Adams COA Loads Up 'Buckets of Sand' for Local Senior Citizens
 Council on Aging staff and volunteers from Monarch Realty fill buckets of sand up on Thursday for Adams' senior citizens. |
ADAMS, Mass. — Senior citizens received free sand for their driveways this winter during the third annual Buckets of Sand program Thursday morning.
Members of Adams elderly community stopped at the Visitors Center to pick up their official Council on Aging buckets. This year the event was sponsored by Monarch Realty and employees helped hand out the sand provided by the Department of Public Works.
Council on Aging Director Erica Girgenti said those who are unable to come pick up their sand can sign up to have it delivered.
"It is very important and has been historically successful, and the majority of the people that use it have no means of transportation," Girgenti said. "Generally when they happen to need it is when it snows or it's too late, so having this ahead of time so they can spread it has been pretty successful."
Outreach Coordinator Linda Cernik said in the two years of the program's existence, they have handed out nearly 75 buckets. She said once the bucket is emptied, they will pick it up and refill it for the seniors.
Linda said the program inspires all around good feelings.
"The feeling of community support through the two realties has been outstanding. We really need their support to provide the buckets," Cernik said. "The seniors are very happy, especially when it might snow this weekend so it's perfect. I think they are very happy and they appreciate the service we are providing."
Resident Roy Thompson utilizes the program and said it is a great service to the community's elderly population.
"A lot of seniors don't have people that can do this for them. They don't have any children that can do it for them and they don’t have any neighbors that can do it for them," Thompson said.
Thompson said it is not only important for senior citizens, but for those who care for them.
"It is important for the safety of any visitors or medical people that come to your house, and in a community like this we have a lot of that," he said. "I think for safety purposes, other than the daily stuff, you need it for the emergency stuff, and it shows there is a community spirit here and I like that.”
Girgenti said the Adams Council on Aging heard about the program at a Massachusetts Council on Aging annual conference. She said a lot of eastern Massachusetts communities do it.
"We are the first that I know of in Western Mass, but it has been gaining some momentum in other communities that are starting to pick it up," she said. "It was our idea to get Steepleview Realty [which did it for two years] and Monarch Realty involved. It's a good unique opportunity for someone like a reality company to give back. It’s not you traditional fundraiser."
Tags: COA, senior citizens, winter safety,
