Gregory’s Fresh Market 5th Annual Holiday “Gift of Nutrition” Program Brings Healthy Food and Friendship to Phoenix Seniors

Gregory’s Fresh Market 5th Annual Holiday “Gift of Nutrition” Program Brings Healthy Food and Friendship to Phoenix Seniors

Jan 8, 2016 | Fresh Foods, healthy eating, holiday food program

For many people, the holidays are a time of great expectations – much anticipated visits with friends and family traveling back home for the season; surprise gifts received from family and friends. For others, however, the holidays can be a time of intense loneliness, magnified even more when compared with the backdrop of seemingly non-stop festivities and parties enjoyed by everyone else. For these people, the greatest gift they can receive is that of friendship — a comforting hand, a reassuring voice, a friendly face.

This year, Gregory’s Fresh Market, a division of Diana Gregory Outreach Services, once again recruited volunteers and sponsors to bring healthy food and friendship to seniors living in the greater Phoenix area through its fifth annual “Gift of Nutrition” program. In the program, seniors receive fresh fruits and vegetables delivered by volunteers who also spend time with them, offering companionship, entertainment and holiday greetings.

“The holidays can be a tough and lonely time, especially for seniors,”” said Diana Gregory, president and founder of Gregory’s Fresh Market. “We are so grateful to the volunteers who give their time to visit the seniors and to the sponsors who have enabled us to reach more than 7,000 seniors since we started Gift of Nutrition.”

Gregory’s Fresh Market 5th Annual HolidayThis year, the Gift of Nutrition program ran from November 16 to December 23 and reached more than 20 senior locations in the Greater Phoenix area. In addition to healthy food and visitations, seniors also were treated to musical entertainment from Living Spirit, a singing group of ministers who perform spirit filled music, and from local singer Ivan Thompson.

Added Gregory: “I want to say a special thank you to Angela Curley and the volunteers from the Henkel Corporation for their community service and donation, to ONECare by Care1st Health Plan Arizona Inc., the presenting sponsor of the Gift of Nutrition holiday program, and to the other supporters who generously partnered with us to expand healthy eating options to more seniors in the Greater Phoenix area.”

Maryvale Christmas 2015Proceeds from the 4th Annual Senior Awards Luncheon help fund the holiday program. The luncheon sponsors are Presenting Sponsor, ONECare by Care1st Health Plan Arizona Inc., Southwest Airlines, Walgreens, Henkel, Southwest Gas Corporation, Cox, Arizona Foundation for Women, Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus- Pine Council Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Majerle’s Sports Grill and the Arizona Informant.

Diana Gregory Outreach Services is committed to fulfilling its mission to improve the lives of seniors in the Greater Phoenix area through healthy eating choices.

Lessons I Learned from Seniors

Lessons I Learned from Seniors

Dec 23, 2015 | Fresh Foods, healthy eating, Independent Living, seniors

Since founding Gregory’s Fresh Market 6 years ago, an outreach organization where we enrich lives for seniors, I have learned so much from spending time with seniors, centenarians and super centenarians. Here are a few lessons.

Ernestine shepherd

Ernestine Shepherd

I met Ernestine Shepherd in September 2014. She is 79 years young. I learned from her that It’s Never Too Late to do whatever you desire in life. Never say or think that you are “too old” to do anything. Ernestine was declared the World’s Oldest Performing Female Bodybuilder by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010. She did not begin working out until she was 56. She has run nine marathons. Her mantra is “Determined, Dedicated, and Disciplined – To be fit for life.”

 

Tao Porchon Lynch

Tao Porchon Lynch

In September 2015, I met Tao Porchon Lynch. She is 97 and is the Guinness World Records oldest yoga teacher. She began ballroom dancing in her 80’s and was featured in June 2015 with her 26 year old partner on America’s Got Talent. During our conversation, Tao shared with me that aging begins in the hands and the feet. It’s important to exercise your hands and feet daily. Her mantra is “there is nothing we cannot do if we harness the power within us.”

diana gregory and vicky moe

Diana Gregory and Vicky Moe

Ms. Vicky Moe and I met four years ago at Beatitudes Campus. She is 103 years old and encourages everyone to maintain a positive attitude. Negative thoughts decay your mind. When a negative thought comes up,replace it with a joke or something positive. Avoid spending time with people who complain about how old they feel. They will make you feel old too. Instead, surround yourself with people who feel and act young, both inside and out. Be patient, forgiving and endearing. Keep moving. Exercise daily, even if it’s only walking. She takes a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Google the benefits of extra virgin oil and you will be amazed at what you will learn.

Bernando LaPallo

Bernando LaPallo

I have known Mr. Bernando LaPallo, super centenarian and 114 years old for four years. How does his skin remain smooth? He rubs his skin with extra virgin oil daily. It works. Try it for a week. Mr. LaPallo encourages everyone to do whatever you want, but with a degree of moderation. Watch this video and hear more lessons that I learned from Mr. LaPallo.

I learned all that I know about juicing from my dad, the Juice King. My dad is a 20 year cancer survivor. He has maintained a daily regiment of vegetable and fruit juices over the last 30 years.

I learned about serving others and volunteering from my uncle Dick Gregory and the many seniors I have met that are doing exceptional volunteer work. Throughout Dick Gregory’s life, he has been committed to helping others.

Meet Tao-Porchon Lynch at the 4th Annual Senior Awards Luncheon

Sep 1, 2015 | award, events, healthy eating, Independent Living, Uncategorized

4th Annual Senior Awards Friday, September 25, 2015 at the Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

Ninety seven year old Tao Porchon-Lynch has set the world on fire and has been covered by media around the globe from CNN, NBC and CBS to BBC, AlJazeera and India Times. Her YouTube videos have garnered almost 1 million views and counting! Since she started dancing competitively at the age of 87, she has won over 600 first-place awards. On top of that, she marched with Mahatma Gandhi – twice. Master Yoga Teacher, former model/actress/producer, award-winning dancer, lifelong activist and wine connoisseur… be inspired by her words, her presence and her footwork.

Dr. Pearl Tang, 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient – Friday, September 25, 2015 at the Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

Aug 9, 2015 | events, healthy eating

dr pearl tangDr. Tang’s path to success was not an easy one.  She had to overcome the many challenges and obstacles that a Chinese American woman doctor faced in the early 1950’s.  Dr. Tang’s husband, a young lawyer at the time, appeared before the Medical Licensure Board, in one of his first cases, to argue that his wife should have the opportunity to take the medical exam.  He won and with that Dr. Tang’s legacy as a leader, advocate and champion for women and children’s health and welfare began in earnest.

She became a doctor for Maricopa County, the largest county in Arizona, and developed an immunization program for children in county schools.  Between 1960 and 1984, she created and led programs that lowered the County’s infant mortality rate by 67% and eventually became the Chief of Maricopa County Bureau of Maternal and Child Health.  Among the many programs she initiated for impoverished women and children, she is highly recognized for helping to procure the cytology lab for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer.

Her story, however, did not begin in Maricopa County, in Arizona or even in America.  Dr. Tang arrived in this country as a Chinese immigrant.  Through courage, inspiration, and hard work she rose to become a trailblazer, pioneer, and a role model for women, minorities, and all Chinese Americans.  She was the first female Chinese doctor in Arizona and is also believed to be one of the first in the nation.  She used her position to fight for better medical care for women and children of all ethnic backgrounds and, professionally, for equal pay for female physicians.

Even though she has formally retired from practicing medicine, Dr. Pearl Tang continues to serve her community, both locally and nationally, by her volunteer work on numerous boards and commissions.  Her mentorship and service is commendable and inspirational.  Her humble spirit and her indomitable energy and intellect provide encouragement and have influenced many young people to enter the field of medicine or to serve their communities in various capacities.

She and her late husband, the Honorable Judge Thomas Tang of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, have spent their lives mentoring and guiding others to promote cultural competency and have sought fairness and equality in their respective fields. 

She participates in many community programs and carries on the legacy of her husband by attending educational, judicial and legal conferences and programs sponsored by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Arizona Asian American Bar Association.  She graciously presents annual scholarship awards to law students who participate in the essay competition named in honor of Judge Tang.  Her presence at these local community functions have encouraged young professionals and lawyers to carry on the high standards established by Dr. Tang and her late husband.

 

Celebrating the Accomplishments of Service Coordinator, Yudi Cesar Broadway Terrace

Sep 26, 2014 | Fresh Foods, Giving, healthy eating, Independent Living, seniors

Yudi Cesar Artis

Yudi Cesar Artis

Yudi Cesar has been the site manager at Broadway Terrace for more than four years.  The Service Coordinator role is one of her many roles.

Yudi comments, “being a part of a non-profit organization that provides safe, secure, and affordable housing to seniors is one of the most important works I have done.  The population of seniors we serve would otherwise be homeless without programs like the Section 8/202 program currently in place at Broadway Terrace.  It makes possible for those persons of extremely low income to afford a quality home and remain independent for as long as it may be possible before transitioning to next levels of care.  This extension is made possible through partnerships with other organizations like Gregory’s Fresh Market, which brings high quality items to the hands of those mobility impaired seniors who are unable to secure or afford transportation.” Yudi, your hard work over the last 4 years is appreciated.

Celebrating the Accomplishments of Service Coordinator, Debbie Gallacher, at the Third Annual Senior Awards Luncheon on Friday, September 24 , The Ritz Carlton, Phoenix

Sep 23, 2014 | Fresh Foods, Giving, healthy eating, Independent Living

Debbie Gallacher

Debbie Gallacher

From the time Debbie Gallacher acquired her degree in Sociology, Debbie Gallacher knew she was destined for community and public service. Over the past 15 years, she has fulfilled her destiny.  She has worked in Suicide Prevention, has been a substance abuse counselor and worked in food pantry management.  For the past five years, she has served 94 residents as a service coordinator for Biltmore Properties.  Her activities there have included: coordinating visits by Mayo Clinic student nurses, organizing community Christmas parties for residents, and organizing Brown Bag educational lunches and various food programs including visits from Gregory Fresh Market. Debbie says, “Gregory’s Fresh Farmers Market helps the 94 residents of the Arizona Retirement Homes by delivering the freshest and best quality produce to seniors who are not able to get out.  The produce keeps for many days longer than store bought produce saving the residents money because they can use all the produce without any waste. The produce helps the seniors stay healthier than they would without it. It also saves the seniors money by not needing a cab to get to and from the store.”

Debbie’s other projects include: working to add a bus stop closer to Biltmore and soliciting local support to purchase a van to transport her residents to and from the Tempe Adult Community Center.   A few of her major accomplishments include: helping 50 residents gain financial assistance on their utility bills and helping her residents give back to the community by utilizing time, effort, and skill to quilt blankets and knit hats for area hospices and shelters.  Her team also sponsors holiday toy drives and cards for local school children.

Debbie Gallacher takes great pride in her accomplishments and helping to restore seniors a sense of independence and pride in the seniors.  In this and other ways, she is the consummate social worker, giving back in service to our community.  Congratulations on receiving the Advocacy award.  Thank you Debbie Gallacher for your service to our seniors and to our community.

Tickets are available at a donation of $90 each at: http://dgosf3awards.eventbrite.com/