» How We’ve Helped

Friends Deliver Meals on Wheels trucks to BOC

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:27:27 +0000

John Winters, Bill Gower, and Pam Tokarz from the Friends Board present Meals on Wheels keys to Gwinnett County Chairman, Charles Bannister.

Friends Deliver Meals on Wheels trucks to BOC

(Lawrenceville, Ga., June 15, 2010) – On June 15, Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services (Friends) presented keys of two brand new, fully equipped trucks to the Board of Commissioners. These trucks will replace two existing ones used to deliver over 115,000 meals to seniors in their homes on an annual basis.

Mary Ann Lewis receives meals and is quick to say, “The Meals on Wheels program is such a godsend to me. I receive a balanced meal, food that I could not afford, and is so convenient to heat. This help is so vital to people like me who are disabled and elderly”.

Friends is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) volunteer-run organization which is dedicated to raise funds to privately support or supplement select senior programs in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The organization has already purchased four Meals on Wheels trucks and two homemaking service vehicles for Gwinnett County Senior Services and is committed to replace the vehicles as needed.

Private donations and fundraising efforts such as their annual Silent Auction have allowed Friends to make this possible; sponsor several elderly clients for yearly meals service, and provide emergency assistance. This year, Friends has also donated $65,000 to supplement the cost of home delivered meals which eliminated 75 seniors from the waiting list.

To help support services for Gwinnett seniors, you may visit www.fogcss.com to make a donation or send a check to Friends of Gwinnett Senior Services, P.O. Box 1680, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. For tickets to the Silent Auction to be held at Delmar Gardens of Lawrenceville on Thursday, July 22 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm, contact Jennifer Thilo at 770.923.3100 or Lisa Moffa at 770.822.8774.

Friends Has Got Your Back

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:13:58 +0000

A call was received whereas a senior was in desperate need. Her lights were turned off as she was undergoing some financial constraints. She had not been taking her required daily medications and had not seen the doctor for about three months, mostly due to transportation issues. In addition, there was not sufficient food in the home. She had no family in the local area who could help her on a daily basis. Friends was able to assist this senior to get back on her feet.

Luck of the Friends

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:10:01 +0000

Gwinnett County municipal workers recently cut off gas supply to a Norcross neighborhood to make repairs. When they went to re-light a senior’s furnace pilot light, they discovered a problem that prevented them from being able to reignite. They warned the client and advised that she have a licensed professional check out her heating system. A senior-friendly business partner came and determined that a cracked heat exchanger could lead to gas collection and subsequent explosion or distribution of deadly carbon monoxide gas. Friends support helped to put in a safe heater.

If Not for Friends

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:17:55 +0000

A senior who was legally blind and just underwent surgery, came home to a house with septic problems. It was soon discovered by a trustworthy volunteer that her sewer line needed to be replaced. Thanks to this volunteer of donating his expertise and time and Friends for contributing to the expenses, repairs were completed. This enabled the family to continue living under the same roof for four generations.