It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
The bright sunlight and deep blue skies belied the fact that the temperature was hovering around thirty eight degrees on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in West Columbia , SC.
A small SUV turned off a main throughway and slowly made its way down a deserted side street. This was a poor section of West Columbia , and the small frame houses lining the street were in varying stages of disrepair. The car turned into a yard and passed through a small opening in a chain link fence that surrounded a white clapboard home.
In the yard an old pickup truck with four flat tires had been parked in the same spot for as long as Greg the driver of the SUV could remember. He drove past the truck and parked near the wooden front porch. He shut off the engine, reached into the back seat for one hot meal and two frozen meals that had been given to him at the Meals on Wheels distribution center. There would be no delivery for the next two days because of the holiday. The frozen meals were meant to supplement during that time.
Greg always made this home his last stop on the route. The elderly woman that lived in the home seemed to enjoy his weekly visits. The woman would always open the door just a crack until she could make out who he was. He could see her tense expression relax when she recognized it was him. He wondered if she lived in constant fear of who might try to enter her home. Several months earlier as she was watching TV, a bullet had been shot through her living room window and had lodged into the opposite wall just a few feet from where she was sitting.
Greg could tell by their conversations that everyday was a struggle for the woman. Her fixed income kept her so close to the edge of poverty that one crisis would easily send her over the edge. She told him she was nearly 80 years old. She could still move around without any assistance, and she liked to work in her yard when the weather permitted. Despite her financial hardships, she had a strong faith in God and a great attitude. She would tell Greg that she was thankful for everything she had.
For two years Greg, an employee of Agapé Senior would spend his lunch hour every Wednesday delivering the meals. He would tell her about his family and things he was involved with at work. She would talk about her son that lived somewhere in Columbia
What Greg had not counted on was how his weekly visits and friendship with this simple graceful woman would impact him personally. Difficult times and problems in his own life had new perspective. His job with Agape Senior had originally inspired him to look outside of himself and become involved in his community. The actual experience proved to be as much of a benefit to him as the people he was serving.
Volunteering and community outreach is an important part of the mission of Agapé Senior. Each contribution of time or the sharing of a special talent has the power to make a difference in another person’s life. The recent employee blood drive for The American Red Cross or the Habitat for Humanity home build are just two examples of the spirit of volunteerism at work. There are also many opportunities for volunteers from the community to work with Agape. If you would like to find out how you can make a difference, call our Ask Agape line 1-800-411-Agape(2427)
Joe B. Nester
Agapé Senior’s mission is to provide integrated health services to meet the needs of senior adults in a faith-based atmosphere. The company’s philosophy is based upon its commitment to provide the best quality care possible for members of our senior adult community. We are committed to participating actively in and around the communities we serve. Ask Agape-1-800-411- 2427
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