contents...commission, recently selected primerica as the 2008 business & aging award winner for...
TRANSCRIPT
www.gwinnettseniorservices.com
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners
75 Langley DriveLawrenceville, GA 30045-6900
senior services centers
The Volunteer Vision is a quarterly publication of the Gwinnett County Senior Services Volunteer Program. For newsletter questions and comments, call (770) 822-8837.
Lawrenceville (Rhodes-Jordan Park)225 Benson StreetLawrenceville, GA 30045770.822.5180
gwinnettcounty seniorservicesDepartment of Community Services75 Langley DriveLawrenceville, GA 30045www.gwinnettseniorservices.com
Norcross5030 Georgia Belle CourtNorcross, GA 30093770.638.5683
EditorGary GallowayVolunteer Services [email protected]
Senior Services ManagerLinda [email protected]
GraphicsShawn [email protected]
Buford2755 Sawnee AvenueBuford, GA 30518770.614.2527
contents 2 • above and beyond
3 • coordinator’scorner
3 • opportunities
4 • call for volunteers
The Gwinnett County Meals on Wheels program is rapidly expanding and volunteers are needed to deliver meals to senior clients who cannot leave home.Description: Deliver chilled package meals to 6 - 12 appreciative seniors (Typically in the mid-morning)
Time Commitment: Approximately 1.5 - 2 hours for 1 - 5 scheduled days a month
Min. Qualifications: Must Complete Volunteer Application & Pass Background CheckMust possess a valid Georgia Driver’s License
GWINNETT COUNTYMEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS
Manager’s MomentsThere’s a chill in the air. The leaves are changing and the economy has def initely cooled. As we pause to count our many personal blessings, it is important to remember those seniors who have made sacrifi ces throughout their lives to make so many things
possible for us. They helped to make our country great, yet they ask very little from any of us.
As we prepare for the upcoming holiday season, please consider that our volunteer efforts can
make a tremendous difference to these seniors. Anytime we think that we are facing diffi culties in our lives, we need to remember our seniors. They may be facing hunger, lack of safe shelter, necessary medicines, or adequate heat in their homes. Please reach out and help.
(l-r) Miss Edith Harvey, President and Mrs. Carter, Gary Galloway.
Linda BaileySenior Services Manager
Fall Edition, 2008
3-Peat!! – PRIMERICA Wins MPIA Business & Aging Award
Volunteers from PRIMERICA’s accomplished volunteer program truly deserve a special
salute! Over the past 28 years, these dedicated volunteers have delivered more than 1,100 meals to homebound seniors, purchased valuable equipment for the Norcross Senior Center, and spent countless hours working to improve the quality of life of our seniors. In addition, PRIMERICA has allocated almost $50,000 worth of grant funding to the Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services for programming support.
The Metropolitan Partnership in Aging (MPIA), in conjunction with the Atlanta Regional
Commission, recently selected PRIMERICA as the 2008 Business & Aging Award winner for its unwavering support of Gwinnett Senior Services. PRIMERICA’s win marks the third time in the past fi ve years that a collaborative partner of Gwinnett Senior Services has been honored with this prestigious award. Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett won the award in 2007 for i t s innovative integrat ion of senior programming; and Outback Steakhouse in Suwanee was honored for its unique Outback at Work charity lunch program in 2005. Hooray for our valuable partners!
(l-r) Maureen Kelly and Cathy Berger (ARC), PRIMERICA Senior Vice President Karen Fine, and WSB-TV VP and General Manager Bill Hoffman.
Above & Beyond: Extra Special Services Opportunities to Support Our Seniors
Sonny Bettis gets ready to install a new shower diverter assembly.
Monday, December 1, 20085:00pm to 7:00pm
atOutback Steakhouse
145 Gwinco Blvd.Suwanee, Georgia 30017
RSVP to 770.822.8846 or email
Dirty Dozen and Unsung Superstars are volunteers who make special things happen. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to join the Dirty Dozens and Unsung Superstars at this recognition event. Food and fun will be provided. Please bring an unwrapped toy, new blanket, or canned food products.
Sonny Bettis is standing alone in an empty room with four bare walls. He
is contemplating his next move. New fl ooring has been laid down and pipes are exposed. Where to begin? He has accepted this task, along with three other ‘Dirty Dozen’ volunteers, to help a senior in need install a completely new bathroom and renovate another.
“This assignment initially started with a call from one of our seniors requesting her ‘leaky’ faucets be fi xed,” says Gary Galloway, Gwinnett Senior Services Volunteer Coordinator. “It was Sonny who discovered that much more needed to be done.” So, Sonny recruited members from his church (Sugarloaf United Methodist) to help out.
Dirty dozen volunteer John Lane says,
Meals on Wheels CornerBy Marilynn Sessions, Meals on Wheels Coordinator
Overcoming Challenges
I would like to take this time to personally thank The Friends of Gwinnett County
Senior Services and our Meals on Wheels volunteers. They have been absolute lifesavers this year. Despite the high food costs and the increase in gas prices, we have been able to provide meals to our clients.
Our volunteers loyally continue to deliver and The Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services still privately supplements part of the cost of almost 150,000 senior meals this year. The Friends are also preparing to donate two fully-equipped Meals on Wheels vehicles to the county.
We are asking you to step up to the challenge and offer your time or resources for a great cause. Call 770.822.8837 to donate or volunteer. Get involved!
Atlanta Falcons Ovie Mughelli and Erik Coleman deliver meals to our seniors.
Helping Hawks
Mill Creek High School Football Coach Shannon Jarvis probably had no idea
how helpful his football players, coaches, and parents would be when he started his Helping Hawks program to give back to the community. Coach Jarvis wanted to “build men of character” and allow his student-athletes to appreciate others, especially those with needs.
• Player leadership created game plans to complete yard work at 18 different senior households
• More than 225 Helping Hawks (players, coaches, and parents) participated this past summer
• Helping Hawks volunteers contributed more than 1,100 hours of service in one day
• A special shout-out of encouragement to ‘man of character’ Alex Reed who was recently severely injured in an auto accident
“This is what God called me to do. It’s a blessing to give back and provide something these people never had before. Letting me do things for others – that’s how God blesses me. If you don’t know how to fi x something, or don’t have the money, things can deteriorate.”
Senior in need, ‘Ms. Bernice’ received the good news that she would be getting a new bathroom. She is a humble lady who once struggled to raise her six children as a single parent. Today, her children have grown and moved on with their lives, but ‘Ms. Bernice’s’ child-raising days have not yet ended. She continues to raise seven children – one grandchild who she adopted due to his mother’s passing, and six great-grandchildren from a different grandchild. She expresses her gratitude, “I am just so embarrassed. I don’t know how my home reached to this. I am still thanking God for all the help.”
Sonny Bettis and other dir ty dozen volunteers are always ready to help and make a tremendous difference.
If you know of a senior in need, please contact the Gwinnett Senior Services Helpline at 678.377.4150 or if you would like to volunteer, call Gary Galloway, Volunteer Coordinator, at 770.822.8837.
The cold weather season is defi nitely here and we have many months of
chilly days and freezing nights ahead of us. Believe it or not, many of our seniors are already facing diffi culties paying their utility bills. During the winter, some seniors cut back on food or prescr iption medications to have the funds to keep the gas or electricity on. Others cut back on heating their home.
To assist our seniors in staying warm this winter, the Gwinnett County Fire Department will be accepting donations of new electric portable heaters at fi re stations throughout the County. Portable heaters can also be dropped off at the Buford, Lawrenceville, or Norcross Senior Centers. For safety reasons, all heaters should be new and operated by electricity. These heaters will be distributed to those seniors needing additional warmth in their residences. For more information, call 770.822.8837.
Since many seniors have poor circulation or take medications that make them feel chilled most of the time, we are also very willing to accept donations of new blankets or socks. Hypo-allergenic f leece lap throws are easily washable and very comfortable. This is an excellent project for groups or civic organizations.
Additionally, many seniors are bothered by dry fl aky skin throughout the winter. Basic personal care items like skin lotion, conditioning shampoo, lip balm, or t oo t h p a s t e wou l d g r e a t l y b e appreciated.
Annual Meals SponsorshipThe Meals on Wheels waiting list has exceeded 100 seniors per month. Seniors are accepted without regard to their fi nancial status. The cost for sponsoring a year’s worth of home-delivered meals has increased to $800. To sponsor one or more seniors, call 770.822.8837.
Mill Creek High School Helping Hawks give back to seniors.
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
There is no admission charge - just bring an unwrapped gift for a child, canned food items for the hungry, or a lap blanket for the elderly. Donations will glady be accepted. All proceeds will benefi t local food banks, The Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services’ Kinship Program, and the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter. For more information or to make a donation, c o n t a c t D e l m a r G a r d e n s a t770.923.3100.
Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett3100 Club DriveLawrenceville, GA 30044
Take advantage of a fun-fi lled, family opportunity to get in the holiday
spirit. Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett is presenting the second annual Holiday Tour of Trees from 2:00 - 5:00pm onSunday, December 7, 2008. Better yet, why not get your group or organization to decorate and donate a one-of-a-kind tree - the more the merrier. The awards reception will begin at 4:00pm.
Get ready to enjoy holiday music, see and vote on uniquely-decorated trees, shop for gifts in the Holiday Boutique, or place silent auction bids on the trees and some wreaths.
Holiday Spirit on Deck
Sonny All Day, Everyday by Melanie Miller Heaters Needed Blankets, Socks, and Basics
Above & Beyond: Extra Special Services Opportunities to Support Our Seniors
Sonny Bettis gets ready to install a new shower diverter assembly.
Monday, December 1, 20085:00pm to 7:00pm
atOutback Steakhouse
145 Gwinco Blvd.Suwanee, Georgia 30017
RSVP to 770.822.8846 or email
Dirty Dozen and Unsung Superstars are volunteers who make special things happen. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to join the Dirty Dozens and Unsung Superstars at this recognition event. Food and fun will be provided. Please bring an unwrapped toy, new blanket, or canned food products.
Sonny Bettis is standing alone in an empty room with four bare walls. He
is contemplating his next move. New fl ooring has been laid down and pipes are exposed. Where to begin? He has accepted this task, along with three other ‘Dirty Dozen’ volunteers, to help a senior in need install a completely new bathroom and renovate another.
“This assignment initially started with a call from one of our seniors requesting her ‘leaky’ faucets be fi xed,” says Gary Galloway, Gwinnett Senior Services Volunteer Coordinator. “It was Sonny who discovered that much more needed to be done.” So, Sonny recruited members from his church (Sugarloaf United Methodist) to help out.
Dirty dozen volunteer John Lane says,
Meals on Wheels CornerBy Marilynn Sessions, Meals on Wheels Coordinator
Overcoming Challenges
I would like to take this time to personally thank The Friends of Gwinnett County
Senior Services and our Meals on Wheels volunteers. They have been absolute lifesavers this year. Despite the high food costs and the increase in gas prices, we have been able to provide meals to our clients.
Our volunteers loyally continue to deliver and The Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services still privately supplements part of the cost of almost 150,000 senior meals this year. The Friends are also preparing to donate two fully-equipped Meals on Wheels vehicles to the county.
We are asking you to step up to the challenge and offer your time or resources for a great cause. Call 770.822.8837 to donate or volunteer. Get involved!
Atlanta Falcons Ovie Mughelli and Erik Coleman deliver meals to our seniors.
Helping Hawks
Mill Creek High School Football Coach Shannon Jarvis probably had no idea
how helpful his football players, coaches, and parents would be when he started his Helping Hawks program to give back to the community. Coach Jarvis wanted to “build men of character” and allow his student-athletes to appreciate others, especially those with needs.
• Player leadership created game plans to complete yard work at 18 different senior households
• More than 225 Helping Hawks (players, coaches, and parents) participated this past summer
• Helping Hawks volunteers contributed more than 1,100 hours of service in one day
• A special shout-out of encouragement to ‘man of character’ Alex Reed who was recently severely injured in an auto accident
“This is what God called me to do. It’s a blessing to give back and provide something these people never had before. Letting me do things for others – that’s how God blesses me. If you don’t know how to fi x something, or don’t have the money, things can deteriorate.”
Senior in need, ‘Ms. Bernice’ received the good news that she would be getting a new bathroom. She is a humble lady who once struggled to raise her six children as a single parent. Today, her children have grown and moved on with their lives, but ‘Ms. Bernice’s’ child-raising days have not yet ended. She continues to raise seven children – one grandchild who she adopted due to his mother’s passing, and six great-grandchildren from a different grandchild. She expresses her gratitude, “I am just so embarrassed. I don’t know how my home reached to this. I am still thanking God for all the help.”
Sonny Bettis and other dir ty dozen volunteers are always ready to help and make a tremendous difference.
If you know of a senior in need, please contact the Gwinnett Senior Services Helpline at 678.377.4150 or if you would like to volunteer, call Gary Galloway, Volunteer Coordinator, at 770.822.8837.
The cold weather season is defi nitely here and we have many months of
chilly days and freezing nights ahead of us. Believe it or not, many of our seniors are already facing diffi culties paying their utility bills. During the winter, some seniors cut back on food or prescr iption medications to have the funds to keep the gas or electricity on. Others cut back on heating their home.
To assist our seniors in staying warm this winter, the Gwinnett County Fire Department will be accepting donations of new electric portable heaters at fi re stations throughout the County. Portable heaters can also be dropped off at the Buford, Lawrenceville, or Norcross Senior Centers. For safety reasons, all heaters should be new and operated by electricity. These heaters will be distributed to those seniors needing additional warmth in their residences. For more information, call 770.822.8837.
Since many seniors have poor circulation or take medications that make them feel chilled most of the time, we are also very willing to accept donations of new blankets or socks. Hypo-allergenic f leece lap throws are easily washable and very comfortable. This is an excellent project for groups or civic organizations.
Additionally, many seniors are bothered by dry fl aky skin throughout the winter. Basic personal care items like skin lotion, conditioning shampoo, lip balm, or t oo t h p a s t e wou l d g r e a t l y b e appreciated.
Annual Meals SponsorshipThe Meals on Wheels waiting list has exceeded 100 seniors per month. Seniors are accepted without regard to their fi nancial status. The cost for sponsoring a year’s worth of home-delivered meals has increased to $800. To sponsor one or more seniors, call 770.822.8837.
Mill Creek High School Helping Hawks give back to seniors.
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
There is no admission charge - just bring an unwrapped gift for a child, canned food items for the hungry, or a lap blanket for the elderly. Donations will glady be accepted. All proceeds will benefi t local food banks, The Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services’ Kinship Program, and the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter. For more information or to make a donation, c o n t a c t D e l m a r G a r d e n s a t770.923.3100.
Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett3100 Club DriveLawrenceville, GA 30044
Take advantage of a fun-fi lled, family opportunity to get in the holiday
spirit. Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett is presenting the second annual Holiday Tour of Trees from 2:00 - 5:00pm onSunday, December 7, 2008. Better yet, why not get your group or organization to decorate and donate a one-of-a-kind tree - the more the merrier. The awards reception will begin at 4:00pm.
Get ready to enjoy holiday music, see and vote on uniquely-decorated trees, shop for gifts in the Holiday Boutique, or place silent auction bids on the trees and some wreaths.
Holiday Spirit on Deck
Sonny All Day, Everyday by Melanie Miller Heaters Needed Blankets, Socks, and Basics
www.gwinnettseniorservices.com
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners
75 Langley DriveLawrenceville, GA 30045-6900
senior services centers
The Volunteer Vision is a quarterly publication of the Gwinnett County Senior Services Volunteer Program. For newsletter questions and comments, call (770) 822-8837.
Lawrenceville (Rhodes-Jordan Park)225 Benson StreetLawrenceville, GA 30045770.822.5180
gwinnettcounty seniorservicesDepartment of Community Services75 Langley DriveLawrenceville, GA 30045www.gwinnettseniorservices.com
Norcross5030 Georgia Belle CourtNorcross, GA 30093770.638.5683
EditorGary GallowayVolunteer Services [email protected]
Senior Services ManagerLinda [email protected]
GraphicsShawn [email protected]
Buford2755 Sawnee AvenueBuford, GA 30518770.614.2527
contents 2 • above and beyond
3 • coordinator’scorner
3 • opportunities
4 • call for volunteers
The Gwinnett County Meals on Wheels program is rapidly expanding and volunteers are needed to deliver meals to senior clients who cannot leave home.Description: Deliver chilled package meals to 6 - 12 appreciative seniors (Typically in the mid-morning)
Time Commitment: Approximately 1.5 - 2 hours for 1 - 5 scheduled days a month
Min. Qualifications: Must Complete Volunteer Application & Pass Background CheckMust possess a valid Georgia Driver’s License
GWINNETT COUNTYMEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS
Manager’s MomentsThere’s a chill in the air. The leaves are changing and the economy has def initely cooled. As we pause to count our many personal blessings, it is important to remember those seniors who have made sacrifi ces throughout their lives to make so many things
possible for us. They helped to make our country great, yet they ask very little from any of us.
As we prepare for the upcoming holiday season, please consider that our volunteer efforts can
make a tremendous difference to these seniors. Anytime we think that we are facing diffi culties in our lives, we need to remember our seniors. They may be facing hunger, lack of safe shelter, necessary medicines, or adequate heat in their homes. Please reach out and help.
(l-r) Miss Edith Harvey, President and Mrs. Carter, Gary Galloway.
Linda BaileySenior Services Manager
Fall Edition, 2008
3-Peat!! – PRIMERICA Wins MPIA Business & Aging Award
Volunteers from PRIMERICA’s accomplished volunteer program truly deserve a special
salute! Over the past 28 years, these dedicated volunteers have delivered more than 1,100 meals to homebound seniors, purchased valuable equipment for the Norcross Senior Center, and spent countless hours working to improve the quality of life of our seniors. In addition, PRIMERICA has allocated almost $50,000 worth of grant funding to the Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services for programming support.
The Metropolitan Partnership in Aging (MPIA), in conjunction with the Atlanta Regional
Commission, recently selected PRIMERICA as the 2008 Business & Aging Award winner for its unwavering support of Gwinnett Senior Services. PRIMERICA’s win marks the third time in the past fi ve years that a collaborative partner of Gwinnett Senior Services has been honored with this prestigious award. Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett won the award in 2007 for i t s innovative integrat ion of senior programming; and Outback Steakhouse in Suwanee was honored for its unique Outback at Work charity lunch program in 2005. Hooray for our valuable partners!
(l-r) Maureen Kelly and Cathy Berger (ARC), PRIMERICA Senior Vice President Karen Fine, and WSB-TV VP and General Manager Bill Hoffman.