Return guest, Jeff Smythe discovered early on that he wanted to spend his life and career helping people. While in college, he spent time with WorldTeach in Costa Rica. Upon return and graduation from college, Jeff moved from Denver to Atlanta. He started working with OpenHand Atlanta, and went on to earn a Masters in Public Administration from Georgia State University. About 10 years ago, Jeff began working for Senior Citizen Services, now Meals on Wheels Atlanta,(www.MealsOnWheelsAtlanta.org). Now, as the Executive Director of the organization, Jeff takes pride in the fact that the organization serves more than 100,000 meals per year through its Meals on Wheels program, and provides home repair for literally hundreds of Fulton County citizens each year.
Jessica Gill has never held a job that didn’t involve serving seniors! Growing up in Connecticut, she spent time in school visiting nursing homes. While doing that, she also learned to square dance. As a result of that experience, she developed a passion for the senior community. She went on to school at University of Southern Connecticut, earning a Masters in Public Health, and then to Boston University, where she received a certificate in Gerontology. Upon graduation, Jessica took a job with the CDC, and was ultimately transferred to Atlanta. She is also a certified geriatric care manager, and has spent time working with the Area Agency on Aging, as well as working as a geriatric care manager in private practice. Today she works for Sunrise Senior Living as an Area Manager of Business Development. Part of her role with Sunrise is linking arms with like-minded organizations in the community. Thus, Sunrise and Meals on Wheels Atlanta have come together to provide more than 300 Christmas Eve/Christmas Day meals for Atlanta’s most needy seniors. To find out how you can donate or get involved, please contact either Jeff or Jennifer. Here are their coordinates:
Jeff Smythe: Phone – (404)-351-3889 Email: jsmythe@mealsonwheelsatlanta.org
Jessica Gill: Twitter @GillJJLL, Email: Jessica.Gill@sunriseseniorliving.com
To donate canned goods, blankets, CO2 or Smoke Detectors, simply drop them off at any of the 10 Atlanta Sunrise locations, but hurry – only 19 days to Christmas Eve!
We want to thank Griswold Home Care for sponsoring today’s show. Griswold Home Care has been a preferred provider of high quality, affordable in-home senior care in Atlanta for 20 years.
