RIO GRANDE — When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in October, causing massive destruction up and down the coast, Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) employees wanted to help those in need. The AAA7 is a non-profit organization providing home and community-based long-term care options for ten Ohio counties including Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton.

As a group, AAA7 staff raised $326 to send to Hurricane Sandy victims through Community Services, Inc. of Ocean County in Lakewood, New Jersey. Community Services, Inc. is an agency, like the AAA7, that provides 16 Older Americans Act Title III services (social services, congregate and home-delivered meals, disease prevention and health promotion, and caregiver support) to seniors, serving as the largest Title III provider in the state with over 10,000 senior citizens.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Community Services, Inc. has incurred a number of unexpected expenses, and lost one of their two prep-kitchens. The money raised by AAA7 staff, and given to Community Services, Inc., will go toward food for their meals programs (both home-delivered and congregate). According to AAA7, Community Services, Inc. was very appreciative and thought it was wonderful that AAA7 employees wanted to contribute in this way.