Young entrepreneur starts non-profit to help senior citizens

Charities Pooled Trust has helped 150 people so far, and they're hoping to help 500 by the end of the year.

CITIZENS.7 EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER ALAERREBHI SHOWS US HOW A YOUNGMAN IS STEPPING UP... AND NOTONLY MAKING LIFE EASIER FORSOME MEN AND WOMEN -- BUT ALSO-- CREATING NEW JOBS.}} "THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTIS EXTREMELY CONFUSING FORTHEM.

AND THE CONSEQUENCE OFTHAT IS THAT THEY DON'T GETWHAT THEY NEED, LET ALONE WHATTHEY WANT," MATTHEW PAULK MAYBE JUST 24 YEARS OLD, BUT THISGRADUATE OF CITY HONORS INBUFFALO HAS ALREADYACCOMPLISHED*A LOT* AFTERSEVERAL YEARS OF HARD WORK,PAULK HAS STARTED A NON-PROFIT THAT HELPS SENIORCITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.IT'S CALLED "CHARITIES POOLEDTRUST"ÃAND HIT HELPS THEMNAVIGATE THROUGH THE CONFUSINGWORLD OF HEALTH CARE BENEFITS,AND UNDERSTAND WHAT SERVICESTHEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE.HIS INSPIRATIONÃHISGRANDMOTHER.

"I MEAN MYGRANDMOTHER BEFORE SHE PASSEDAWAY, WE WERE SCRAMBLING TOTRY TO GO AHEAD AND COORDINATEALL THE DIFFERENT - ANDTHERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENTSERVICES THAT A SENIOR CITIZENNEEDS.

BUT TO HAVE ASSISTANCEAT HOME, TO HAVE MONEY FORPRESCRIPTIONS, TO HAVE SOMEONECOOK FOOD LET ALONE GO GET THEFOOD, ALL THESE DIFFERENTTHINGS CAN BE REALLY REALLYTOUGH ON SOMEONE," CO-FOUNDERLAURA SHRIVER- BROWN SAYS SHESEES FIRST-HAND THE NEED ITHE COMMUNITY.

"WHEN YOU STARTSEEING THESE PEOPLE AND YOUSTART HEARING THEIR STORIES,AND YOU LOOK AROUND THEIRHOME, AND YOU'RE REALLYGETTING A REAL CLEAR PICTUREOF WHAT THEIR LIFE IS LIKE,"STANDUP: "THE LAUNCH OFCHARITIES POOLED TRUST ALSOMEANS JOB CREATION.

THERE ARECLOSE TO 30 EMPLOYEES RIGHTNOW AND PAUL SAYS THEY'RELOOKING TO HIRE MORE.""ESSENTIALLY WE'RE HELPINGTHESE SENIOR CITIZENS WHOQUALIFY RECEIVE MEDICAID,WHICH IS GOING TO HELP THEMGET AN AID, TRANSPORTATION,PAY FOR THEIR MEDICAL EXPENSESAND THE RESULT IS THEY WON'THAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGSANYMORE.

AND SO WE HELPFACILITATE THE WHOLE THING FORTHEM," SO FAR THEY HELPED 150PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE HOPING TOHELP 500 BY THE END OF THEYEAR.

(GFX) IF YOU'D LIKE TOGET INVOLVED, SHRIVER BROWNASKS THAT YOU CALL HER AT228-4482.

YOU'LL ALSO FINDTHAT NUMBER WITH THIS STORY ATWKBW.COM.

IN BUFFALO, AE, 7EWN.TODAY MARKS A SPECIAL DAY IN ALOCAL HERO'S LIFE.

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