Wednesday, December 4, 2002

Fayette seniors offer help during holidays

Ask any number of individuals what Fayette Senior Services and the Friendship Center offer and there is a good chance you will receive a different answer from each.

Some think FSS is a county-run agency to help seniors in need. Some think they simply deliver Meals on Wheels to the homebound. Others think it is a fun place for seniors to hang out and play cards.

All but the first assumption are correct ­ the county, along with the cities, the United Way and others, provides some monetary assistance, but FSS is an independent nonprofit organization.

Meals on Wheels and providing a place to hang out and play cards are just two of the many needs FSS provides to seniors. FSS offers a wide variety of services and activities for active seniors as well as those who need some form of assistance who are over the age of 60. They act as a referral agency for those needing help in dealing with many concerns associated with aging.

In-Home Services enables seniors to remain self-sufficient by providing trained individuals to perform simple homemaker tasks and/or personal care. The Wellness Program is an educational program staffed by volunteer nurses in the community. Friendly Visitor is a volunteer program that matches homebound seniors with a trained volunteer who visits once a week. The Friendship Day Center provides social activities for active seniors. Cards, crafts, outings, walks and other activities engage participants.

Those who benefit from the services provided by FSS in turn give much back to the community.

Just a little over three years ago Fayette Senior Services' Kate Calcaterra read an article in Family Circle regarding Project Linus, which provides handmade "security" blankets to children who are seriously ill or going through traumatic situations. She contacted local project coordinator Judy Simpson for information then suggested it as a project to Friendship Center participants. The group voted unanimously to embrace the project as one of their own. Since then, making blankets has been a labor of love for many involved in the Friendship Center.

Calcaterra, who hadn't knitted since high school, was given a refresher course by one of the Friendship Center members and soon she too was knitting blankets. Currently six seniors quilt, crochet or knit blankets which are delivered to children's homes hospitals and other agencies.

Teresa Lizlezo has made "a dozen or so blankets." Lela Newbury has made 8 to 10. Both say they love to make the blankets and work on them both at the Center and at home.

Participation in the project is a year-round effort. Fayette Senior Services buys the yarn or receives donations from outside sources for the senior "blanketeers." Some use left-over yarn to make squares which are given to Simpson to put together.

Bernetta Ziegler has a project of her own. Every day she knits scarves for the homeless. Using bright colorful yarn, she completes roughly one scarf a week which is then taken by members of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church to the homeless in Atlanta. Ziegler's scarf-making has been her labor of love for almost five years. She simply says she, "loves doing this" and is "just thankful I can do it."

Every year in crafts participating seniors make gifts to distribute at Christmastime to those receiving Meals on Wheels. The projects vary from year to year, but are always appreciated by the homebound Fayette County seniors receiving the Meals. Presently 123 in the county are Meals on Wheels recipients.

This year the group opted to make turkeys for a homeschool group who volunteered to entertain members with seasonal tunes the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Using felt, nuts and other materials the little turkeys were a perfect accent for a holiday table.

Giving isn't the purview of Friendship Center participants. Many of the staff reach out to the community by volunteering in other capacities. Andy Carden, Director of FSS, is active in the Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce and his church. Calcaterra, as mentioned, works side-by-side with the seniors making items to help the needy.

Fayette Senior Services is a perfect example of the adage "what goes around comes around." They benefit from the generosity of many and in turn, they pass along the blessings. If you would like to volunteer or donate items to help with any of the craft projects, please contact Kate Calcaterra at 770-461-0813.

To find out more about the numerous outreach services offered by Fayette Senior Services visit http://www.fayss.org/ or call 770-461-0813.

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