Seniors benefit from ‘Seven Brides’

Angela Soo

Wednesday, June 27, 2001 | 9:02 a.m.

Helping Hands of North Las Vegas presented the opening of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" Monday to help raise money for the city's disabled seniors.

Last year the group put on the "Wizard of Oz," in which North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon made a cameo appearance as the mayor of Munchkin Land.

The cast of 45, along with crew members and parents, volunteered their time to put on the show.

"The production is the only fund-raiser we have," Glen Easter, vice president of the group, said. "Most of these are young kids who are devoting their time, and rehearsing in the heat. They don't have to be here."

There are two nonprofit groups based in North Las Vegas, and Helping Hands is the only one devoted to helping seniors.

"We help people stay in their homes in order to avoid putting them in a nursing facility," Easter said.

Volunteers take seniors to visit the doctor, buy groceries and provide other services that make it possible for the elderly to die in their homes, Easter said.

Geraldine Martin, 75, doesn't know how she would get to her doctor appointments without Helping Hands.

"I just thank god for them," Martin said.

Ever since Helping Hands started in 1998, the group recognized an increase in the number of people they helped each month, Easter said. Last year, they assisted about 60 seniors each month. That number more than quadrupled to over over 350 seniors last month.

"It's difficult when you have a lot of seniors coming out here to retire, and then one person dies," Easter said. "They get very lonely because they don't know anybody."

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" will play at the Nicholas Horn Theatre at the Community College of Southern Nevada, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., Tuesday through Saturday at 7 p.m., and an additional Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. General admission is $5. Family tickets may be purchased for $17.50. For more information, call 651-5483.