Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 12, 1993 TAG: 9301120271
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: BASTIAN LENGTH: Medium
MEALS PROGRAM GETS CONTRIBUTION
A contribution from General Injectables and Vaccines, a Bland County business, will allow 49 more senior citizens in Bland and Wythe counties to get hot meals delivered to their homes each day for the next six months.It will also expand the service, provided by the District Three Governmental Cooperative, from five to seven days a week for 98 other elderly people living at home.
GIV President James Gregory presented the first check Monday morning to Thelma Bland, commissioner of the Virginia Department of the Aging. "You know, a lot of times, government people get a bum rap," Gregory said. "We want to be involved with anyone who is helping our neighbors."
GIV has committed itself to donating $22,183.98 to the cooperative over six months.
"I memorized that figure when I heard it, because this is unheard of," Bland said after the presentation. She said GIV had calculated the cost of the meals to the penny.
GIV will consider further support of the program at the end of the six months, Bland said.
Earlier Monday, Bland visited the Lord's Storehouse in Wytheville which is supported by the GIV Benevolent Fund. It has been providing food and clothing to people in need since late August.
She also met with representatives of area agencies on aging in Wytheville and Pulaski during her visit. She heard reports on several innovative programs being tried in Southwest Virginia.
Mike Guy, executive director of the District Three Governmental Cooperative, announced at the Wytheville gathering that there will be a meeting Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Wythe County Courthouse of agencies involved in home improvement programs.
"There are several agencies that do this kind of service, but nobody has all the resources they need," said Guy, whose co-op serves the counties of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington and Wythe and the cities of Bristol and Galax. "What we're hoping to do is pull those players together."
Rita Cobbs, who works with a recently established hospice program in Wythe and Bland counties, said more than 50 volunteers have been trained to help the terminally ill at home. She said the program has provided more than 1,100 patient-care days working with Wythe County Community Hospital and health care nurses.
Efforts are under way to extend hospice services to Smyth and Washington counties, she said. Information on the program is available by calling 228-5424.
Cheryl Warren of the cooperative staff reported on the success of "You know, a lot of times, government people get a bum rap. We want to be involved with anyone who is helping our neighbors. James Gregory GIV President an 18-month pilot program - one of three in Virginia - to help elderly people with health or physical problems remain in their homes, so they do not have to enter a nursing home.
This case-management program has served 290 clients in the past six months, she said, which represents a substantial savings since nursing-home care is about $2,500 a month - compared to about $118 a month to help maintain a person in his or her home.
Wytheville Mayor Trent Crewe and Assistant Town Manager Steve Moore talked about an experimental bus service program established in Wytheville last month with help from the cooperative. Rides are 50 cents each way and are arranged a day in advance by calling 228-7433.
The cooperative is also helping senior citizens find jobs in a Community Services Employment Program. Some have started their own small businesses and some manufacturers have specifically requested older workers.
Guy commended Wytheville for considering the needs of older people with its recreation program, providing walking tracks and facilities they can use.
"We have more things in the works," Crewe said. "Everybody above teen-age years has traditionally been left out of the recreation program."