Elbridge Senior program provides meals, outreach during isolation

By Jason Gabak

Editor

If there is any sort of silver lining that has come out of the past few months, it has been the continued demonstrations of people coming together in so many ways to support and lift up one another.

Whether it has been displays of support for high school seniors, drive by birthday parades or demonstrations of the generosity of the community to support food pantries and other charitable organizations, this has been time that has brought out the best in many people.

In the Town of Elbridge one example of this generosity and support has come from the Town of Elbridge Senior Program.

Joe Patrick, coordinator of the Elbridge Seniors Program said a number of town employees, some volunteers and the town board have rallied around this effort.

“Without the support of the Town of Elbridge Board, specifically Supervisor Vern Richardson and Councilman Floyd Duger this service would not have been possible. They understood immediately the need and impact this service could have on our community.”

As of press time this group has helped deliver more than 1,000 meals to seniors living in Jordan and Elbridge.

“Our mission to promote health and wellness,” Patrick said. “When COVID hit, a lot of what we do is in person, so when it hit, we had to get creative about how we were going to able to promote health and wellness and how were we going to keep reaching out to our seniors.”

The food is provided by Peace, Inc. and is packaged and delivered every Tuesday and Friday by town employees.

Recently Patrick reached out to local Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts and nurseries for donations and supplies and constructed dozens of gift baskets and flowers to be delivered to seniors along with the food.

Items such as snacks and puzzles and brain building games were also included.

Additionally the Girl Scouts put in extra time creating homemade cards.

Patrick said even before the concerns about coronavirus were an issue, he has always been amazed to see the kindness and generosity that exists in the community.

“People responded immediately,” Patrick said. “Anything we have ever needed, people have always been so supportive. We are so lucky that people in our community are so generous and have always been there to help.”

The town has also out easy at-home chair exercise instructions to help seniors stay active and healthy.

Patrick said these kinds of efforts are important effort to help keep seniors active.

“You and I, we can go online and find exercise ideas,” Patrick said. “Our seniors don’t always have access, so this is just something we can do to help.”

These delivers also help seniors stay connected in a safe manner.

“We have masks and keep a safe distance, but even just for a few minutes to wave and say hello it helps keep people connected,” Patrick said.

This show of support for seniors, who are among the groups believed to be most susceptible to the coronavirus, has been met with a great deal of gratitude.

Patrick said the people who have been working and volunteering to do this work do not do it to get attention, but he said it is a nice feeling to make a difference.

“It is satisfying,” Patrick said. “If each person did one thing for another person, even a small thing, we’d have a lot of people in a better place. We all try to do what we can to make life a little better for other people that is the most important part.”

The town received emotional calls and messages of gratitude for the gifts and the continued support during this challenging time.

“What an awesome, thoughtful, loving basket,” Chris Town posted on Facebook. “So much thought had to have been put in to these. The plant is so pretty. Lunch was delicious. We haven’t gone through everything yet but are truly blessed. Thank you. The meals are delicious and the people delivering them are so careful and courteous.  Thank you everyone.”

Others echoed these sentiments.

“Thanks to everyone involved, this is such a good idea to keep seniors safe and fed,” Helen Barbaglia said in a message to the town.

These kinds of displays for many are an example of community spirit and the reason why they cherish where they live.

“I really do love our community. Good job everyone,” Tony Schillo said.