Print |
E-mail to a friend
NEWS
Groups unite to give seniors supplies
The contents of the AARP Chapter Ñ Huntington's Blizzard Boxes are displayed by Chuck Lawrence, left, pastor of Christ Temple Church; Dolly Rozzi, president of the AARP chapter; and, Jane Cleghon, vice president of the AARP chapter and St. Mary's Medical Center employee. The Blizzard Boxes include shelf-stable meal supplies for seniors in need.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- For $5, you can help fill a box for a senior in need this winter.
The Huntington chapter of AARP, Christ Temple Church and St. Mary's Medical Center have teamed up to equip "blizzard boxes" for local seniors this holiday season. Blizzard boxes, which contain shelf-stable meal supplies, are ideal for meal service during severe weather or whenever a meal cannot be provided as planned. The project, according to Dolly Rozzi, AARP Huntington chapter president, will ensure the recipient is prepared for almost any emergency.
"The box has protein, fruit, enough for a person to eat for one day so if there's a crisis such as a big snowstorm or a flood and someone can't get to the store, they can get one of these boxes to help get them through."
Members of Christ Temple Church already have filled 200 blizzard boxes, with 100 remaining in storage at the church and 100 already distributed to senior centers, law enforcement offices and fire departments in the Tri-State. Boxes can be picked up or delivered to seniors in either financial need or an emergency situation.
"No senior should ever go to bed hungry," Rozzi said. "Besides blizzards and floods, many seniors during the last three days of the month have no money to buy food. If they call, we'll get one of these boxes to them."
"We were interested in helping the community in a real, tangible way," said Chuck Lawrence, pastor of Christ Temple Church. "When seniors need help, they depend on you and I to be prepared. I'm asking all churches to join us to help fill these boxes."
Rozzi said seniors could request a box by contacting her at 304-733-3656 or Jane Cleghon, vice president of the Huntington AARP chapter, at 304-526-1023. Churches, businesses and civic organizations are also invited to call for more information on how to participate and obtain boxes to fill.
"How simple and easy it would be for each family to take a box and fill it up," Cleghon said. "It would be a wonderful blessing to each of us to participate in this."
Follow H-D reporter Beth Hendricks on Facebook or Twitter @BethHendricksHD.
