Women's Commission Coordinator Steps Down

4 Businesses 
Will Receive 
County Loans 
Commissioners Ok $705,600 In Low-interest Loans Through Business Development 
Loan Program

By CECE TODD; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, January 21, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: ELDERLY KEEP AGENCIES,
BUSINESSES ON THEIR TOES 





As the snow barricades area elderly in their homes, agencies, grocers and
pharmacies are working overtime to deliver food and medicine to senior
citizens and make sure they're warm. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That's what's keeping us the busiest," said Bruce Lefkowitz, owner of
Harrold's Pharmacy in Wilkes-Barre. "We had to pull in another employee's
four-wheel drive vehicle. Now, we've got two Jeeps delivering everywhere." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In Luzerne County -- where 25 percent of the people are 65 or older -- most
calls for help during this week's frigid blast are coming from senior
citizens. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "In the last five days, we've had 21 genuine crisis calls from the aging,"
said Mike Zimmerman, director of Help Line, a referral agency. "We usually
average 29 crisis calls in a month." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some older people have run out of medicine or food. Others have no heat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "One man was going to start a fire in his bathtub to stay warm," Zimmerman
said. But the Commission on Economic Opportunity found a safe place for him to
stay. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 CEO executive director Gene Brady said his agency has been working seven
days a week to provide everything from meals to personal care to senior
citizens stranded and isolated by the snow. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Everybody we work with is being taken care of," he said. CEO provides
services to thousands of people, including 500 on the meal program. Most of
those clients are senior citizens. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Other agencies, such as Meals on Wheels, have been forced to suspend
services. That means more business -- and work -- for Wilkes-Barre's Academy
Super Market, which delivers in Wilkes-Barre and Kingston. The grocery store
is making 50 to 75 deliveries a day. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We're getting more calls than we can handle," said deliveryman Jim Brady
Jr. "We're mostly delivering to senior citizens, but we're not taking a lot
out. We can only take care of so much." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Callers to Harrold's Pharmacy aren't just asking for prescriptions. "We've
had an increase in all our over-the-counter sales, too," Lefkowitz said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At Wilkes-Barre's Crossroads Pharmacy, deliveries doubled this week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They start at 9:30 (a.m.) and go till they're done. Lately, that's been 5
or 6 (p.m.)," said pharmacist Joann Ready. "Normally, they're done by 2
(p.m.)." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Compounding things is the excessive amount of snow piled alongside roads
and streets. "We have two guys working instead of one," Ready said. "One sits
in the van because there's nowhere to park" while the other one goes to the
door. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Zimmerman said he did not know when agencies such as Meals on Wheels would
be able to resume operation. In the meantime, Help Line phones are ringing and
ringing and ringing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Senior citizens or others needing assistance during the severe weather
should call Help Line at 829-1341. cq

Elderly Keep Agencies, Businesses On Their Toes 
The Phones Are Ringing Off The Hook These Days, As Senior Citizens Seek Food, 
Medicine Or Emergency Aid, 
But Providers Are Working 
Overtime To Meet The Demand

Elderly Keep Agencies, Businesses On Their Toes The Phones Are Ringing Off The Hook These Days, As Senior Citizens Seek Food, Medicine Or Emergency Aid, But Providers Are Working Overtime To Meet The Demand