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www.aidforfriends.org
February 2015
AID F OR F RIENDS
Steven M. Schiavone, Executive Director
12271 Townsend Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154
215.464.2224 Email: [email protected]
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JIM DOLAN’S STORY
Jim had heard my mother speak at his parish, St.
Bernard, 35 years ago. He said that while sitting in the
church pew and listening to her stories of the Aid For
Friends homebound, he felt inspired to serve. Jim
volunteered – that morning - to become a visitor, and has
been doing so for 35 years now. He has visited 25 different
shut-ins during that time. One day, while at my AFF office,
Jim told me about a particular couple he visited – Bill and
Amanda (not their real names) - who had made a lasting
impact on his life as a volunteer. Amanda had been an AFF
cook volunteer for many years, and had purchased food
and prepared a variety of different dinners throughout the
week. She had lost count of the number of dinners she
prepared for the shut-ins, but as she told Jim, it was many
hundreds. During that same time, her husband, Bill, had
become an AFF volunteer driver/visitor. The couple had
been so very dedicated to serving the needy frail elderly
homebound. They were happy with their volunteer way of
living until both of them became seriously ill –virtually at
the same time – and were unable to leave their house.
Amanda was no longer able to shop or prepare dinners and
Bill could no longer drive or walk very far.
When their doctor told them he did not expect
either of them to completely recover, they became
despondent and called the AFF office to say they were no
longer able to volunteer, since they could no longer leave
their home. Bill and Amanda then explained how unhappy
they were that they needed to give up their volunteer work
because they really did enjoy cooking for and visiting the
AFF shut-ins. An AFF social worker had several visitor
volunteers who would be able to visit an additional
shut-in each week.
MARTIN LUTHER
KING DAY
“I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed
me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve
seen the Promised Land…so I’m happy tonight…” Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 to 1968).
We thank all of the school children, college
students, adults, church, scout and youth groups who for
many years have celebrated the M. L. King Day of Service
by making and donating AFF dinners and breakfast bags
for our shut-ins.
Our Lady of
Grace school staff
(Langhorne) helped to
organize cooking groups
along with the Neshaminy
School District which
included Neshaminy H.S.
and Maple Point Middle
School.
Amanda then asked, with some hesitation, if they
might possibly become AFF client/friends themselves, and
receive 14 dinners each week, since they were now
homebound. They were, of course, accepted into the AFF
program, and Jim Dolan agreed to begin visiting this
couple along with the other shut-ins he regularly visited.
Jim told me they were the nicest couple he knew and their
relationship turned to friendship for the three of them. It
gave him such a warm feeling; he felt grateful to God that
he had the opportunity to serve this couple who, for so
many years, had visited and served needy shut-ins
themselves. When Jim told me the above story as he sat
across from me at my desk, he asked me if I had ever
visited any of the homebound client/friends. I told him
about frail elderly Mrs. F. and her developmentally
challenged daughter whom I visited for a few years.
They were both the nicest women I could know. Through
the years I had heard from my mother about many of the
shut-ins she visited and how much it meant to her. Now, I
finally understood because Mrs. F. and her daughter were
really a gift from God to me. Jim agreed that he felt the
same way about Amanda and Bill and their relationship
with him. Many of our visitor volunteers would agree that
since they joined Aid For Friends, their lives had made a
positive difference to all concerned. If you have ever
considered visiting a shut-in who is not only chronically
ill but also isolated and hungry – your decision to call
the AFF office and volunteer will be an answer to
someone’s prayer.
Sincerely,
Steven M. Schiavone
Their large group of 270 children, teachers and
parents, purchased food for and prepared 2,458 dinners
for our shut-ins. There were three different types of
dinners prepared: barbeque beef, chicken and ham.
The youngest school children made 1,017 breakfast
bags; some also made greeting cards for each breakfast
bag. Also, they had purchased extra breakfast items
which were used by other groups to make 500
additional bags at the Aid For Friends Frail Elderly
Outreach Center. Members of Temple Judea
Synagogue
gathered for
the third year
to prepare
371 high
quality
dinners and
206 breakfast
bags on M.L.
King Day of
Service.
AID FOR FRIENDS
FEBRUARY 2015
Founder’s Column: Who would have thought?
“I was a stranger and you made me welcome.” The Parable of the Last Judgment taught me many things. I
had read Matthew 25 many times, and often wondered where or when I would have the opportunity “to meet…and
welcome… a stranger”. When I founded Aid For Friends in 1974 – the Answer presented itself. Who would have
thought? Frail elderly women and men – strangers who are so needy, so lonely, so hungry - were brought to my
attention through God’s Providence. My first efforts became an instrument for other individuals to offer their
volunteer services. I knew it was necessary to recruit volunteers to help with the needs of the disabled
homebound…the majority of whom were elderly. At first I managed to visit eleven shut-ins each week – with
different disabilities, ages, communities. I had no idea we would become friends.
I remember Alice who had been confined to a wheelchair for many years. She lived on the first floor of her
home. Her only companions were a small dog with very long hair, so long in fact that when Princess walked
around the room, she cleaned the floor like a dust mop, and two cats, Trixie and Dixie. She left her one window
open all day just enough so that her cats could jump in and out. I came to visit Alice after she had called the
Frankford YWCA to inquire about the possibility of receiving dinners on a regular basis. When I first arrived I
chatted with Alice and learned that her greatest need was for adequate nutritious meals. (Alice, because she was
confined to a wheelchair, was unable to leave her home and shop for necessities, nor could she prepare dinners if
she had been fortunate enough to have food available.) As we spoke together, I looked around and tried to
determine what she needed and how I could help provide those needs. I noticed that there was a small half
bathroom (no bathtub or shower) on the first floor and I thought how difficult it must be for her to bathe herself
while in the wheelchair and how hard it must be to keep her living areas clean. And then there were her beloved
dog and two cats that must be considered. I prayed fervently for guidance. I was willing to help with Alice's home
cleaning needs, however at that time I had never owned a dog or cat, and was fearful of being close to either type
of pet. Then I remembered my dear friend, AnnaMae, who was totally dedicated to animal welfare and who offered
help whenever dog grooming was needed. After I called AnnaMae, she offered to visit Alice with me the following
day. My friend told Alice she would be happy to bathe and groom her dog whenever needed. By the end of the first
grooming session Princess looked like a different dog and Alice was elated. Through making phone calls, I also
found students from Penn Veterinary School who agreed to collect dog and cat food and deliver the supplies to
Alice free of charge on a regular basis.I talked with a journalist who had volunteered with AFF and who worked
for a daily Philadelphia newspaper and who offered to write about this frail elderly woman’s needs (without
identifying her name or address). After publication of this story, many individuals inquired about what types of
support they could give. Some collected food, bath towels and wash cloths, some became volunteer cooks, and a
few offered to visit a shut-in. A woman named Marie offered to take Alice to her own home and shower her twice
a week – definitely an answered prayer! This very generous offer became a reality for a long time, with Alice and
Marie becoming close friends. Marie also began taking Aid For Friends frozen dinners to Alice each week from
the AFF freezer at the Frankford YWCA. (Once I learned of Alice’s food preferences, I often made special dinners
for delivery to her.) Marie began by meeting one of Alice’s urgent needs and her generosity expanded to serving
other needs while their friendship grew.
This was the beginning of Aid For Friends. In 1974…who would have thought that in forty years
thousands of volunteer visitors would meet and serve 15,500 frail elderly, needy, homebound men and women who
had previously been strangers. So…I had met the stranger, I saw how many needs Alice had, and even though I
was not the answer to all of her problems personally, I became – though God’s Grace and the generosity of other
volunteers - the instrument by which her quality of life was greatly improved.
Please spread the Good News. Listen for Our Lord’s call to serve. There are so many “strangers” praying
for help. If you offer your friendship it can change one shut-in’s life – it can change your life as well!
Rita Ungaro-Schiavone
Chairman
WE REMEMBER BUD SHAW - Students from St Dominic’s Angel Project gathered to make meals for
Aid For Friends and to honor the great efforts of Bud Shaw. Bud is the recently deceased leader of their very
productive cooking group. Steven M. Schiavone, Executive Director, presented his widow, Peg Shaw, with a Rita
Ungaro Schiavone award. St. Dominic’s pastor Rev. Kearns, members of the cooking group, teacher Karen Elitz
and students were also in attendance. We will miss you Bud!
AID FOR FRIENDS
FEBRUARY 2015
DAY: H
H PRESIDENTS
FEBRUARY 16, 2015
“Make sure you are doing what God wants you to
do…then do it with all your strength.”
George Washington, the Father of our Country
“Let us have faith that right makes might, and
in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as
- Abraham Lincoln
we understand it.”
2014 Hannukkah / Christmas Party
was a Huge Success!
Are you an Aid For Friends volunteer or donor who was unable to attend the
Holiday Party this past December? If so, you missed a wonderful event!
Please consider attending our Hanukkah/Christmas Party next year. The food,
prepared by Lynn Trombetta, Assistant Executive Director/Food Safety
Manager, and the variety of dishes donated by our volunteers, were really
delicious. We had a Chinese Auction with many beautifully wrapped gift
baskets holding an outstanding variety of items in each,
and our guests really enjoyed bidding on them. A 50/50
raffle was also held. The live music, performed by The
Joe Tumolo Jazz Duo enhanced our afternoon’s
enjoyment. We need to mention also that the party
attendees enjoyed visiting and talking with each other.
An atmosphere of joy pervaded this annual celebration.
This annual party is one way that we say “thank you”
to our supporters for their faithfulness over the years.
A GIFT FOR THE FUTURE
Have any of you ever considered leaving a portion of your estate
to Aid For Friends through your Last Will and Testament? The
bequests we have received over the years have helped Aid For
Friends’ charity to expand. If you would like to choose a bequest
as a way of giving and need further information, you may call the
Executive Director, Steven M. Schiavone, Esq. at 215-464-2224
FINANCIAL DONATIONS NEEDED
As always, our nonprofit charity is in need of funding in order to continue our FREE MEALS AND
OUTREACH to the 2,000 homebound we currently serve. Our Charity has served an aggregate total of 15,500
shut-ins free home cooked dinners during the past 40 years without ever charging our client/friends for even
one meal. Are you able to help us at this time? Enclosed is a self-addressed, postage paid envelope for your
donation. ANY and ALL AMOUNTS are appreciated and are deductible on your IRS tax return.
&
Your tax-deductible donation helps feed isolated frail elderly
and disabled homebound persons
Name __________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________________________________________
State______________________________________________ ZIP ________________
Email ________________________________________________________Thank you!
Donation:
0 $10.00
0 $20.00
0 $50.00
0 $100.00
Other____________
Every dollar helps us serve
the frail eldery. Please use the
envelope provided to send your
donation. Make checks payable to
Aid For Friends.
&
AID FOR FRIENDS
Thank You Phillies
FEBRUARY 2015
The Annual Phillies Charity Holiday Giving Party recognized local
Community Heroes who provide valuable service to those in need. Several
emotional testimonies were given by Phillies Charities, Inc.’ grant recipients,
including Aid For Friends’ Lynn Trombetta, Assistant Executive Director. The
recipients detailed their work and impact on the community. Ryan Hayes,
Community Outreach Representative, invited Lynn to the podium to speak, and
she gave a personal story about Aid For Friends founding and development.
Twenty-one non-profit organizations each received $10,000. All the Holiday
Party table centerpieces were made from fresh vegetables which were donated to
Lynn Trombetta for the AFF cook volunteers to use in preparing a large batch of
stew for our client/friends dinners. Lynn Blum, an employee of the Phillies who
has also been a devoted AFF volunteer for many years through her church,
Philadelphia First Church of the Brethren, Wyndmoor, had recommended that
Phillies Phanatic with Lynn Trombetta and
AFF receive one of the $10,000 grants.
her brother, Ron Johnson, an AFF Volunteer
Help it continue to rain PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
For many years, Aid For Friends has had an ongoing Penny Campaign. Over those years these pennies and
nickels and dimes and quarters have added up to a considerable amount of money and have helped us greatly in
providing free meals and services for our client friends. In most of our homes these coins lie around sometimes for
years, and are forgotten. Over the past 40 years Aid For Friends delivered over 16 million free meals because our cook
volunteers have been preparing one dinner at a time for our frail elderly, isolated individuals who are needy and have no
one else to turn to. Visitor volunteers have given an hour of their time each week to bring food that the cooks have made
and to spend at least one hour of their time just visiting and being a friend. The individual contributions of these
volunteers may not seem like a great deal but the cumulative effect of thousands of these individuals has made immense
impact on the people we serve in our combined communities. Likewise, pennies nickels and dimes and quarters seem
very insignificant but when collected in large numbers can become truly meaningful and important.
To someone who has little or nothing, and is in great need, and is alone and isolated from others, these coins are
like pennies from heaven. It tells them that someone cares and provides them with things that they cannot provide for
themselves. It provides them with food and friendship and little miracles that love can bring. If you would like to help
please call Aid For Friends at 215-464-2224 and find out how. You may wish to have a penny jar at home to collect all
your spare change that would normally just lay around and take up space, or you may know a business that would put
one of our penny jars in his/her establishment, or you may have a creative idea that would induce others to contribute in
some way to the loving mission of aid for friends.
From little things GREAT things often arise.