Making a Difference Archives - Atlanta Senior Life

Two Million Served: Midtown church’s food ministry

by Donna Williams Lewis | Dec 31, 2019 | Making a Difference | 0 |

Every weekday morning, a line of people forms outside the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Midtown. They are there for the lunch of soup, bread and dessert that has been provided by the Lutheran Community Food Ministry since 1982. On Oct. 23, 2019, the food ministry celebrated a monumental milestone – its two millionth meal served to the hungry.

Backpack Buddies: ‘Hunger doesn’t take the weekend off’

by Donna Williams Lewis | Dec 31, 2019 | Feature, Making a Difference | 0 |

Thanks to their determination and to an anonymous donor, Backpack Buddies has spawned 15 affiliate programs in synagogues, churches and other locations in just a little more than a year. “The best part about this to me is that without a huge amount of effort, there are a huge amount of children being fed,” Samra Robbins said.

Common Sense Collaboration: Fred Glassman offers legal mediation class

by Mark Woolsey | Dec 5, 2019 | Feature, Making a Difference | 0 |

“I thought there must be a better way.” Turns out there was. The concept of mediation emerged, with a neutral person representing both parties. Glassman saw that some cases were ripe for mediation and he tried to get his clients to travel that route whenever appropriate. Then along came collaborative law. It’s a legal framework in which both parties in a dispute hire attorneys, but the lawyers formally agree not to go to court.

OLLI Instructor Crusades Against ‘Aging in Place’

by Donna Williams Lewis | Nov 3, 2019 | Making a Difference | 0 |

The 82-year-old retired CEO, volunteer history teacher and folk musician became a super advocate of senior residences after his 2014 move to one of them with his wife, Ginny. “It’s like a cruise ship that never leaves the dock,” he says, of their current home. The couple downsized from a 2,800-square-foot, three-story condo to a 1,200-square-foot Buckhead apartment featuring a wide range of activities, excursions, a restaurant-style dining room and a happy hour area.

Hospital’s Volunteer Corps Celebrates a Half-Century

by Atlanta Senior Life Staff | Sep 6, 2019 | Making a Difference, Volunteering | 0 |

Patients and visitors at the hospital would be surprised at how often the person greeting them in the lobby, pushing their wheelchair, delivering flowers, staffing the gift shops, bringing in therapy dogs, taking baby pictures, driving courtesy carts and offering information and comfort to patients and their families is a retired corporate executive. Others are teachers, artists, veterans, homemakers, high-school students and more.

Flying Together in Retirement: Delta Clipped Wings

by Joe Earle | Aug 30, 2019 | Feature, Making a Difference | 0 |

When Bettie Wooten Asip retired from Delta Air Lines, she wanted to stay in touch with her traveling pals. She joined Delta Clipped Wings, an organization formed in the 1950s to bring together former flight attendants for social events and to raise money for charity.