Blessed Pen Ink

Caregiver Network

Armedia Parham

Anthony Jones

Sheila Roddy

Maurice Kellogg

Anthony Jones

Connie Fitch-Blanch

Barbara Wilkins

Enjoy some of the entree letters:

My next door neighbor, Anthony, deserves the Platinum Hug Award if there is one! Anthony was not initially our neighbor until a few years ago when he took on the task of being his mother's caregiver. Anthony put a lot on pause when he decided to care for his mother. I applaud him because you never see him without a smile on his face. Not only does he care for his mom, he helps out others in our community as well. Individuals in circumstances like my neighbor's are often overlooked and I believe that it's unfortunate. That's why I am nominating Anthony for the HUG Award.I believe that he deserves to be recognized for the daily assistance he provides to his mother. He has patience, care, and most importantly compassion. He exemplifies what it takes to be a caregiver,and that is an reward within itself! Please choose my neighbor for the HUG Award!

I would like to nominate my 79 year old mother, who is retired but is currently a caregiver for a 1-year-old little boy. I'm nominating her not just because she finds the strength and motivation to get up every morning to care for this very active 1-year-old but because she is the leader of our family and even though she doesn't physically take care of us, she takes care of us in so many other ways. My mother always has a kind word of encouragement, a gentle loving hug or a word of prayer, and scripture to lift our spirits when we are going through tough times. My mother has provided guidance to me as a single mother and I honestly don't know where I would be if it hadn't been for her guidance and example of strength that she has shown me. My mother is always giving to others and often puts others needs before her own, she has always been the back bone of our family, and it amazes me that after raising five children of her own and helping raise a couple of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, she still has the energy to care for a small child at her age. My mother is a very vibrant active loving and Christian, senior citizen, full of wisdom, and she is still living life to the fullest. I think that her receiving this award will remind her of how much she means to us.

My friend, Connie Fitch-Blanche, has been caring for her elderly mother. Her siblings have given this responsibility to her.  Connie has her own personal set of challenges that she is currently dealing with and she constantly puts the needs of her mother above her own.  Connie is a young, senior citizen herself.  However, she keeps it moving by keeping her faith in God! I think she would be the most appreciative of receiving this award and it would lift up her spirit. Thank you for this opportunity!

My cousin, Maurice, has done plenty of things in his life and some of them weren’t the best!  He has fallen on some hard times but always managed to pick himself up and independently take care of himself. Life didn’t always treat him fairly but he made the best of his circumstances. And no matter how dirty life got, he always managed to stay clean, in his surroundings and his appearance , especially his clothing. Well, I do remember him taking care of his brothers and sisters when he was younger and even my eldest cousin’s children when we became adults. But nothing compares to how well he has taken care of my eldest Uncle. My uncle had a leg amputated and problems moving certain parts of his body, making him immobile. None of my Uncle’s caregivers could bare the demand of caring for him and his attitude that came along with it. However, my cousin stepped in without even being asked. He is a young man and has given up part of his life to take care of my uncle. He bathes him, changes his sheets, cooks for him and cleans his house. He does all this work without any pay and although the job is demanding, he does it without regret. My cousin is uplifting goodness and when I see him again, he is going to get the biggest hug, ever. I had no clue he was doing all this until someone else in the family told me and others soon confirmed it. I am so proud of him and love him dearly for what he is doing. He definitely deserves a HUG award!

I would like to nominate a very dear friend of mine, Sheila Roddy, who gives unselfishly to everyone; friend, family or stranger.  She gets up early in the morning answering requests from everyone to attend parties, weddings and celebrations.  It’s no secret that if she shows up, she will never come empty handed. She spends her days shopping for anyone she thinks may like something that catches her eye. She is the sweetest woman ever and she doesn’t ask for anything in return. In fact, if you buy her something, it would have to be a total surprise because she will not accept it, stating that she already has everything she needs. The reason she deserves a Caregiver HUG Award is because on top of all she does already, this new retiree has taken to the task of caring for her sick sister. She used to visit her sister every day when she was in the hospital but now she cares for her inside of her own home. Sheila makes sure her sister gets to appointments; out to visit her children and anywhere else her sister desires to go for some recreational fun. This is also not the first time she has taken care of a family member or friend, she is just a Godsend to so many.  She does it all with a smile and she doesn’t complain. Not only does Mrs. Roddy deserve an award, she deserves the biggest hug of all!