Harry Covert, Mr. Irwin Burnham, enjoying his 90th birthday, Chief Deputy for Administration Lenny George, Chief Magistrate George Franklin Ball, Jr., and Sheriff Dana Lawhorne. (Photo by Lenora Murphy).
Sheriff Lawhorne, a community service enthusiast, learned the Meals on Wheels needed help on Tuesday, Oct. 22. He answered the call from the city’s Senior Services, executive director Janet Barnett. Along with his daughter Mallory, Lawhorne delivered 15 meals. Other staff members who volunteered were Chief Deputy Tim Gleeson, who fed 15 seniors, George Burnham delivered 15 and Deputy Chris O’Dell delivered 11.
Menus for shut-ins included fruit, soft drinks and juices, sandwiches, fruit and Greek salads and milk.
Ms. Barnett praised the Sheriff and his associates for delivering the meals. “Had we not had your help, these folks would have gone four says without food (Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.”
The Senior Services program, in conjunction with the city, provides meals five days a week. “For the past year, we have provided meals through the generous donation from the Ronald M. Bradley Foundation. Our hope is to raise funds for weekends, so these folks will have a hot meal seven days a week, said Ms. Barnett. “We eat seven days a week without even thinking about.”
Sheriff Lawhorne, a longtime supporter of this program, has also had his Inmate Work Detail, under the direction of Lt. Doug Schuler along with deputies Greg Zedalis, James Velez and George Wooden, to provide assistance in cleaning streets with snow removal. Lawhorne was also driving a snow removal truck during the weekend.
Lawhorne said, “Everybody should have to volunteer for this at least one day a month. It is a stark reminder of how unfortunate some of our seniors are. Me and my daughter Mallory did the Old Town route and most of our deliveries were to people who are in wheelchairs, on oxygen, immobile and lonely. Tim (Gleeson), George (Burnham) and Deputy Chris O’dell reported the same after making their rounds. Thanks for letting us help.”
During the holiday season, beginning before Thanksgiving week, the Sheriff’s Office has been involved with other deliveries of food throughout the city. In cooperation with IBM, Chief Deputy Lenny George and Deputy Monique Edwards were busy, too. They picked up turkeys for needy families and completed a canned-food drive. The food drive was instigated by Deputy Edwards who collected the items from the staff of the sheriff’s office, largest ever for the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.
