Sally, a 90 year-old widow who is legally blind and deaf, has lived in Forsyth County her entire life.   For about 3 1/2 years, Jerry Dupree, the United Way Project/Volunteer Coordinator for the Fixin Up Forsyth Program, has been making sure Sally's lawn has been maintained through the efforts of volunteers.  This month, he coordinated a team of volunteers to build her a wheelchair ramp so she can get in and out of her home without difficulty.

 

Diane is an 80 year-old widow who lives alone in a rented trailer.  For several years, she has been heating her mobile home with her gas stove and a space heater because her heating unit did not work.  Not only was that unsafe, it also cost her a lot of money on her energy bill.  This is a woman who has given over 3000 hours of community involvement, yet has been in need herself.  Jerry stepped in to help Diane, contacted her landlord and was able to convince him to install a heating unit.  Jerry received a call from this lady the following morning.  She said it was the very first time she has been warm since living there.

 

Jerry has been assisting a 75 year-old widow named Leila for about three years.  She has been very ill and is confined to a wheelchair.  In that time, Jerry has coordinated a volunteer group to remove 15 30-foot pine trees that were causing problems on her property.  Additionally, he scheduled someone to cut up the logs and to dispose of them.  This past month, Jerry had a group of volunteers rake and bag her leaves.  Additionally, due to her poor health, this woman was unable to go to the Ninth District Opportunity to apply for the much needed energy assistance program.  Jerry collaborated with the Ninth District office to take the necessary documents to her to sign.  For a woman with very little resources, this was extremely important to her.

 

Having a dedicated resource to look after these elderly citizens of our community makes a difference.  Just another way that United Way of Forsyth County is helping seniors in our community.

 

 

Always Be Stretched Out In Friendship

And Never In Want