September 2019
8607 Horton Highway P.O.Box 223 College Grove, TN 37046 615-368-7093 www.FiftyForward.org
November Highlights 4—Bob Ross Workshop 7—Veterans Day Celebration 8—Daytrip to Page High School for Veterans Salute 11—Daytrip to Bluebird Cafe 14- Lunch & program: Getting Active, Cigna-HealthSpring 18—Bingo 18—Bob Ross Workshop 19—Manicures, pedicures & haircuts 19—Daytrip to Plaza Mariachi for Concert
21—Birthday Potluck
Nashville songwriter Barry Coggins puts his heart and song into raising awareness and funds for FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels “Meals on Wheels!” comes the cheery greeting as Nashville songwriter Barry Coggins knocks on the door of his latest delivery destination. For more than twenty-five years Barry has helped spearhead an effort to deliver hot food to older adults in need as a volunteer for FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels. “Food for the body and conversation for the soul” is Barry’s motto as he spends every Thursday out in the community making deliveries, often bringing friends along to help. In his twenty-five years, Barry has delivered an estimated 9,000 meals and volunteered 3,000 hours. “It’s a good habit to have…It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share food and conversation with people who…enjoy the company,” says Barry about his service, "delivering meals means just as much to me - actually probably more - than it does for the people who need the meals. The hugs I get are worth any time I invest." Barry doesn’t stop there, however.
Music with Choraleers He also shows his love of the program through fundraising. He recently hosted the
(make note this is a Thursday) Barry Coggins Golf Tournament for
FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels for the 28 & 29 Center closed for twentieth year in a row, raising more than Thanksgiving $20,000. He also hosts an annual singer/ songwriters’ night and ‘Barry-oke’ as events which bring in much-needed funds for the Save the date….Saturday, program.
December 7, Pancake Breakfast, Bake Sale and Craft Fair, 7 am.—10 a.m.
According to a study by Feeding America, Tennessee is tied with Missouri as the 41st most food-insecure state. More than
one million Tennesseans are food insecure, with 17.1% of the state’s population not having enough to eat. FiftyForward Fresh/ Meals on Wheels seeks to alleviate hunger for older adults who are in need, delivering more than 20,000 meals annually, including on weekends and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels is dedicated to providing filling and nutritious meals for adults who may be isolated or home-bound, and volunteers like Barry are the heart and soul of the mission.
Become a FiftyForward Fresh/ Meals on Wheels volunteer and deliver hot meals and warm wishes to homebound older adults If you are looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity, sign up to deliver meals for FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels. Spread cheer while you deliver a hot, nutritious meal to older adults in your community. Volunteers are assigned a designated time to pick up meals. Each volunteer receives the packaged meal as well as the address of 4-6 older adults who live in close proximity to one another. Last year, FiftyForward Meals on Wheels delivered more than 18,000 hot meals to 134 homebound older adults in the Nashville community. You can “be like Barry” and spread joy all year long doing something that gives back. To volunteer to prep or deliver meals, contact Sharie Loik Goodman, director, FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels, sloik@fiftyforward.org. Currently, volunteers are needed in the Bellevue area on Tuesdays and Fridays.