Special Thanks to Our Volunteers
Veteran Continues to Serve
“With a thousand people doing one small step you get a lot accomplished”
~Al Johnson, US Army Veteran
and Meals On Wheels Volunteer
Four decades after his tour of duty in Vietnam, Al Johnson is still in the service. Al is one of several veterans who deliver to Seniors First Meals on Wheels clients. Every Tuesday, Al drives from his home in Poinciana to fulfill this labor of love.
Al’s call to duty comes naturally. As a young man, he served America as an Army paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Division. In 1968, he was wounded in the Tet Offensive and was sent to a hospital near his hometown of Boston to recover.
“The army matured me,” says Al who, after his military discharge went on to college and a 27 year career as a history teacher in the small town of Medina, New York, outside Buffalo. He retired a decade ago in Central Florida and wanted to keep busy. A newspaper article helped him find his next calling.
“It was in 2002,” Al recalls an article he saw in the newspaper about Meals On Wheels. “It had a picture of a woman named Lulu Bell.” Lulu’s story and personality so inspired Al, that he volunteered and has been driving a meal route ever since. It turns out that Lulu was on Al’s route. “She’s become a close family friend. When I deliver to Lulu, I stay for a half hour.”
Like so many volunteers, Al delivers more than meals. He brings a bright moment and friendship to the seniors he serves. “They really welcome you just to talk to them.” Al believes other people would help deliver Meals On Wheels, if they just knew what they could get out of it. As for the challenge of rising gas prices, Al says it’s a small price to pay. “If you live close to here, you might drive 20-30 miles. What’s that, a gallon of gas? That’s $4.00. You get a lot for that $4.00.” He has issued a call to other retirees who are looking for a fulfilling way to spend their time.
“They don’t know what they’re missing! If you have the heart to serve, this is such a rewarding experience. You meet some great people.” Al truly believes, “I get more out of it than I give.”
To find out more about Seniors First volunteer opportunities to deliver Meals On Wheels, be a Friendly Visitor, help with special events and more, call 407-615-8982.
