Murray, Tenn.–Murray State University alumnae Rose and Rossetta Jackson have launched an “Adopt-a-Grandparent” program in the Hopkinsville, Kentucky, area to assist senior citizens in need of essential supplies during the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and beyond.
Rose, ’09, and Rossetta, ’10, launched the program last month after the twins checked on their mother, Gertie, at a senior citizens home in town.
“We found that there were several seniors in the building that needed essentials,” Rose said. “Rossetta made a list of each apartment and what they needed, and she posted on Facebook to see if we could get people to ‘adopt’ a senior citizen and purchase the essentials they needed, while spending time with them as well.”
The response was overwhelming, with every resident in the building “adopted” before the end of the day. Volunteers shop regularly for each senior, providing essential food and other resources while protecting them from exposure to the virus. The twins went on to include two more buildings in the area — totalling some 150 people — while adding new services, all thanks to community support.
“At all three of these facilities, the ‘grandparents’ have to cook for themselves, and many of them are on oxygen or have illnesses that cause them not to be able to cook for themselves.” Rose said. “So with money people were donating, we decided to feed at least one hot meal a day for all three buildings, on top of having them adopted out. It has been a truly humbling experience to do what the Bible says to do, which is to love our neighbors as ourselves.”