Group Donates $70,000 to Meals for Gwinnett Seniors

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Gwinnett County’s program delivering meals to senior citizens in need got a boost this week.

County commissioners accepted a $70,000 donation from a volunteer group created by state Sen. Renee Unterman to assist Gwinnett’s population of people over 60 -- which is now the second-largest in Georgia.

Unterman is a former mayor of Loganville and Gwinnett County commissioner.

Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services holds charity events and pursues grants to help local seniors. The group’s top priorities are food insecurity and access to transportation.

“Over the past five years, Friends has paid Gwinnett County nearly $500,000 to directly address senior needs,” commission Chairman Charlott Nash said in a news release. “We are very grateful for their support.”

For this year, the group committed to provide up to $60,000 to help reduce the waiting list for the county’s senior meals program, up to $4,500 to cover distribution of emergency meals to displaces or distressed seniors and up to $5,500 to buy storable meals for use when weather disrupts normal home-delivered meal services.

The group also has raised money for medical transportation, home repairs, emergency assistance and holiday gift bags, among other services.