In the midst of this pandemic, local nursing home residents have found themselves shut off from their loved ones, isolated from the world.
Visitors are banned from nursing home facilities in Georgia at least through May 13.
To try and help ease their loneliness, members of the Cornelia/Clayton chapter of Citizens of Georgia Power decided to do something about it. The group donated $800 to go toward the purchase of electronic tablets for residents of Habersham Home. The nursing home is owned and operated by Habersham Medical Center (HMC) in Demorest.
“I just reached out to the hospital and told them we’d like to do something for them,” says Georgia Power area manager Brent Edwards. “We’re always looking for ways to support our community.”
Citizens of Georgia Power is the volunteer arm of the state’s largest utility. There are 3,400 members in 42 chapters statewide. Members include Georgia Power Company employees and their spouses. The Cornelia/Clayton chapter has 65 members.
“We have a lot of different fundraisers throughout the year to support different charities,” Edwards says. Helping the community through this pandemic became a priority. Through their generous donation, the local Citizens of Georgia chapter is helping senior citizens stay connected to their families.
“Watching our residents virtually visit with their family members and friends using electronic tablets like iPads and Samsung Galaxies brings so much joy, hope, and encouragement to them,” says HMC spokesperson Kesha Clinkscale. “And during these uncertain times, the video visits also help dramatically improve their wellbeing and quality of life.”
“Anytime you can identify a need and do something to meet those needs, it’s very rewarding,” says Edwards. Georgia Power’s motto is “A Citizen Wherever We Serve.” Edwards says service is in the company’s DNA. “I’m proud to work for a company that sees the importance of giving back to the community.”
“Ideally, we would like to have an electronic tablet assigned to each room,” says Clinkscale. Habersham Home needs 70 more tablets to do that. If you would like help, you can make a donation online at Donate a Tablet to HH.
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