That’s A Wrap! 1st Annual Sweaters for Seniors Warms Up Gwinnett County and More.

When the students at the Galloway School said they were going to collect sweaters, they meant business. Except little did they know, their efforts would benefit a program led by a man of the same name–Gary “Galloway.” But we’ll get to that later.

It was just last Tuesday, December 16 that a group of 4th grade gentlemen loaded up my van with boxes and boxes and boxes of sweaters–more than 150 according to their teacher, Maria Spartis, who spearheaded the project.

“I collected the most!” exclaimed one young man walking down the school hallway to reveal the treasure trove of knits.” “But I brought in the very first one,” explained a young lady from his class. Their teacher, Mrs. Spartis then told her students to help me load up the sweaters. Several boys raced to grab a box from the pile and quickly ran them to my minivan. Stuffing them in, they asked ”where will all these sweaters go?”

“Good question,” I answered.

After all, the nursing homes had taken what they could use. We’d collected a hundred more sweaters in our office complex and through Snap Fitness in Loganville. We’d distributed those pieces to senior homes in metro Atlanta including: Briarcliff Haven, Gwinnett Extended Care, Life Care Center of Gwinnett and Lawrenceville, Golden Living in Decatur and Medical Arts, Laurel Baye in Buford and Emory Rehab Center.

But what would we do with the 150 extra sweaters from the Galloway School?

I called Ann Vines, the director of Lawrenceville Senior Center, since I knew she’d worked with Meals on Wheels for Gwinnett County. Maybe she would know who could REALLY use our cardigans and afghans–our v-necks and pullovers. She referred me to Gary “Galloway,” Volunteer Services Coordinator for Gwinnett County Senior Services.

It must have been meant to be. Gary and Melanie Miller, a public relations specialist for Gwinnett County have been working on a program to keep seniors warm this winter. Working with the fire department, they are in process of collecting space heaters. “January starts to get really tough for some seniors,” explained Galloway. They are getting low on Medicare benefits, money is tight to refill prescriptions and pay heating bills. So these sweaters will come in real handy,” he added as Derrick Merchant, co-owner of Alternative Home Care for Seniors and I met him in front of the Lawrenceville Senior Center to deliver the sweaters.

And so ends our first year “Sweater for Seniors” drive. But first, let me thank the local business folks who helped us get the word out: Dr. Jodi at Alternative Health (chiropractic), Ivan and Karen at Loganville’s Snap Fitness, Joyce at Athens Bank & Trust (formerly National Bank of Walton County.) The Snellville Starbucks and Andie (Andrea Cantrell) at the Grayson Chamber of Commerce. Not to mention, all the people who donated sweaters and blankets like Lisa and Megan Steinocher. Of course, the Galloway School kids and their teachers and parents. Plus, the help received through the media to get the word out. And that’s a wrap!