you get put on hold,? he said. ‘It’s a very frustrating situation. Some people don’t want to stir up trouble, so they sit on hold forever and ever.?
Having no electricity also meant this gentleman had no heat because even though the furnace is fueled by natural gas, the blower motor is electric.
Tichenor said the elderly man would light all four of his gas stove burners and use them to heat his mobile home. This is a very dangerous practice as it could have resulted in a fire, explosion or death by asphyxiation.
Once he learned of this gentleman’s situation, every month Tichenor would talk to him and offer help. Every month the old gentleman would make excuses and put him off.
Often, those in need don’t take help because of pride or because they don’t want to be a bother to others.
Last month, Tichenor told the gentleman he wasn’t going to keep asking anymore and to let him know when he was ready to accept some help.
‘He sat down in the chair in front of me and said, ‘I’m ready,?? Tichenor said. ‘This would never have happened if I hadn’t been persistent with this guy and said, ‘Let me help you.? He would never have come to me.?
Tichenor drove the gentleman down to the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) central office in Pontiac.
OLHSA’s mission is to enable low-income, elderly and disabled persons living in Oakland and Livingston counties to become more self-sufficient.
All the way down there, the gentleman kept telling Tichenor, ‘I really hate to put you out.?
After showing some identification, copies of his bills and proof of income, OLHSA paid $832 of his electric bill and all $244 of his natural gas bill. He was required to pay $200 of the electric bill, which he covered with a credit card.
‘Both of his bills were at zero when we left,? Tichenor said.
The next day the electricity was back on and Tichenor had someone go over to help the gentleman turn his furnace on.
‘Life’s kind of going back to normal for him,? he said.
Unfortunately, his mobile home’s still without running water due to some type of plumbing problem. Tichenor said he and some others are working on getting his water fixed once the ground thaws.
Tichenor agreed to have this story written not to have others praise him or stroke his ego.
He simply wants people to take a more active interest in others by really getting to know them.
‘The thing that’s really important to me is that we make people sensitive to finding out what goes on in others? lives,? he said. ‘Find out who’s hungry, who doesn’t have power, who doesn’t have heat.?
Simple conversation and questions help break down the barriers little by little, particularly with senior citizens.
Tichenor said it’s important to ask them questions about their lives such as, ‘What kind of job did you have? How many kids did you have??
The more we know about each other, the easier it is to identify those in need and help them in ways that try to maintain their dignity.
‘The giving is where the gift is at,? Tichenor said.

Where to find help:
Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA)
? Enables the low-income, elderly and disable persons living in Oakland and Livingston counties to become more self-sufficient.
? The central office is located 196 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. in Pontiac. Phone (248) 209-2600. E-mail info@olhsa.org.
Oxford-Orion FISH
‘Food pantry in Thomas provides emergency groceries. Financial assistance with utility shut-offs and eviction notices. Rides to doctors? offices or other appointments. Referrals to other agencies for additional assistance.
‘Phone (248) 693-0638. E-mail oxfordorionfish@hotmail.com. Website oxfordorionfish.org.
Northeast Oakland Advisory Committee of Focus: HOPE
‘Distributes supplemental food to local senior citizens (60 or older) once a month at the Community Education Resource Center (CERC) building in Lake Orion.
? Seniors in need can get certified to receive food by calling (313) 494-4488 or by signing up in person at the CERC building. For more information visit www.focushope.edu/food/seniors.htm.
Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC)
‘A nonprofit organization devoted to mobilizing local church resources to help those in need within local communities.
? Serves as a ‘clearinghouse.? People in need contact the organization at (248) 693-4357. Love INC representatives then connect them with a local church that provides the assistance they need.