Earlier this year, AHCS signed up again  (2nd year in a row) to exhibit at Gwinnett’s largest road race, Run The Reagan. At the time, we knew that the race benefits a great cause, Gwinnett Community Clinic. But what we didn’t know is that mother nature had some special plans for that day, too.

Laying 5″ of snowfall at our feet in Atlanta the night before, the race did indeed go on. And so did its Family Festival of which we were a part of.

So, we loaded up the truck and stocked our booth with our new logo’d notepads, pens and magnets to greet the winter runnerland.

While the snow provided a bit of frost to our toes, the sun warmed our noses as we greeted many a 1 mile, 5k and 10K finisher who stopped by our booth to say hello.

We also met booth neighbor, Aysha Cooper of the new Sarah Care Adult Day Care Center in Snellville.  Aysha is excited about helping our community with her new day care center for seniors. For more information, call her at 770-685-6971. Or visit her website.

If you were planning to run or drop by and see us, but just couldn’t dig out, who knows? Maybe we’ll see you next year! Until then, thanks to everyone who stopped by.

The W.O.W.'s hold up a few of the sweaters they gave me last Thursday for Gwinnett County Seniors.

Last February, I met Mary Anne Lamb (shown back row on the left) at Run The Reagan 5K in Snellville, GA.  AHCS had a booth at the race and Mary Anne stopped by. I remember telling her about our “Sweaters For Seniors” program. She told me that her women’s group at Brookwood Baptist might be able to help us collect some sweaters.

Lo and behold! She was right as last Thursday AHCS was invited to the “Girl Friends’” meeting at Mary Anne’s Lawrenceville home.  It was a chilly winter night but you’d hardly know it thanks to the hospitality of these women. Warmly welcoming me in, I was given the floor to discuss our “3rd Annual Sweaters for Seniors” program.

Martha McCance (back row 3rd from left) introduced me to the W.O.W.s and pledged that they’d help next fall. One of my requests is that we get more Gwinnett County Schools involved this year. It seems that K-5 aged kids in particular love to collect sweaters for seniors. Martha explained, “We have some members who work at  Gwinnett County Schools and we’ll ask them to help.”

A huge thanks to Mary Anne, Martha, Lori and the rest of the “GF’s.” (I hear they also help seniors at Sunrise Assisted Living on Five Forks Trickum.) So with all they have on their plates, we appreciate their help with S4S all the more!

For 12 years, Run the Reagan has been one of Gwinnett’s greatest community events. As the largest road race in our county, RTR has a distance for every runner: half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), 5K (3.1 miles) and 1 mile fun run. What’s more, proceeds from the event benefit  Gwinnett Community Clinic and Young Life.

The races begin at 8 a.m. along with the Family Festival, which is part of the festivities. Participants and their families will enjoy large inflatables for the kids, music, food sampling and more. As an exhibitor at the festival, Alternative Home Care for Seniors will be on hand to answer your questions about in-home care for seniors. (We provide caregivers who help with light housekeeping, personal hygiene, ambulation and more.) We’ll also be handing out a special Valentines Day surprise while supplies last.

The race is supported by City of Snellville, Snellville Police Department, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and Department of Transportation. Sponsors include Emory Eastside, Bank of America, Kroger, Presidential Markets Shopping Center and the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Please join us all on February 14.  For race applications or exhibitor information, visit Run the Reagan.